CHAPTER VII. 



1520 — 1521. 



DEATH OF CUITLAHUA HE IS SUCCEEDED BY GUATEMOZIN. 



AZTECS LEARN THE PROPOSED RE-CONQUEST CORTEz's FORCES 



FOR THIS ENTERPRISE. CORTEZ AT TEZCOCO HIS PLANS AND 



ACTS. MILITARY EXPEDITIONS OF CORTEZ IN THE VALLEY. 



OPERATIONS AT CHALCO AND CUERNAVACA. XOCHIMILCO 



RETURN TO TACUBA. CORTEZ RETURNS TO TEZCOCO AND IS 



REINFORCED. 



After a short and brilliant reign of four months, Cuitlahua, 

 the successor of Montezuma, died of small pox, which, at 

 that period, raged throughout Mexico, and he was succeeded by 

 Guauhtemotzin, or, Guatemozin, the nephew of the two last 

 Emperors. This sovereign ascended the Aztec throne in his 

 twenty-fifth year, yet he seems to have been experienced as a 

 soldier and firm as a patriot. 



It is not to be imagined that the Aztec court was long ignorant 

 of the doings of Cortez. It was evident that the bold and daring 

 Spaniard had not only been unconquered in heart and resolution, 

 but that he even meditated a speedy return to the scene of his 

 former successful exploits. The Mexicans felt sure that, upon 

 this occasion, his advent and purposes would be altogether undis- 

 guised, and that when he again descended to the valley in which 

 their capital nestled, he would, in all probability, be prepared to 

 sustain himself and his followers in any position his good fortune 

 and strong arm might secure to him. The news, moreover, of his 

 firm alliance with the Tlascalans and all the discontented tributaries 

 of the Aztec throne, as well as of the reinforcements and muni- 

 tions he received from Vera Cruz, was quickly brought to the city 

 of Mexico ; and every suitable preparation was made, by strength- 

 ening the defences, encouraging the vassals, and disciplining the 

 troops, to protect the menaced empire from impending ruin. 



Nor was Cortez, in his turn, idle in exciting the combined 

 forces of the Spaniards and Indians for the last effort which it was 

 probable he could make for the success of his great enterprise. 



