In 1518, on behalf of the Governor of Cuba, Diego Velazquez, the young Hidalgo recruited a detachment of volunteers to equip an expedition to capture Mexico, inhabited at that time by the mighty Aztecs. Mexican civilization was then at the peak stage of its heyday – not even a century had passed since the first of the great Aztec rulers, established a union of three cities.
Interestingly, the conquest was preceded by several vital mystical signs, which the Aztec priests very ambiguously interpreted. The sacralization of 1000-year cycles, characteristic of Christian dogmatics was especially popular among members of the Franciscan Minorite order, who convinced that after the conversion pagans on earth, the kingdom of God would inevitably come (Wood, 2020). It was this intention that became the primary ideological impulse of the Spanish conquest.
The main tactic was a massive attack, the rapidity and diversity of which could demoralize the enemy, forcing him to surrender as soon as possible. However, of course, the strength and firepower of the Spaniards were many times superior to the Aztec army. A significant role in this unexpected success was played by introducing diseases from Europe through prisoners and the religious beliefs of residents associated with the white-skinned supreme deity Quetzalcoatl. According to Aztec legends, he, in prehistoric times, sailed across the sea but promised to return to proclaim his new glorious kingdom, and this was how Cortes was perceived.
Cortes founded the city of Mexico on the ruins of the majestic Aztec capital. The Spaniards destroyed the pyramids, a cathedral was built in their place, and the residence of the Spanish governor was erected on the ruins of the Montezuma palace. Less than five years have passed, and the capital of the Aztecs — the wealthiest treasury of sculpture – was thoroughly buried under the foundations of Spanish houses, that there was no trace of it.
Reference
Wood, J. B. (2020). 5. How Spanish Was the Spanish Conquest? Reexamining Spanish Success in the New World. Warfare and Culture in World History, Second Edition (pp. 101-122). New York University Press.