What was La Noche Triste?

La Noche Triste, which translates to "The Sad Night," refers to a bloody assault in June 1520 during which the Aztec forces, led by the new tlatoani Cuitláhuac, drove Hernán Cortés and his coalition of Spanish conquistadores and indigenous allies out of the capital city of Tenochtitlán.1

The conflict was sparked by the actions of Pedro de Alvarado, whom Cortés had left in charge of the city. Alvarado had massacred hundreds of Aztec nobles and warriors during a religious festival, inciting a widespread revolt. Following this defeat, Cortés retreated to Tlaxcala, where his forces spent more than five months regrouping before eventually returning to lay siege to the city in 1521.1