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The Battle of Otumba: Cortés's Narrow Escape and Resurgence
Season 4
Episode 185
Published 2 weeks, 3 days ago
Description
In June 1520, Hernán Cortés and his men fled Tenochtitlan on the Noche Triste, where hundreds died. As they limped toward Tlaxcala, an Aztec army of thousands blocked their path at the plain of Otumba. Lucas and Luna break down the desperate battle that turned the tide: how Cortés, outnumbered and exhausted, led a cavalry charge that killed the Aztec commander Matlatzincatl, shattered the enemy formation, and saved the Spanish-Tlaxcalan alliance. They explore the tactical decisions, the role of native allies, and why this often-overlooked fight paved the way for the eventual siege of Tenochtitlan. Featuring insights from Bernal Díaz del Castillo's firsthand account.