Moctezuma Meets Cortes - Nov 8, 1519

On November 8, 1519, Aztec Emperor Moctezuma and Spanish Conquistador Hernan Cortes met for the first time outside the Aztec capital city of Tenochtitlan.

Aztec accounts of the event, compiled by Miguel Leon-Portillo shortly after and published as The Broken Spears, claim that Moctezuma (also Montezuma) believed Cortes was a god.

“Our Lord, you are weary. The journey has tired you, but now you have arrived on the earth. You have come here to site on your throne, to sit under its canopy.”

The accounts also say that Cortes told Moctezuma, “We have come to your house in Mexico as friends. There is nothing to fear.”

Moctezuma would soon be dead, and Cortes would be the ruler of New Spain.

A critical moment in history? I would say so.