The Conquest of Mexico

The facts surrounding the conquest of Mexico are so amazing that, were it a work of fiction it would be beyond belief. However, the characters involved in this momentous undertaking leap from the pages of the chronicles like fictional protagonists. Each of the leading personalities is a strongly defined character, such as the inflexible Cortes, the anguished Moctezuma, the fascinating Marina, the rebellious general Xicotencatl of Tlaxcala and the brutal Alverado. The list goes on but together they contribute to an historical vista that, from a distance, appears both unreal and epic, like a Homeric poem. The destruction of a flourishing and powerful empire at the peak of its power at the hands of a group of Spanish adventurous guided by blind faith in the Cross and the desire for glory and wealth seems totally incredible. The following pages explain in detail how these seemingly incredible events came about.