|
Iztapalapa was
a settlement used to guard the entrance to one of the great causeways
that connected the island of Tenochtitlan to the valley of Mexico (click
for map). As the invading army of Spaniards approached Iztapala,
they were amazed by what they saw:
"And when we saw all those cities and villages built in the water,
and other great towns on dry land, and that straight and level causeway
leading to Mexico, we were astounded. These great towns…and buildings
rising from the water, all made of stone, seemed like an enchanted
vision…Indeed, some of our soldiers asked whether it was not
all a dream…It was all so wonderful that I do not know how to
describe this first glimpse of things never heard of, seen or dreamed
of before" (Diaz, 214).
As the Spanish army marched closer to Tenochtitlan, Motecuzoma sent
his nephew Cacamatzin, ruler of Texcoco, to greet and accompany Cortes
into the city. On November 8, 1519, Cortes and Motecuzoma met where
the Iztapalapa causeway ended on the island of Tenochtitlan. In his
memoirs, Bernal Diaz described the arrival of Motecuzoma and his entourage:
"[Motecuzoma] approached in a rich litter, accompanied by other
great lords…When we came near to Mexico, at a place where there
were some other small towers, the great Motecuzoma descended from
his litter, and theses other great Caciques [nobles] supported him
beneath a marvelously rich canopy of green feathers, decorated with
gold work, silver, and pearls…it was a marvelous sight. The great
Motecuzoma was magnificently clad…[there were] many more lords
who walked before the great Motecuzoma, sweeping the ground on which
he was to tread, and laying down cloaks so that his feet should not
touch the earth…All kept their eyes lowered most reverently except
those four lords, his nephews, who were supporting him" (Diaz,
217).
According to most sources, Cortes approached Motecuzoma and attempted
to embrace him, but was immediately seized by members of his entourage.
According to the Florentine Codex, Motecuzoma welcomed Cortes with a
moving speech, after which Cortes spoke to Motecuzoma "in his barbarous
tongue" (Florentine Codex, 45). Afterwards, the two groups entered
the city of Tenochtitlan. Today, in Mexico City, a small concrete plaque
adorns the wall of The Hospital de Jesus, at the corner of calles Pino
Suarez and Rep. del Salvador, marking the location where Motecuzoma
and
Cortes first met:
|