Today in History: The Night of Sadness, Cortes the Conquistador's fighting escape from Tenochtitlan, 1520

On this night in 1520, famous explorer, general, and conqueror Fernando Hernan Cortes (b.1485-1547) and his conquistadors fought their way out of the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan, on Lake Texcocoin modern day Mexico. La Noche Triste became one of the major events in Spain’s conquering of Mexico and the New World.

Today in history on July 30^th a riot ensued during the day which became a massacre against the Europeans and their native levies whom Hernan Cortes had employed in his army during the campaign to conquer Mexico from 1518-1522. The Night of Sadness would become both the defining moment of the early exploration of the New World as well as one of its most tragic consequences.

Hernan Cortes, the Conquistador

This massacre came to be known as The Night of Sadness (La Noche Triste) and it had a very important impact in regards to the Spain, the Aztec culture, and the end of the greater Aztec dynasty in Mexico. Today it is arguably the defining moment of Cortes legacy in relation to his relations with what would become New Spain.

Aztec warriors circa 1500

The great Aztec King Montezuma II was killed either the night before or the night of Cortes’ retreat from Tenochtitlan, by the Spanish or his peoples who had risen in open revolt against the Spanish and their King. Cortes was wounded and most of his Spaniards killed during the ensuing retreat. Many casualties were caused when a ship overloaded with conquistadors and their Aztec plunder sunk killing many weighed down by their European made heavy armor.

Historically the 'Night of Sadness' is so very important because it signaled the downfall of the Aztec empire. One year later Cortes would return to Tenochtitlan laying siege to the city and eventually annexing in theory, all of Mexico, to what would become New Spain, to the control of the Spanish Crown and the Imperial viceroy.