Second relation letter from Hernán Cortés to emperor Charles V facts for kids

The Second relation letter from Hernán Cortés to emperor Charles V is one of five important letters written by Hernán Cortés. He sent these letters to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and his mother, Queen Joanna of Castile. In them, Cortés described his journeys in Mexico and the conquest of the Aztec Empire. This second letter was written on October 30, 1520.

What the Letter is About

Hernán Cortés wrote about events from October 1520 to May 1522 in his second and third letters to Emperor Charles V.

This letter was written about 15 months after Cortés's first letter. In it, Cortés explained the events that led up to the fall of Mexico-Tenochtitlán.

Cortés's Early Decisions

Cortés started the letter by apologizing for taking so long to write. He then explained a big decision he made: he sank his ships! He did this so his men could not turn back and had to stay with him. This showed his strong will to conquer the city. He used this to explain why his journey was so important.

Describing the Aztec Empire

Cortés wrote about the powerful and rich Mexica people. He described their religion and way of life. He also mentioned his meetings with important leaders. One was Xicotencatl, a leader from Tlaxcala. Another was Moctezuma II, the Tlatoani (ruler) of the Aztecs. Cortés received gold from these leaders.

Conflicts and Battles

Cortés also shared his thoughts on the political problems in the Aztec lands. He described his visit to Cholula. Later, he wrote about his disagreements with Moctezuma. He also talked about a big fight with the Mexica people. This battle happened in Mexico-Tenochtitlán while Cortés was away. He had left to meet another Spanish leader, Pánfilo de Narváez.

During this time, the Aztec ruler Moctezuma died. Cortés and his forces were defeated by the Mexica warriors. After this defeat, Cortés and his men went to Tlaxcala. The people of Tlaxcala offered to help Cortés fight against the Mexica.

The Siege of Tenochtitlán

With the help of his new native allies, Cortés began to build special boats called brigantines. These boats were needed to attack Tenochtitlán from the water. The letter also mentions a conflict involving Pedro de Alvarado at the market of Tlatelolco. Cortés wrote about the sacrifices of some Spanish soldiers. Finally, he described the capture of Cuauhtemoc, who was the last Aztec emperor. He also wrote about the defeat of the Mexica and the final fall of Mexico-Tenochtitlán.

See also

In Spanish: Segunda carta de relación de Hernán Cortés al emperador Carlos V para niños