Biographical Notes
Hernan Cortes
The Mayan Indians living on the Tabasco River were wary, but initially friendly to the Spanish. Within a matter of one day, however, relations soured and the Spanish attacked the village. After several days of fighting against heavy odds the Spanish prevailed, but found very little of value in the village. When questioned, the natives again pointed north to a powerful nation that had large amounts of gold. Following the battle, twenty native women were presented to the Spanish. Cortes distributed these women to his principal lieutenants to act as servants and/or mistresses. All were christened and given Spanish names. One beautiful teenager, named Malinali Tenepal, was given to Alonso Hernandez de Puertocarrero. Malinali is believed to have been born in Oluta, Coatzacoalos Province, next door to Tabasco. Her place of birth was under the political control of the Aztec Empire and her native language was not Mayan, it was the language of the Aztecs - Nahuatl. She was said to have been the daughter of a chieftain and, as a child, had been sold into slavery in Tabasco to remove her from the succession struggle that was going on in her birthplace. The Spanish christened her Marina and, because of her regal bearing, consistently used the honorific "Dona" with her name. Natives continued to refer to her by her birth name but added "che" to it as a form of respect - Malinche.
Cortes soon left Tabasco and sailed north to San Juan de Ulua (named earlier by Grijalva). The people that Cortes met were tributaries of the Aztec Empire and spoke Nahuatl. Malinche translated their words into Mayan and Aguilar translated her words into Spanish. Cortes referred to them as his "tongues." Two important officials of the Aztec Empire met Cortes at Vera Cruz - Teuhtlili, governor of Cuetlaxtla (the province around San Juan de Ulua), and Cuitlaltipoc, Moctezuma's personal ambassador. Here Cortes learned that the gold that Grijalva had received at Tabasco had been sent as a gift from Moctezuma Xocoyotzin, the ruler of the Aztec Empire. Moctezuma II had taken the throne in 1504 and was the ninth ruler of the century old empire that stretched from northern Mexico to Guatemala. Moctezuma's father, Moctezuma I, was regarded as the greatest of the Aztec rulers, but his son, Moctezuma II, was paralyzed with fear over the sudden appearance of the Spanish. He believed that they were associated with the return of an important Aztec deity and was confused as to how he should deal with them.
Cortes told Moctezma's representatives that he had been ordered by his own sovereign to meet with the ruler of the Aztecs. The Aztec officials remained friendly, but firmly expressed strong objection to the meeting. In subsequent negotiations Moctezuma continued to send presents of food, gold, and jewels, but also continued to resist a meeting. In the Spanish camp there was much dissension about the proper course of action. Cortes was clearly attempting to cut his ties with Velazquez in Cuba, and establish a direct connection with the royal court in Madrid. Men loyal to Velaquez urged Cortes to take the gold that they had and return to Cuba before being attacked by overwhelming numbers of native warriors. Others sided with Cortes and favored marching inland to find the source of the gold so freely given by Moctezuma's representatives. In order to resolve the situation a town council was formed and Cortes resigned as leader of the expedition. The town council named their new community Villa Rica de Veracruz and declared it to be a direct dependency of the Spanish throne thus severing their ties to Cuba and Velazquez. Cortes was appointed Captain General and Chief Justice. Supporters of Velazquez were either won over to Cortes or killed. The entire treasure accumulated to date was loaded onto Cortes's flag ship and dispatched to Spain. Puertocarrero was sent off with it and Cortes took Malinche into his own tent. In order to ensure that there would be no further thought of a return to Cuba, Cortes scuttled his remaining ships.
In addition to the representatives of Moctezuma, Cortes was visited by other native leaders including some who were willing to plot against their Aztec overlords. The Aztecs demanded a constant flow of tribute that included heavy human sacrifice and there was considerable disaffection within the empire. Cortes convinced the Totonac people to side with him against Moctezuma. As he accumulated supporters he also attempted to replace their existing religious practices with Christianity. There was some superficial success, but little real conversion. He also gradually came to understand that he and his followers were considered by some natives to be gods and by many more to have supernatural powers. On August 16, 1519, he began his march inland toward Moctezuma's capital of Tenochtitlan. To secure his rear base he left Juan de Escalante and 100 men in the garrison town of Villa Rica de Veracruz. Cortes had with him 400 foot soldiers, 15 horsemen, six artillery pieces, 1,000 Totonac allies and 200 Totonac porters. The Spanish were forced to fight as they attempted to cross Tlaxcalan. After three weeks of fierce fighting during which the Spaniards lost 55 men killed and many more wounded, the Tlaxcalans sued for peace. They had lost far more heavily and were now willing to ally themselves with Cortes against the Aztecs. It is interesting to note that Xicotencatl, the Tlaxcalan leader, referred to Cortes as "Malintzin" - Malinche's Lord - and the name stuck. From then on he was called that by all of the native population of Mexico.
Following Cortes' victory over Tlaxcala, Moctezuma reversed himself and told Cortes that he could come to Tenochtitlan and meet with him and he instructed the Spanish to proceed via Cholula. Cortes' new Tlaxcalan allies warned him that Cholula was a trap, but he insisted on following the route suggested by Moctezuma. When he resumed his march, 5,000 Tlaxcalan warriors joined his force. While in Cholula, Cortes learned of a planned attack and decided to take preemptive action to thwart it. A general massacre followed and Cortes quickly established his mastery of the situation. On November 1, 1519, he continued his march toward Tenochtitlan. Cortes and Moctezuma remained in frequent contact and the Aztec ruler continued to vacillate as to whether the two should meet. No matter what Moctezuma said, Cortez continued his march toward Tenochtitlan. On November 8, 1519, Cortes crossed the causeway from Ixtapalapa and entered Moctezuma's capital of Tenochtitlan. Moctezuma met him at the gates to the city and escorted him to the palace of his father in the center of the city. Cortes and his men were treated with great respect and lavished with expensive gifts.
