In Episode 4, Cortes digs in and settles on the coast where he builds a town called Villa Rica. He encounters a new people, the Totonacs, and discovers their conflict with the Aztec Triple Alliance. Cortes then famously burns his ships to keep the expedition focused on what lay inland.
Part 1 – The Totonacs
Cortes learns of the Totonacs, who invite him to meet Xicomecoatl, leader of the town of Cempoala. Cortes learns of their subjugation by the Aztecs, and the anger they hold for Moctezuma.
Part 2 – Cempoala
Cortes passes through Cempoala on his way North. The Spaniards are stunned by the beauty of Cempoala. They stay a few days before moving on.
Part 3 – Quiahuitzlan
Having spotted a mountain town from a coastal exploration, Cortes marches for the town, called Quiahuitzlan.
Part 4 – Worry in the Capital
With Cortes suddenly established on the coast and allied with their Totonac subjects, the Lords of th Triple Alliance began to feel the severity of these foreigners intent.
Part 5 – Building of Villa Rica
Under the command of the new Chief Justice and Commander Cortes the foundations of the town of Villa Rica de la Veracruz were laid.
Part 6 – Loyalty to the Totonacs
Cortes strikes a deal with the Totonacs to support them in independence from the Triple Alliance in exchange for indigenous support of food, labor and intelligence.
Part 7 – Sinking Ships and Shipping Traffic
The most legendary sub-plot of the “Conquest of Mexico” is Cortes sinking his ships. See below, Episode 4 Breakdown – Sinking Ships, for more historic outtakes for this famous incident.
Part 8 – Garay
A rival arrives off the coast and a confrontation occurs as Cortes seizes several men from the Garay Expedition, out of Jamaica.
Historical Breakdown – Sinking the Ships
Summary – Cortes and the “Sinking of the Ships” is one of the most legendary tales associated with the Conquest of New Spain. There are varying accounts of what happened, ranging from a full on burning of the fleet to a strategic dismantling of the parts in hopes of rebuilding the fleet later. Below are summaries of what the various witnesses and writers said, or didn’t, about the incident.
- Diaz – After breaking up a plot by Diego loyalists and punishing them, Escudero and Cermeno were sentenced to be hanged. Cortés rides to Cempoala with 200 soldiers (Diaz 129). There he discusses his plan to destroy the ships with his trusted men, who all agree. They send Juan de Escalante back to Villa Rica to remove all the anchors and usable goods then destroy the ships.
- Gomara – Discontent from the Velazquez faction led to a plot, which Cortés discovered and punished. He hanged Escudero and Cermeno. Flogged a couple others. (Gom 89). Cortés was already decided on going to Tenochtitlan, and he discussed with sailors about scuttling the ships (drilling holes). He ordered everything of value removed. They beached five, sunk four. At this some men became angry. He then said they could return in a ship, once they divided out those who wanted to return, he sunk that one, now knowing who was against him. (Gom 90-91)
- Cortés – Says based on fear of the Velazquez faction stealing the boats he beached them. (Cort 88).
- De Tapia – Says they scuttled six or seven ships, the flagship was sent back to Spain with the first shipment.
- Aguilar – Says Cortes secretly sent someone to drill holes in the boats. Some men tried to steal the remaining caravel.
- Bernardino – No mention.
Episode 4 Map
Episode 4 Credits
Written, researched, produced and performed by Jeremy Lipps.
Music
Intro Coda, acoustic guitar by Valentin Sosnitskiy
Fourth Imaginary City by cryptic scenery
Daniel Birch, www.danielbirchmusic.com
Early Morning Breakup
Sustained Light
The Gates Are Locked
Meydän, https://meydan.bandcamp.com/
Away
Surreal Forrest
intro by lost dream
guitar percussion by bangcorrupt
Sound Effects
jungle-tropical-birds-and-insects by mikeypme
marching by webbfilmsuk
walk on dirt road by mikeypme
water-lapping by ceivh93
mercado 05 by dobroide
timber tree falling by matt_beer
big bad dogs 5 by robinhood76
horse whinny by inspectorj
ocean waves relaxing waves tranquil geo by davidgtr1
canadian horse running by vero marengere
horses whinnying by leandiviljoen
horse snort by bruno auzet
foley natural water jump mono by nox-sound
Splashing footsteps by soundmary
All music was sourced from freemusicarchive.org
Sound FX via FreeSound.org