The Siege and Fall of Tenochtitlan

Abstract

The final stage of the military conquest of Mexico took place in roughly a year, between the arrival of the Spaniards in Tlaxcala on July 11, 1520, after their flight from Tenochtitlan and their destruction of the Mexica capital and the surrender of the last emperor Cuahtemoc on August 13, 1521. During the first ten of those thirteen months, both the Mexica and the Spaniards maneuvered to find allies and to muster their forces. These months were filled with campaigns and battles around the valley of Mexico. The final siege of Tenochtitlan lasted about three months (Bernal Díaz says ninety-three days). It ended with the fall of Tenochtitlan.