Hostilities Break Out in Tenochtitlan

The hostilities in Tenochtitlan marked a critical turning point in the conflict between the Mexica and the Spanish conquistadors. Tensions had been escalating as the Spaniards, led by Hernán Cortés, began to exert control over the Aztec Empire. Moctezuma II, the emperor, found himself in a precarious position, caught between his own people and the foreign invaders. As the Spaniards' influence grew, resentment among the Mexica intensified, leading to a breakdown in relations. The situation reached a boiling point when the Mexica launched a major uprising against the Spanish forces, which culminated in a violent confrontation at the Great Temple. This uprising was fueled by the perception of Moctezuma as a puppet of the Spaniards, leading to his eventual demise during the chaos of the conflict. His death, whether at the hands of the Spaniards or his own people, symbolized the collapse of the traditional authority of the Aztec leadership and further escalated the violence in the city.