May–August 1521 CEReputable source · 2 sourcesWell documented
Cuauhtémoc and the Siege of Tenochtitlan
On the timeline · around May–August 1521 CE ·
What happened
The young Cuauhtemoc became the last Aztec emperor and led a fierce defence. In 1521 Cortés returned with thousands of indigenous allies and launched purpose-built brigantines onto the lake, beginning a brutal siege of Tenochtitlan that lasted some 93 days.
Why it matters
The 93-day siege — fought street by street and cut off by the ships that ruled the lake — reduced the greatest city in the Americas to ruins.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. The Fall of Tenochtitlan · Reputable source
- World History Encyclopedia. Cuauhtemoc · Reputable source