388. The Fall of the Aztecs: The Festival of Blood (Part 5)

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: This episode recounts Cortés’s return to Tenochtitlan in 1520 after defeating a rival Spanish expedition, only to find Pedro de Alvarado’s massacre of festival-goers has provoked a revolt. The Spaniards become trapped in the palace with Moctezuma as their authority collapses. The hosts weigh competing accounts of the violence and Moctezuma’s death, emphasizing both the Spaniards’ peril and the limits of the historical evidence.

Main Topics: Cortés’s gamble and defeat of Narváez: Cortés leaves a small force in Tenochtitlan while returning to the coast to confront Pánfilo de Narváez, sent by Cuba’s governor. Through a surprise attack and negotiations, Cortés defeats Narváez and gains the allegiance of many of his men. Cortés’s character and historical reputation: The hosts question Matthew Restall’s portrayal of Cortés as a mediocrity, arguing that his repeated high-risk decisions and ability to inspire and manipulate others point to significant, if morally troubling, qualities. Alvarado’s massacre during the festival: While Cortés is away, Alvarado orders an attack on unarmed people celebrating a religious festival. The massacre kills hundreds and turns a tense, uncertain situation into open conflict. The Spaniards trapped in Tenochtitlan: Cortés returns with reinforcements but finds the city hostile. The Mexica attack the Spaniards’ palace refuge, block escape routes and leave the newcomers short of food and water. Moctezuma’s lost authority and disputed death: The hosts consider why Moctezuma could no longer calm the crowd and compare conflicting accounts of his death, including claims that he was struck by a stone or killed by the Spaniards. Uncertain and interested historical sources: Spanish chronicles, Indigenous accounts, and later writings offer different perspectives, but each may reflect political or personal agendas. The hosts distinguish plausible interpretations from details that cannot be verified.

Key Arguments: Cortés’s decision to divide his forces and march to the coast was an extraordinary gamble; his victory over Narváez depended on surprise, persuasion, and the defection of opponents, rather than simply superior numbers. Alvarado’s attack was a deliberate strike on an unarmed religious gathering. The hosts stress the moral irony that Spanish fears of Indigenous sacrifice were followed by Spaniards killing hundreds of festival-goers. The uprising cannot be reduced to Mexica passivity or confusion: Moctezuma’s authority had eroded, and the crowd and rival factions had their own motives and capacity to act. The familiar claim that Moctezuma died after being hit by a stone comes from contested accounts. The hosts regard Spanish responsibility for his death as plausible, but conclude that the evidence cannot establish exactly what happened. The Spaniards’ fear and peril were real even when their accounts of cannibalism, omens, and other threats may have reflected projection or exaggeration.

Data Points: Cortés’s age: Born around 1485 - The hosts place his birth in Medellín, Spain, and identify him as a contemporary of Alvarado. Setting and year: Tenochtitlan, 1520 - The episode’s central events, including the festival massacre and the siege-like standoff, take place in the Mexica capital. Men Cortés took to the coast: About 80 - Cortés left roughly 120 men behind in Tenochtitlan under Alvarado’s command. Narváez’s force: About 1,000 men - Narváez had been sent by Cuba’s governor to deal with Cortés; after his defeat, many of his men joined Cortés. Cortés’s reinforcements: 80 gunners and 80 crossbowmen - The episode lists these among the military resources Cortés had after the confrontation with Narváez. Spanish losses in the attack on Narváez: 2 men - The hosts say Cortés won the night attack with the loss of two men. Festival participants: 400 young men - The opening reconstruction describes 400 dancers at the religious gathering before Alvarado’s attack. Moctezuma’s time as ruler: About 18 years - The hosts cite his long experience when discussing his authority and possible response to the crisis.

Pivotal Quotes: "Let them die" — Alvarado, as dramatized in the opening narration: The command introduces the massacre during the festival in Tenochtitlan. "It is better to die for a good cause than to live with dishonor." — Cortés, as recounted by the hosts: Cortés invokes the Song of Roland to encourage his men before their surprise attack on Narváez’s camp; the hosts note the irony that their cause was largely about profit. "Who is Montesquieu? Now, to give us orders, why should we listen to Montezuma?" — A voice in the crowd, as reported in the discussion: The reported challenge captures the collapse of Moctezuma’s authority during the revolt.

Implications: The episode shows how conquest and revolt were shaped by risky decisions, violence, alliances, and collapsing authority—not inevitable outcomes. It also underscores that accounts of conquest must be read critically: sources may preserve valuable perspectives while serving the interests of their authors.