1843 the HISTORY of the CONQUEST of MEXICO William

1 1843 THE HISTORY OF THE CONQUEST OF MEXICO William Hickling Prescott Prescott, William Hickling (1796-1859) - An American historian. Blinded in one eye by a hard crust of bread thrown by a Harvard classmate, he would later lose sight in his other eye, and go on, with the aid of a noctograph, to devote his life to the scholarly study of Spanish history. History of the Conquest of Mexico (1843) - Prescott’s best-known work is a dramatic narrative description of how the war with Mexico arose over boundary disputes when Texas was annexed by the United States. 2 Table Of Contents BOOK I INTRODUCTION . 7 View of the Aztec Civilisation Chapter I . 8 ANCIENT MEXICO- ITS CLIMATE AND ITS PRODUCTS Chapter II . 15 SUCCESSION TO THE CROWN- AZTEC NOBILITY- JUDICIAL SYSTEM-LAWS AND REVENUES- MILITARY INSTITUTIONS Chapter III . 25 MEXICAN MYTHOLOGY- THE SACERDOTAL ORDER- THE TEMPLES Chapter IV . 36 AZTEC HIEROGLYPHICS- MANUSCRIPTS- ARITHMETIC Chapter V . 48 AGRICULTURE- THE MECHANICAL ARTS- MERCHANTS Chapter VI . 56 THE TEZCUCANS- THEIR GOLDEN AGE- ACCOMPLISHED PRINCES BOOK II . 68 Discovery of Mexico Chapter I [1516-1518] . 69 SPAIN UNDER CHARLES V- PROGRESS OF DISCOVERY COLONIAL POLICY Chapter II [1518] . 77 HERNANDO CORTES- HIS EARLY LIFE- VISITS THE NEW WORLD Chapter III [1518-1519] . 85 JEALOUSY OF VELASQUEZ- CORTES EMBARKS- EQUIPMENT OF HIS FLEET Chapter IV [1519] . 91 VOYAGE TO COZUMEL- CONVERSION OF THE NATIVES- JERONIMO DE AGUILAR- ARMY ARRIVES AT TABASCO Chapter V [1519] . 103 VOYAGE ALONG THE COAST- DONA MARINA Chapter VI [1519] . 108 ACCOUNT OF MONTEZUMA- STATE OF HIS EMPIRESTRANGE PROGNOSTICS Chapter VII [1519] . 117 3 TROUBLES IN THE CAMP- PLAN FOR A COLONY- MANAGEMENT OF CORTES- MARCH TO CEMPOALLA- PROCEEDINGS WITH THE NATIVES Chapter VIII [1519] . 128 ANOTHER AZTEC EMBASSY- DESTRUCTION OF IDOLS BOOK III . 138 March to Mexico Chapter I [1519] . 139 PROCEEDINGS AT CEMPOALLA- THE SPANIARDS CLIMB THE TABLELAND Chapter II [1519] . 147 REPUBLIC OF TLASCALA- ITS INSTITUTIONS- ITS EARLY HISTORY Chapter III [1519] . 157 DECISIVE VICTORY- INDIAN COUNCIL- NIGHT ATTACK Chapter IV [1519] . 166 DISCONTENTS IN THE ARMY- TLASCALAN SPIES Chapter V [1519] . 173 PANIARDS ENTER TLASCALA- A DESCRIPTION OF THE CAPITAL Chapter VI [1519] . 180 CITY OF CHOLULA- GREAT TEMPLE- MARCH TO CHOLULA Chapter VII [1519] . 188 TERRIBLE MASSACRE- TRANQUILLITY RESTORED- REFLECTIONS ON THE MASSACRE- FURTHER PROCEEDINGS Chapter VIII [1519] . 195 MARCH RESUMED- VALLEY OF MEXICO- IMPRESSION ON THE SPANIARDS Chapter IX [1519] . 204 ENVIRONS OF MEXICO- INTERVIEW WITH MONTEZUMA- ENTRANCE INTO THE CAPITAL- HOSPITABLE RECEPTION BOOK IV . 215 Residence in Mexico Chapter I [1519] . 216 TEZCUCAN LAKE- DESCRIPTION OF THE CAPITAL- PALACES AND MUSEUMS Chapter II [1519] . 226 MARKET OF MEXICO- GREAT TEMPLE- INTERIOR SANCTUARIES Chapter III [1519] . 236 4 ANXIETY OF CORTES- SEIZURE OF MONTEZUMAHIS TREATMENT BY THE SPANIARDS- EXECUTION OF HIS OFFICERS Chapter IV [1520] . 244 MONTEZUMA’S DEPORTMENT- HIS LIFE IN THE SPANISH QUARTERS- MEDITATED INSURRECTION- LORD OF TEZCUCO SEIZED Chapter V [1520] . 251 MONTEZUMA SWEARS ALLEGIANCE TO SPAIN- ROYAL TREASURES- THEIR DIVISION- CHRISTIAN WORSHIP IN THE TEOCALLI Chapter VI [1520] . 259 FATE OF CORTES’ EMISSARIES- PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASTILIAN COURT- PREPARATIONS OF VELASQUEZ- NARVAEZ LANDS IN MEXICO Chapter VII [1520] . 270 CORTES DESCENDS FROM THE TABLELAND- NEGOTIATES WITH NARVAEZ- PREPARES TO ASSAULT HIM- QUARTERS OF NARVAEZ Chapter VIII [1520] . 280 DISCONTENT OF THE TROOPS- INSURRECTION IN THE CAPITAL- RETURN OF CORTES- GENERAL SIGNS OF HOSTILITY BOOK V . 290 EXPULSION FROM MEXICO Chapter I [1520] . 291 DESPERATE ASSAULT ON THE QUARTERS- FURY OF THE MEXICANS Chapter II [1520] . 300 STORMING OF THE GREAT TEMPLE- SPIRIT OF THE AZTECS DISTRESSES OF THE GARRISON- SHARP COMBATS IN THE CITY Chapter III [1520] . 310 COUNCIL OF WAR- SPANIARDS EVACUATE THE CITY NOCHE TRISTE, OR “THE MELANCHOLY NIGHT”TERRIBLE SLAUGHTER Chapter IV [1520] . 320 THE SPANIARDS RETREAT- DISTRESSES OF THE ARMY Chapter V [1520] . 327 ARRIVAL IN TLASCALA- FRIENDLY RECEPTION- DISCONTENTS OF THE ARMY Chapter VI [1520] . 335 WAR WITH THE SURROUNDING TRIBES- 5 SUCCESSES OF THE SPANIARDS Chapter VII [1520] . 345 GUATEMOZIN, NEW EMPEROR OF THE AZTECS- PREPARATIONS FOR THE MARCH BOOK VI . 355 Siege and Surrender of Mexico Chapter I [1521] . 356 ARRANGEMENTS AT TEZCUCO- SACK OF IZTAPALAPAN- ADVANTAGES OF THE SPANIARDS- WISE POLICY OF CORTES Chapter II [1521] . 366 CORTES RECONNOITRES THE CAPITAL- OCCUPIES TACUBA- SKIRMISHES WITH THE ENEMY- EXPEDITION OF SANDOVAL Chapter III [1521] . 375 SECOND RECONNOITRING EXPEDITION- THE CAPTURE OF CUERNAVACA Chapter IV [1521] . 386 CONSPIRACY IN THE ARMY- BRIGANTINES LAUNCHED- MUSTER OF FORCES Chapter V [1521] . 395 INDIAN FLOTILLA DEFEATED- THE CAUSEWAYS OCCUPIED- DESPERATE ASSAULTS- FIRING OF THE PALACES- SPIRIT OF THE BESIEGED Chapter VI [1521] . 408 GENERAL ASSAULT ON THE CITY- DEFEAT OF THE SPANIARDS- THEIR DISASTROUS CONDITION- SACRIFICE OF THE CAPTIVES Chapter VII [1521] . 417 SUCCESS OF THE SPANIARDS- FRUITLESS OFFERS TO GUATEMOZIN- BUILDINGS RAZED TO THE GROUND- TERRIBLE FAMINE Chapter VIII [1521] . 426 DREADFUL SUFFERINGS OF THE BESIEGED- SPIRIT OF GUATEMOZIN- MURDEROUS ASSAULT- CAPTURE OF GUATEMOZIN BOOK VII CONCLUSION . 438 Subsequent Career of Cortes Chapter I [1521-1522] . 439 TORTURE OF GUATEMOZIN- SUBMISSION OF THE COUNTRY- REBUILDING OF THE 6 CAPITALMISSION TO CASTILE Chapter II [1522-1524] . 447 MODERN MEXICO- SETTLEMENT OF THE COUNTRY- CONDITION OF THE NATIVES- CHRISTIAN MISSIONARIES Chapter III [1524-1526] . 452 DEFECTION OF OLID- DREADFUL MARCH TO HONDURAS Chapter IV [1526-1530] . 460 DISTURBANCES IN MEXICO- RETURN OF CORTES- DISTRUST OF THE COURT- HIS RETURN TO SPAIN- DEATH OF SANDOVAL Chapter V [1530-1547] . 470 CORTES REVISITS MEXICO- RETIRES TO HIS ESTATES- HIS VOYAGES OF DISCOVERY- FINAL RETURN TO CASTILE 7 BOOK I INTRODUCTION View of the Aztec Civilisation 8 Chapter I ANCIENT MEXICO- ITS CLIMATE AND ITS PRODUCTS ITS PRIMITIVE RACES- AZTEC EMPIRE THE country of the ancient Mexicans, or Aztecs as they were called, formed but a very small part of the extensive territories comprehended in the modern republic of Mexico. Its boundaries cannot be defined with certainty. They were much enlarged in the latter days of the empire, when they may be considered as reaching from about the eighteenth degree north to the twenty-first on the Atlantic; and from the fourteenth to the nineteenth, including a very narrow strip, on the Pacific. In its greatest breadth, it could not exceed five degrees and a half, dwindling, as it approached its south-eastern limits, to less than two. It covered, probably, less than sixteen thousand square leagues. Yet, such is the remarkable formation of this country, that though not more than twice as large as New England, it presented every variety of climate, and was capable of yielding nearly every fruit found between the equator and. the Arctic circle. All along the Atlantic the country is bordered by a broad tract, called the tierra caliente, or hot region, which has the usual high temperature of equinoctial lands. Parched and sandy plains are intermingled with others of exuberant fertility, almost impervious from thickets of aromatic shrubs and wild flowers, in the midst of which tower up trees of that magnificent growth which is found only within the tropics. In this wilderness of sweets lurks the fatal malaria, engendered, probably, by the decomposition of rank vegetable substances in a hot and humid soil. The season of the bilious fever,- vomito, as it is called,- which scourges these coasts, continues from the spring to the autumnal equinox, when it is checked by the cold winds that descend from Hudson’s Bay. These winds in the winter season frequently freshen into tempests, and, sweeping down the Atlantic coast and the winding Gulf of Mexico, burst with the fury of a hurricane on its unprotected shores, and on the neighbouring West India islands. Such are the mighty spells with which Nature has surrounded this land of enchantment, as if to guard the golden treasures locked up within its bosom. The genius and enterprise of man have proved more potent than her spells. After passing some twenty leagues across this burning region, the traveller finds himself rising into a purer atmosphere. His limbs recover their elasticity. He breathes more freely, for his senses are not now oppressed by the sultry heats and intoxicating perfumes of the valley. The aspect of nature, too, has changed, and his eye no longer revels among the gay variety of colours with which the landscape was painted there. The vanilla, the indigo, and the flowering cocoa-groves disappear as he 9 advances. The sugar-cane and the glossy-leaved banana still accompany him; and, when he has ascended about four thousand feet, he sees in the unchanging verdure, and the rich foliage of the liquid-amber tree, that he has reached the height where clouds and mists settle, in their passage from the Mexican Gulf. This is the region of perpetual humidity; but he welcomes it with pleasure, as announcing his escape from the influence of the deadly vomito. He has entered the tierra templada, or temperate region, whose character resembles that of the temperate zone of the globe. The features of the scenery become grand, and even terrible. His road sweeps along the base of mighty mountains, once gleaming with volcanic fires, and still resplendent in their mantles of snow, which serve as beacons to the mariner, for many a league at sea. All around he beholds traces of their ancient combustion, as his road passes along vast tracts of lava, bristling in the innumerable fantastic forms into which the fiery torrent has been thrown by the obstacles in its career. Perhaps, at the same moment, as he casts his eye down some steep slope, or almost unfathomable ravine, on the margin of the road, he sees their depths glowing with the rich blooms and enamelled vegetation of the tropics.

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