The Fall of Tenochtitlan: Cortés and the Siege of 1521

The Fall of Tenochtitlan: Cortés and the Siege of 1521

In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into the final siege of Tenochtitlan in 1521, exploring the three-month campaign that brought the Aztec capital to its knees. They discuss the strategic role of the Tlaxcalan allies, the construction of the brigantines under Martín López, the cutting of the Chapultepec aqueduct, and the devastating impact of smallpox. Lucas explains how Cortés used attrition warfare to starve the defenders, and how Cuauhtémoc's final stand at Tlatelolco became a symbol of resistance. The episode also touches on the controversial question of why so many indigenous allies fought alongside the Spanish, and what the fall of Tenochtitlan meant for the future of Mesoamerica. Specific terms include: Tenochtitlan, Cuauhtémoc, Tlatelolco, Chapultepec, brigantines, Tlaxcalans, cocoliztli, and the Florentine Codex. #Tenochtitlan #Cuauhtemoc #Tlatelolco #Chapultepec #Brigantines #Tlaxcalans #Cocoliztli #SiegeOfTenochtitlan #HernanCortes #MartínLopez #FlorentineCodex #BernalDiaz #Mesoamerica #AztecEmpire #Smallpox #AttritionWarfare #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Mexica Ballplayers: The Ritual Sport That Shaped the Conquest

Long before Cortés landed, the ballgame — ullamaliztli — pulsed through Mesoamerican life. In this episode, Lucas and Luna trace the game from its mythic origins (the Popol Vuh's Hero Twins) to its political and religious weight under the Mexica. They explore the tlachtli court at Tenochtitlan's Templo Mayor, the rubber balls that amazed Spanish chroniclers, and how the game intertwined with sacrifice, diplomacy, and social mobility. Then they turn to a lesser-known story: how the Tlaxcalans used a ballgame match to gauge Cortés's intentions — and how the conquistadors, in turn, used the game to recruit allies. The episode also covers the fate of the courts after the siege, including the infamous story of Cortés betting on a game against a Mexica lord. Through archaeological finds at the Templo Mayor and accounts in the Florentine Codex, they reveal a sport that was far more than a pastime — it was a lens into a civilization. #Ullamaliztli #MesoamericanBallgame #AztecEmpire #Tlachtli #HernanCortes #Mexica #Tenochtitlan #TemploMayor #PopolVuh #FlorentineCodex #BernalDiaz #Xicotencatl #Tlaxcala #RitualSacrifice #RubberBalls #History #FexingoHistory #ConquestOfMexico Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

The Xochiyaoyotl: Aztec Flower Wars That Shaped the Conquest

Long before Cortés arrived in Mexico, the Aztecs and their neighbors fought in a ritualized form of warfare called the xochiyaoyotl, or 'flower war.' These weren't typical battles for territory or resources—they were highly structured conflicts aimed at capturing prisoners for sacrifice, conducted by mutual agreement between states. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how the flower war system shaped Aztec military strategy, created deep-seated resentment among subjugated peoples like the Tlaxcalans, and ultimately became one of the most consequential factors in Cortés's ability to forge indigenous alliances. Drawing on accounts from the Florentine Codex and the Lienzo de Tlaxcala, as well as modern scholarship, they discuss how the ritual constraints of the xochiyaoyotl left the Mexica ill-prepared for the total war Cortés waged, and how Tlaxcala's refusal to be conquered in a flower war fueled their alliance with the Spanish. They also touch on the controversial debate among historians about whether the flower wars were a genuine Aztec institution or a post-conquest invention. Tune in for a fresh angle on the conquest—one that turns the usual narrative on its head. #Xochiyaoyotl #FlowerWars #AztecWarfare #Tlaxcala #Cortés #Mexica #FlorentineCodex #LienzodeTlaxcala #MesoamericanHistory #ConquestofMexico #RitualWarfare #IndigenousAlliances #Tenochtitlan #MoctezumaII #Xicotencatl #History #FexingoHistory #SixteenthCentury Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

The Cocoliztli Epidemic: Smallpox That Toppled Tenochtitlan

In 1520, while Cortés was away from Tenochtitlan, a disease brought by the Spanish killed the Aztec emperor Cuitláhuac and tens of thousands of Mexica. This episode explores the cocoliztli epidemic, likely smallpox, that devastated the city before the final siege. Lucas and Luna discuss how the disease arrived with the Narváez expedition, its impact on Aztec leadership and morale, and the role of indigenous allies who were largely immune. They also touch on later outbreaks and the demographic collapse of Mesoamerica. Specific terms include: cocoliztli, Cuitláhuac, Moctezuma Xocoyotzin, Pánfilo de Narváez, Bernal Díaz del Castillo, Florentine Codex, Bernardino de Sahagún, and Tenochtitlan. #Cocoliztli #Smallpox #Tenochtitlan #Cuitláhuac #Cortés #PánfiloDeNarváez #BernalDíaz #FlorentineCodex #Sahagún #Mesoamerica #AztecEmpire #Epidemic #ConquestOfMexico #History #FexingoHistory #IndigenousHistory #Disease #1520 Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Cortés's Forgotten African Conquistador: Juan Garrido

This episode of Fexingo History spotlights Juan Garrido, a free black African conquistador who fought alongside Hernán Cortés in the conquest of the Aztec Empire. Garrido was one of hundreds of enslaved and free Africans who participated in the Spanish invasion, yet his story is rarely told. We trace his journey from the slave markets of West Africa to the siege of Tenochtitlan, where he fought as a soldier, managed mining operations, and later became a farmer in Mexico City. Drawing on records from the Archivo General de Indias, we examine how men like Garrido navigated colonial society, gained land grants, and left descendants whose histories are still being uncovered. The episode also explores the broader role of African auxiliaries — often overlooked in favor of Tlaxcalan allies — in Cortés's campaign. Listeners will encounter primary source testimony from Garrido's own petition to the Spanish crown, revealing his service during La Noche Triste and the final battle for the island capital. It's a necessary corrective to the narrative that the conquest was solely a clash between Europeans and Indigenous peoples. #JuanGarrido #AfricanConquistador #HernanCortes #AztecEmpire #Tenochtitlan #ArchivoGeneralDeIndias #LaNocheTriste #Slavery #ColonialMexico #NewSpain #Mesoamerica #BlackHistory #Conquest #Siege #16thCentury #History #FexingoHistory #Podcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]