noche triste

La Noche Triste, or "The Sad Night," was a pivotal event during the Spanish conquest of Mexico. It refers to the night of June 30, 1520, when the Spanish conquistadors, led by Hernán Cortés, were forced to retreat from the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlán.12

After initially being welcomed by the Aztec emperor Moctezuma II, Cortés placed him under house arrest. This move, along with the Spanish massacre of Aztec nobles during a religious festival, sparked a massive revolt. Moctezuma died during the ensuing conflict, and his successor, Cuitláhuac, led the Aztecs in driving the Spanish and their indigenous allies out of the city. The Spanish suffered heavy losses during this desperate flight, hence the name "The Sad Night". This defeat was a temporary setback for Cortés, as he regrouped and eventually conquered Tenochtitlán in 1521.123