Chapters 9-12 Summary and Analysis

Chapter Nine highlights two accounts of the massacre that occurred during the Fiesta of Toxcatl. The governor of Cuba had sent a man out to arrest Cortes so Cortes went out to fight against him. The Spanish leader had been away from the city for 20 days when the massacre occurred. The Aztecs had begged for permission to hold the fiesta of Huitzilopochtli. This was their most important fiesta, occurring near Easter and similar in regards to religious importance for the people. The Spaniards wanted to see how the fiesta was celebrated so they were granted permission. The women prepared for the fiesta by grinding seeds on the temple patio. These women had fasted for an entire year in preparation for the event. As they ground the seeds, fully armored Spaniards stopped among them. Some said they were ready to...