June 30, 1520 CEReputable source · 2 sourcesWell documented
Moctezuma's Death and La Noche Triste
On the timeline · around June 30, 1520 CE ·
What happened
As the city rose in revolt, Moctezuma II died — according to Spanish accounts, stoned by his own people. On the night of 30 June 1520, the 'Noche Triste' ('Sad Night'), Cortés and his men fled Tenochtitlan across the causeways, losing perhaps half their force and most of their plundered gold.
Why it matters
The Noche Triste was the Spaniards' worst defeat of the campaign — yet Cortés escaped, regrouped with his allies, and returned to finish the conquest.
How we know
The manner of Moctezuma's death is disputed: Spanish sources say his own people stoned him, while some indigenous accounts blame the Spanish.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Cortés & the Fall of the Aztec Empire · Reputable source
- World History Encyclopedia. Montezuma · Reputable source