The Siege of Tenochtitlan
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The Siege of Tenochtitlan was the final, decisive battle that led to the downfall of the Aztec empire and marked the start of a Spanish civilisation in what is now called Mexico. Hernan Cortes arrived on the shore of Mexico in 1519 with 550 men and 16 horses in search of what was rumoured as the 'great empire' west of his base in Cuba. Cortes came to Mexico with firearms, horses and iron armour, which made Montezuma believe that the Spanish were descendants of the god Quetzalcoatl, so he tried to persuade Cortes with rich gifts to leave. Cortes captured Montezuma II and tried to govern the empire through him, but in 1520 the struggle for control of the 'great empire' led to a bloodbath at the celebration of Toxcatl. The Spanish feared for their lives during the Aztecs' spiritual march and therefore launched an attack. Since the Spanish had firearms that were much more advanced than the Aztecs, the Spanish forced closed the only escape routes for the Aztecs and started to attack people who were partying in the temple. Over 80% of the Aztecs in the temple were killed. The Aztecs fought back. The events past this are uncertain, but it seems that the Aztecs declared that Montezuma II died from injuries caused by the Spanish, but the Spanish declared that