The route of Hernán Cortés from Veracruz to Tenochtitlan was a remarkable journey that took him across the heart of Mesoamerica and that culminated in one of the most consequential events in the history of the Americas. Cortés left the coast in August 1519 and arrived in Tenochtitlan in November 1519, a journey of about three months. The march took him through the territory of the Totonacs, the Tlaxcalans, the Otomi, and other peoples, and it was marked by a series of alliances and battles that shaped the course of the conquest.
The Departure from Veracruz
Cortés left the coast of Mexico in August 1519, after spending several months in the settlement of Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz. He had founded the settlement shortly after his arrival in April 1519, and he had used it as a base for his operations. The settlement was a small but strategically located town, and it provided Cortés with a foothold on the coast of Mexico.
Before leaving the coast, Cortés took a number of important steps to secure his position. He had his soldiers destroy most of the ships, to prevent any thoughts of retreat. He also established a formal government for the settlement, with himself as the captain general and a town council to assist him. He also received a delegation from Moctezuma II, who had been informed of the Spanish arrival by his pochteca merchants.
The March Through the Totonac Territory
The first stage of the march took Cortés through the territory of the Totonacs, who had recently been conquered by the Mexica. The Totonacs were eager to find allies against their new overlords, and they provided Cortés with food, supplies, and information about the Mexica state. Cortés also formed an alliance with the Totonac chief, who was allowed to retain his throne in exchange for his support.
The Totonacs provided Cortés with valuable intelligence about the Mexica state, including information about the political structure, the military organization, and the religious beliefs. They also provided Cortés with a number of gifts, including gold and featherwork, and they gave him a clearer picture of the wealth of the Mexica state.
The Battles with the Tlaxcalans
The next stage of the march took Cortés into the territory of the Tlaxcalans, a fiercely independent people who had resisted Mexica conquest for centuries. The Tlaxcalans initially opposed the Spanish, and there were several fierce battles. Cortés, however, was able to negotiate a peace with the Tlaxcalans, and the Tlaxcalans became his most important allies in the conquest.
The peace with the Tlaxcalans was a turning point in the conquest, and it was a major factor in the Spanish victory. The Tlaxcalans provided thousands of warriors for the campaign against Tenochtitlan, and they were essential to the Spanish success. The peace with the Tlaxcalans was also a major political achievement, and it demonstrated Cortés’s ability to make alliances with the enemies of the Mexica.
The Ascent to the Valley of Mexico
The next stage of the march took Cortés up into the highlands and into the Valley of Mexico. The march was difficult, with steep ascents and cold weather, and the Spanish suffered from the altitude. Yet the Spanish were able to continue the march, and they reached the Valley of Mexico in November 1519.
The Spanish were received by a series of peoples who were hostile to the Mexica, including the Otomi, the Totonacs, and the Acolhua of Texcoco. Cortés also made contact with the Mexica themselves, who sent increasingly elaborate delegations to greet him. The Mexica were divided about how to respond to the Spanish, and Moctezuma II was increasingly anxious about the Spanish arrival.
The Arrival in Tenochtitlan
Cortés arrived in Tenochtitlan in November 1519, and he was received by Moctezuma II in a series of elaborate ceremonies. The Spanish were housed in the palace of Axayacatl, the father of Moctezuma, and they were given all the honors due to distinguished guests.
The arrival of the Spanish in Tenochtitlan was a major event, and it was the culmination of the long march from Veracruz. The Spanish were now in the heart of the Mexica state, and they were about to take the first steps toward the conquest of the empire.
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