There is little doubt in my mind that Moctezuma and his sizeable armies could have easily defeated Cortes and his treasure seeking looters. Yes, the Spaniards had superior weapons and horses, but the Aztecs had much greater numbers. The 'Flower Wars' had required many warriors to take prisoners for sacrifice. These same wars had also made many enemies for the Aztecs. Cortes was able to forge alliances with the uneasy neighbors of the Aztecs and defeated Moctezuma without problems.

Moctezuma's biggest problem was that he thought Cortes was Quetzalcoatl, the personification of the Plumed Serpent. There had been unsettling portents and omens and the ancient myths foretold the return of a blond, blue-eyed god from the east. Cortes arrived on the appointed day (which occurs only once in 52 years) with great ships, gunpowder, and horses. None of these things had been seen in mesoamerica before. They must be magic!

Mesoamerican Myths
Toltec Mythology
more on Cortes
History of the Conquest
Moctezuma and Cortes


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Updated 7/22/2000