Battle of Cempoala facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Cempoala |
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| Part of the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire | |||||||
 Area of Cempoala where the battle took place |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Cempoala of Totonacapan Chinantla  Spanish Empire |
Governorate of Cuba |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Hernán Cortés Gonzalo de Sandoval |
Pánfilo de Narváez (WIA) (POW) | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 266 Spanish 200 Chinantec warriors |
Between 550 and 750 Spanish:
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 4 Spanish killed Many Spanish wounded Indigenous losses unknown |
5 killed Many wounded |
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The Battle of Cempoala was a fight that happened on May 27, 1520, in a place called Cempoala, Mexico. It was fought between two groups of Spanish soldiers. One group was led by Pánfilo de Narváez, and the other was led by Hernán Cortés. Cortés's soldiers were also helped by brave warriors from the Chinantec people. This battle was an important part of the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire.
Contents
Why the Battle Happened
Cortés's Mission
Hernán Cortés was exploring eastern Mexico. He was collecting valuable treasures. He wanted to show the King of Spain that his journey was important. This way, the King might let him continue his work. Cortés did not want to be controlled by Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar, who was the governor of Cuba.
Velázquez Sends Narváez
When Governor Velázquez found out about Cortés's actions, he was very angry. He decided to send Pánfilo de Narváez to Mexico. Narváez's job was to take control of Cortés's expedition. On March 5, Narváez set sail for Mexico.
Narváez's Difficult Journey
Narváez's trip was very difficult from the start. Strong storms sank 6 of his 19 ships. About 50 men died in these storms. Some of his ships also got separated. Narváez finally landed in Mexico on April 22. By this time, Cortés had already found a grand place to stay in Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital.
Planning the Attack
Narváez Takes Cempoala
As soon as Narváez landed, he attacked a small Spanish outpost. This outpost was led by a man named Sandoval, who was loyal to Cortés. Narváez's attack failed. He lost several prisoners, who were then sent to Cortés. These prisoners warned Cortés about the danger Narváez posed.
In mid-May, Cortés left Tenochtitlan to deal with Narváez. Narváez had more soldiers than Cortés. He used this advantage to capture the city of Cempoala. He made Cempoala his main base. Narváez took eight noblewomen from Cempoala as hostages. These women had married Spanish men who were with Cortés. Narváez also let his soldiers treat the local people badly.
Cempoala's Ruler Seeks Help
Xicomecoatl, who was the ruler of Cempoala, was an ally of Cortés. He threatened to call Cortés for help. But Narváez forced Xicomecoatl to obey him.
Cortés Gathers Allies
Cortés exchanged messages with Narváez. When they couldn't agree, Cortés decided to free Cempoala by force. He sent a soldier to contact his Chinantec allies. The soldier returned with 200 Chinantec warriors. These warriors carried long pikes, which were good for fighting against Narváez's horsemen. They also promised that 2,000 more warriors would come later.
The Battle of Cempoala
On May 27, Cortés, Sandoval, and other Spanish captains launched a surprise attack. They attacked Narváez's forces in the middle of the night. Cortés had 266 Spanish soldiers and 200 native Chinantec warriors.
It was raining heavily during the battle. Cortés's forces quickly captured Narváez's cavalry (horsemen) and artillery (cannons). Narváez's soldiers retreated to the main temple in Cempoala. But they tried to run away as Cortés's forces surrounded the temple.
During the confusion, Narváez was badly hurt. A pike hit him in the eye. This allowed Cortés's men to capture him.
Xicomecoatl's Injury
During the fighting, Xicomecoatl, the ruler of Cempoala, hid in Narváez's house. There, one of Narváez's soldiers stabbed him. He was badly wounded. After the battle, Cortés learned about his ally's injuries. He ordered Xicomecoatl to be freed and taken to his room to get medical care.
What Happened Next
Narváez Becomes a Prisoner
Narváez was taken prisoner for two years. Most of his soldiers decided to join Cortés. They were attracted by the promise of riches from Tenochtitlan. This victory for Cortés was very important. It removed the biggest threat to his mission to conquer the Aztec Empire. Instead of stopping Cortés, Governor Velázquez had accidentally made Cortés's army stronger.
The 1,500 Chinantec warriors who were supposed to help Cortés arrived late. They did not take part in the battle. Instead, they were used to guard Narváez's captured soldiers. It is believed that the first 200 Chinantec warriors did fight in the battle.
The Smallpox Outbreak
Several of Narváez's soldiers had a disease called smallpox. During the battle, the disease spread to some of Cortés's soldiers. Many of these soldiers then went to Tenochtitlan. They unknowingly spread smallpox to the Native American people there. This terrible disease caused a huge pandemic. It killed millions of Native Americans. Some historians believe it may have killed as much as 90% of the native population.
Images for kids
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Area of Cempoala where the battle took place
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The defeat of Pánfilo de Narváez, shown in an old drawing by Diego Muñoz Camargo.
See also
In Spanish: Batalla de Cempoala para niños
