La Noche Triste facts for kids
La Noche Triste (which means "The Sad Night" in Spanish) was a very important battle between the Spanish conquistadors and the Aztecs. The Aztecs were a powerful native people who lived in Mexico.
This famous battle happened near the Aztec capital city of Tenochtitlan. It took place on the shores of Lake Texcoco. The fight happened during the night between June 30 and July 1, 1520.
Contents
Who Fought in the Battle?
The Spanish side was led by Hernán Cortés. He had between 600 and 1,000 Spanish soldiers. They also had many native Mexican allies, about 20,000 of them. These allies helped the Spanish.
The Aztecs were led by Cuitláhuac. He was the son of their previous leader, Moctezuma II. The Aztec army was much larger, with about 50,000 soldiers.
What Happened During the Sad Night?
The Aztec soldiers won this important battle. They forced the Spanish army to leave their city of Tenochtitlan. It was a big defeat for the Spanish.
The Spanish army lost almost all their valuable equipment. They also lost the gold they had taken from Tenochtitlan. Many soldiers were killed or captured.
How Many Were Lost?
Between 400 and 800 Spanish soldiers were killed or captured during "The Sad Night." Even more of their native Mexican allies were lost. About 2,000 to 4,000 of them were killed or captured. The Aztecs also had losses, but fewer. They lost about 1,000 soldiers.
Images for kids
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A map of Tenochtitlan and its causeways leading out of the capital
See also
In Spanish: Noche Triste para niños
