The Emperor Moctezuma (also known as "Montezuma") and Cortes met on November 8, 1519, just outside the capital of the Aztec Empire,Tenochtitlan. They exchanged necklaces made from gold and precious stones. Then,in procession,the Spaniards and the Aztecs entered the great city together.
Once inside Tenochtitlan, the spanish soldiers lost little time in placing Moctezuma and his court under guard. Over the next two years, the Aztecs put up strong resistance to the spanish invaders, but in 1521 the Aztec Empire was overthrown,and Cortes became the first governor of "New Spain."
Aztecs wealth
The wealth of the defeated Aztec Empire was beyond the wildest dreams of the spanish invaders. Some of the gifts given to Cortes included golden ornaments in the shapes of dogs,pumas,jaguars,and monkeys, as well as two round plates of gold and silver "as large as cartwheels." Most of the beautiful gold objects seized by the Spaniards were melted down to make them easier to bring back to spain. The plunder of the new World had begun.
More Spanish adventures
News of the wealth of New Spain traveled back to Europe. Many Spanish adventurers would soon try to make their fortunes in the New World. One of these was a soldier named Francisco Pizarro.
Brilliant one