Moctezuma II receives Hernán Cortés in Tenochtitlan

On November 8, 1519, Hernán Cortés and his troops arrived in Tenochtitlan and were received by the Mexica ruler, Moctezuma Xocoyotzin. The tlatoani provided asylum in the former residences of his father, Axayácatl, located in what is now the historic center of Mexico City.

Historical accounts, including those by Bernal Díaz del Castillo, describe the splendor of Moctezuma’s appearance, noting his elaborate clothing adorned with gold, silver, pearls, and jade. Moctezuma reportedly hosted the Spaniards with gifts, including the Quetzalcóatl headdress, under the belief that their arrival was linked to the return of the deity Quetzalcóatl.

Following their arrival, the Spanish forces utilized the Palace of Axayácatl as a headquarters and a site to hold indigenous nobility, including Moctezuma himself. The encounter, facilitated by the interpreter Doña Marina, took place near the modern-day intersection of República del Salvador and Avenida Pino Suárez.