Fall of Tenochtitlan

BelligerentsSpanish Empire(Governorate of Cuba)
Confederacy of Tlaxcala
Tetzcoco
Otomis
Chalco
Mixquic
Huejotzingo
Iztapalapa

Mexica

• Tenochtitlan
  • Tlatelolco

Commanders and leadersHernán Cortés
Gonzalo de Sandoval
Pedro de Alvarado
Cristóbal de Olid
Chichimecatecuhtli
Xicotencatl II
Ixtlilxochitl IICuauhtémoc(POW)
Coanacoch(POW)Strength 900–1,300 Spanish infantry
86 cavalry
16 cannons
13 lake brigantines
50,000–200,000 Native allies
80,000 warriors
400 war canoesCasualties and losses 450–860 Spanish
20,000 Natives 100,000 killed in action
300 war canoes sunk

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At least 40,000 Aztecs civilians killed and captured, other sources claim 100,000 to 240,000 were killed in the campaign overall including warriors and civilians

The fall of Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Mexica, was an important event in the Spanish conquest of the Mexica. It occurred in 1521 following extensive negotiations between local factions and Spanish conquistadorHernán Cortés. He was aided by La Malinche, his interpreter and companion, and by thousands of indigenous allies, especially Tlaxcaltec warriors.

Although numerous battles were fought between the Mexica and the Spanish-led coalition, which was composed mainly of Tlaxcaltec men, it was the siege of Tenochtitlan that directly led to the fall of the Aztec civilization and the ensuing sacking and violence against the survivors. The indigenous population at the time was devastated due to a smallpox epidemic, which killed much of its leadership. Because smallpox had been endemic in Spain for centuries, the Spanish had developed an acquired immunity and were affected relatively little in the epidemic.

The conquest of the Mexica was a critical stage in the Spanish colonization of the Americas.