Timeline of the main players and events of the Conquest.
1466 – Moctezuma is born.
1485 – Cortes is born in Estremadura, Spain.
1502 – Moctezuma takes the throne as the Ninth Tlatoani of Tenochtitlan.
1504 – At age 19, Cortes arrives in the New World to work under his distant relative, Ovando.
1517 –
Feb. 8 – Cordoba leads the first expedition to mainland Mexico. He is attacked in Catoche and Chompoton, taking severe casualties. Cordoba died of his wounds.
1518 –
April or May – Grijalva sets sail for mainland Mexico and explores from Cozumel around Yucatan to San Juan de Ulua be fore turning back to Cuba.
Nov – Cortes sets sail from Santiago de Cuba for Cozumel, via a few stops in Cuba to recruit and supply.
1519 –
Feb 10 – Cortes departs Havana for Cozumel.
Mar 4- Cortes departs Cozumel for Grijalva River (Diaz).
Mar 12 – Cortes anchors off Grijalva River and enters Tabasco.
Mar – Attacked by Tabascan Maya warriors coming ashore.
Mar – Cortes sends two units out, one is attacked. Alonso de Alvarado was able to get back and help Francisco de Lugo’s besieged unit.
Mar – Cortes uses intel from captured Maya to go on offensive, orders horses prepared for battle.
Mar 16 or 18 (“Lady Day,” Diaz p. 74) – Battle of Cintla – Cortes confronts the main Yucatan Maya force in first ever cavalry battle in New World.
“Holy Thursday” – Arrive in Ulua and meet the first Aztec representatives, including Tentlil.
Week after Easter Sunday – The Aztec representatives present the Great Treasure.
April – Cortes founds Vera Cruz.
April – Spanish arrive in Cempoala.
July 26 – First shipment of treasure sent to Castille.
August 16 – Cortes, between 300 and 400 Spaniards, and thousands of Cempoalan porters, warriors and nobles, departed for Tenochtitlan.
Sept 1 – Cortes emerges from the central mountains to the plains near Tlaxcala.
1520 –
June 25 – Moctezuma is wounded during a speech to the people of Tenochtitlan. History recognizes a stone thrown at him by upset Aztecs, others claim Cortes killed him. Both seem plausible.
June 30 – Noche Triste/Noche Victoriosa
July – Battle of Otumba is the final battle of the occupation of Tenochtitlan, as Cortes managed one last victory over the pursuing Aztecs. He would make it to Tlaxcala in the days after the battle.
Dec. 31 – Cortes arrives in Texcoco where he stages for the final Siege of Tenochtitlan.
1521 –
1522 –