In Episode 9, Cortes returns to the Valley of Mexico, bringing with him nearly a thousand refreshed Spanish soldiers, and tens of thousands of Tlaxcalan warriors. A brutal siege would grind the Mexica down until their ability to resist was done. This would be the end of Mexica power and culture in the valley. Part 1 - The March to Texcoco Cortes returns to the Valley of Mexico and is welcomed by a young prince. Part 2 - The Players Are Set With Cortes camped in Texcoco, backed by his Tlaxcala and Acolhua allies, and Cuauhtemoc and the remainder of the Mexica in Tenochtitlan - the sides were ..read more

In Episode 7, Cortes enters the Mexica capital and is welcomed. But things quickly go bad and violence erupts. Part 1 - Entering Tenochtitlan Cortes, his Spanish soldiers and 4 or 5 thousand Tlaxcalan warriors enter Tenochtitlan along the causeway. Part 2 - Meeting Moctezuma Moctezuma emerges from the crowd to welcome Cortes to Tenochtitlan. Part 3 - Guests in the Capital The Spanish are welcomed and granted use of the Palace of Axayacatl, the former Tlatoani. Part 4 - The Hostage Moctezuma In one of history's boldest moves, Cortes takes Moctezuma hostage in his own capital and begins to m ..read more

In Episode 9, Cortes returns to the Valley of Mexico, bringing with him nearly a thousand refreshed Spanish soldiers, and tens of thousands of Tlaxcalan warriors. A brutal siege would grind the Mexica down until their ability to resist was done. This would be the end of Mexica power and culture in the valley. Part 1 - The March to Texcoco Cortes returns to the Valley of Mexico and is welcomed by a young prince. Part 2 - The Players Are Set With Cortes camped in Texcoco, backed by his Tlaxcala and Acolhua allies, and Cuauhtemoc and the remainder of the Mexica in Tenochtitlan - the sides were ..read more

In Episode 8, Cortes wears out his welcome in Tenochtitlan and sacrifices Moctezuma in a final attempt at saving his ambition: the greatest city in the New World. The Noche Triste, among the most iconic nights in Mexican history, plays out as the Spanish-Tlaxcala army flees the city. Part 1 - Cortes Returns to Tenochtitlan Following the Toxcatl Massacre, which decapitated the Mexica nobility in Cortes' absence, he returns to take command of a bad situation. Part 2 - Death of Moctezuma Holed up and pinned down in Axayactl's palace, Moctezuma is killed. Part 3 - Noche Triste On the most famou ..read more

In Episode 7, Cortes enters the Mexica capital and is welcomed. But things quickly go bad and violence erupts. Part 1 - Entering Tenochtitlan Cortes, his Spanish soldiers and 4 or 5 thousand Tlaxcalan warriors enter Tenochtitlan along the causeway. Part 2 - Meeting Moctezuma Moctezuma emerges from the crowd to welcome Cortes to Tenochtitlan. Part 3 - Guests in the Capital The Spanish are welcomed and granted use of the Palace of Axayacatl, the former Tlatoani. Part 4 - The Hostage Moctezuma In one of history's boldest moves, Cortes takes Moctezuma hostage in his own capital and begins to m ..read more

In Episode 6, Cortes continues his march toward Tenochtitlan with a fateful and violent stop in Cholula. Part 1 - Cholula Cortes and his 400 Spanish soldiers enter Cholula while the nearly 10,000-strong Tlaxcala and Totonac armies wait outside the city. Here they commit one of the worst atrocities ever committed in the Conquest of the New World. Part 2 - Word of the Destruction of Cholula Word of the incomprehensible destruction of Cholula spreads, and with it; fear. Part 3 - Up the Volcano Diego de Ordaz heads the volcano Popocatepetl and gets the first glimpse of Tenochtitlan and Lake Texcoc ..read more

In Episode 5, Cortes marched inland toward Tenochtitlan and passes through difficult terrain and battles on his way to finding a new and powerful ally. Part 1 - Departing Cempoala Cortes and his men depart the Totonac town of Cempoala and head into the lush highlands of the Sierra Madre. Part 2 - Deserts, Valleys and Volcanoes The Spanish expedition reaches the desert highlands and the men suffer from hypothermia, dehydration and hunger.  Part 3 - The Fight to Tlaxcala Several local people, including the Otomi, attack the Spanish. Part 4 - New Allies in Tlaxcala Cortes makes a powerful ne ..read more

In Episode 4, Cortes digs in and settles on the coast. He encounters a new people, the Totonacs, and discovers their conflict with the Aztec Triple Alliance. Part 1 – The Totonacs Cortes learns of the Totonacs, who invite him to meet Xicomecoatl, leader of the town of Cempoala. Cortes learns of their subjugation by the Aztecs, and the anger they hold for Moctezuma. Part 2 – Cempoala Cortes passes through Cempoala on his way North. The Spaniards are stunned by the beauty of Cempoala. They stay a few days before moving on. Part 3 – Quiahuitzlan Having spotted a mountain town from a coastal explo ..read more

Episode Three – Along the Coast Cortes departs Maya country and heads north, to Triple Alliance (Aztec) territory. A messenger spots the ships, and this begins a year long political dance between Moctezuma and Cortes. Despite Moctezuma's attempts to curtail the Spanish push inland, Cortes discovers divides among the people. Part 1 – Closing out Business in Potonchan Following his victory at the Battle of Cintla, Cortes spent two weeks in the regional capital Potonchan, which he had named Santa Maria de la Victoria. In that time he prepared to sail north to San Juan de Ulua, where Captain Grij ..read more

Cortés, Extremadura and the New World. In Episode 2, we explore Extremadura Spain, home of some of the most vicious conquistadors where Cortes was raised. The narrative follows Cortes from his childhood in the small town of Medellin to his first lessons in genocide in Cuba through the climactic battles with the Maya. Part 1 – Extremadura, Home of Conquistadors Part 2 – Life in the Indies Part 3 – Tabasco Part 4 – Taking of Potonchan Part 5 – Battle of Cintla Episode 2 Credits Written, produced and performed by Jeremy Lipps. ~ Music ~ Intro Coda, acoustic guitar by Valentin Sosnitskiy Fuego ..read more