Bernal Díaz, True History of the Conquest of New Spain: a Standard history source. Covers AD 1517 – 1520, with 94 events in chronological order. Text license and provenance included.
| Type | Standard history |
|---|---|
| Viewpoint | Outsider account |
| Years covered | AD 1517 – 1520 |
| Events | 94 events, 67 placed on the map |
| Author | Bernal Díaz del Castillo |
| Original title | Historia verdadera de la conquista de la Nueva España |
Regions: The Americas 94
| Year | Place | Event | Passage |
|---|---|---|---|
| AD 1517 | Jaruco | On February 8, 1517, the Córdoba expedition sailed from the port of Acaruco on the north coast of Havana and rounded Cape San Antón after twelve days. | Maudslay vol.1 ch.II |
| AD 1517 | Cape Catoche (Gran Cairo) | Inland from the coast they saw a large town and named it 'Gran Cairo', a size never seen even in Cuba or Hispaniola. | Maudslay vol.1 ch.II |
| AD 1517 | Campeche | On Sunday, St. Lazarus' Day, they landed near the town and named it 'San Lázaro'; its native name was Campeche. | Maudslay vol.1 ch.III |
| AD 1517 | Champotón | While they were getting water, a group of natives in quilted armor came along the shore from the direction of the town of Potonchán: the start of the battle of Champotón. | Maudslay vol.1 ch.IV |
| AD 1517 | Estero de los Lagartos | At the estuary where they got water there were many crocodiles, so it came to be called 'Estero de los Lagartos'; the charts marked it that way too. | Maudslay vol.1 ch.V |
| AD 1517 | On reaching Florida, twenty soldiers whose wounds had healed agreed to go ashore to get water. | Maudslay vol.1 ch.VI | |
| AD 1517 | Havana | Pumping out the battered ships, they sailed in and entered the Puerto de Carenas (today's Havana). | Maudslay vol.1 ch.VI–VII |
| AD 1517 | Trinidad | Three of the men left in Havana decided to go to the town of Trinidad; the author set out for Trinidad. | Maudslay vol.1 ch.VII |
| AD 1518 | Santiago de Cuba | Velázquez organized a second fleet under his kinsman Juan de Grijalva as commander-in-chief; Ávila, Alvarado, Montejo and others were named captains. | Maudslay vol.1 ch.VIII |
| AD 1518 | Cozumel | The Grijalva fleet rounded Cape Guaniguanico (San Antón) in ten days and, after eight days at sea, first discovered the island of Cozumel. | Maudslay vol.1 ch.VIII–IX |
| AD 1518 | Champotón | The Grijalva fleet landed at Champotón by the same route as Córdoba and was attacked by the natives (chapter 9 title). | Maudslay vol.1 ch.IX–X |
| AD 1518 | Seeing wide water with land on both sides, Captain Alaminos said this was where the island ends and the mainland begins; it was named 'Boca de Términos'. | Maudslay vol.1 ch.IX–X | |
| AD 1518 | Frontera (Rio de Grijalva 어귀) | Grijalva discovered a river named after the chief Tabasco and called it 'Río de Grijalva'. | Maudslay vol.1 ch.XI |
| AD 1518 | Sailing together with four ships, they reached the mouth of a river where a crowd of natives carrying long spears had gathered, and named it 'Río de Banderas'. | Maudslay vol.1 ch.XII | |
| AD 1518 | Veracruz (San Juan de Ulúa 앞) | Because the captain's name was Juan and it was the June feast of St. John, the island was named 'San Juan de Ulúa'. | Maudslay vol.1 ch.XIV |
| AD 1518 | They continued exploring the coast and went up as far as the area corresponding to the province of Pánuco (chapter 16 title). | Maudslay vol.1 ch.XV–XVI | |
| AD 1518 | Santiago de Cuba | Captain Pedro de Alvarado arrived first at Santiago de Cuba carrying gold from the lands discovered, and Velázquez feared he would lose the enterprise before it was accomplished. | Maudslay vol.1 ch.XVI |
| AD 1518 | Santiago de Cuba | The Grijalva fleet returned to Santiago de Cuba (sub-heading of chapter 16, 'THE RETURN TO SANTIAGO DE CUBA'). | Maudslay vol.1 ch.XVI |
| AD 1518 | Santiago de Cuba | Cortés was named commander-in-chief of the third fleet, and there were attempts to block this (chapter 19 title). | Maudslay vol.1 ch.XVIII–XX |
| AD 1519 | Trinidad | Cortés arrived at Trinidad and took in the soldiers who joined him (chapter 21 title). | Maudslay vol.1 ch.XXI |
| AD 1519 | Havana | Cortés's party headed along the south coast to the port of Havana, and the other ships went to the north coast (chapter 23 title). | Maudslay vol.1 ch.XXIII–XXIV |
| AD 1519 | Cortés loaded the horses onto the ships, sent Alvarado to the north coast, and ordered him to wait at Cape San Antón. | Maudslay vol.1 ch.XXV | |
| AD 1519 | Cozumel | He sent two Indian merchants of Cozumel across the strait with a letter and two boats carrying ransom: an attempt to rescue the Spanish captives. | Maudslay vol.1 ch.XXVI–XXVII |
| AD 1519 | Cozumel | Aguilar, a Spaniard held by the Indians, hears the news that we have returned (chapter 29). | Maudslay vol.1 ch.XXVIII–XXIX |
| AD 1519 | Frontera (Rio de Grijalva 어귀) | On March 12, 1519, the whole fleet arrived at the mouth of the Río de Grijalva (Tabasco). | Maudslay vol.1 ch.XXXI |
| AD 1519 | Frontera (Rio de Grijalva 어귀) | After early Mass on the morning of the Feast of the Annunciation (March 25), they formed up and set out against the great Indian army: the battle of Cintla. | Maudslay vol.1 ch.XXXIII |
| AD 1519 | Frontera (Rio de Grijalva 어귀) | The author describes that her bearing showed that Doña Marina was the daughter of a great chief and a lady with domains and vassals (chapter 37). | Maudslay vol.1 ch.XXXVI–XXXVII |
| AD 1519 | Veracruz (San Juan de Ulúa 앞) | On Holy Thursday of 1519, the whole fleet arrived at the port of San Juan de Ulúa; Alaminos knew the harbor. | Maudslay vol.1 ch.XXXVIII |
| AD 1519 | Veracruz (San Juan de Ulúa 앞) | After Tendile took gifts to Montezuma, the governor Pitalpitoque stayed in a hut near the camp. | Maudslay vol.1 ch.XXXIX |
| AD 1519 | The soldiers agreed to acclaim Cortés as commander-in-chief and chief justice until the king's orders arrived (sand-dune camp). | Maudslay vol.1 ch.XLII–XLIII | |
| AD 1519 | Zempoala | Cortés's party entered Cempoala, was welcomed by the fat cacique, and stayed in a large lodging. | Maudslay vol.1 ch.XLV–XLVI |
| AD 1519 | Entering the fortified town of Quiahuiztlan, they were received peacefully (chapter 46 title). | Maudslay vol.1 ch.XLVI–XLVII | |
| AD 1519 | After hearing the chiefs' complaints, Cortés said the king had sent him to punish wrongdoing; he then arrested five of Montezuma's tax collectors and declared refusal of obedience and tribute (chapter 47 title). | Maudslay vol.1 ch.XLVII–XLVIII | |
| AD 1519 | Cortés decided to build a fort on the grassland near the salt flats and found 'La Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz' (chapter 48 title). | Maudslay vol.1 ch.XLVIII–XLIX | |
| AD 1519 | The fat cacique and others asked Cortés to go to Cingapacinga, a fortified town where there were Mexican garrisons. | Maudslay vol.1 ch.XLIX | |
| AD 1519 | Zempoala | Having returned from Cingapacinga, Cortés broke the idols at Cempoala (chapter 51 title). | Maudslay vol.1 ch.LI–LII |
| AD 1519 | Sending the agents Puertocarrero and Montejo to the king with reports and letters, they asked the king to entrust Cortés with the government. | Maudslay vol.1 ch.LIV–LV | |
| AD 1519 – 1520 | The agents met Bishop Fonseca, president of the Council of the Indies, at the court in Valladolid. | Maudslay vol.1 ch.LVI | |
| AD 1519 | The author judged that the proposal to get rid of the ships was in fact something Cortés had already decided, made to look like the soldiers' wish (chapter 58). | Maudslay vol.1 ch.LVIII | |
| AD 1519 | Zempoala | In mid-August 1519, Cortés's army formed up and, sending scouts ahead, left Cempoala for Mexico. | Maudslay vol.1 ch.LXI |
| AD 1519 | Tlaxcala | Two envoys took a letter and a hat, were captured before they finished speaking and became prisoners; we waited two days. | Maudslay vol.1 ch.LXII |
| AD 1519 | Tlaxcala | They camped in the town of Teoaxingo (Tebasingo) and its villages (chapter 64 title). | Maudslay vol.1 ch.LXIV–LXV |
| AD 1519 | Tlaxcala | On the morning of September 5, 1519, they inspected the horses: the great battle with the Tlaxcalan army (chapter 65 title). | Maudslay vol.1 ch.LXV |
| AD 1519 | Tlaxcala | The Tlaxcalans again asked for peace, and people from Cempoala came along: peace negotiations (around chapter 68). | Maudslay vol.1 ch.LXVII–LXIX |
| AD 1519 | Tlaxcala | Leaders of the Tlaxcalan capital told their general Xicotenga four times not to attack but to make peace, yet Xicotenga prepared to strike the camp with 20,000 elite troops (chapter 70). | Maudslay vol.1 ch.LXX–LXXI |
| AD 1519 | Tlaxcala | Cortés, feverish, was talking with Montezuma's envoys when word came that the Tlaxcalan commander-in-chief had come to make peace. | Maudslay vol.1 ch.LXXIII |
| AD 1519 | Tlaxcala | A Tlaxcalan said they were a poor people with no gold, silver, jewels, cotton cloth or even salt, and that Montezuma blocked trade. | Maudslay vol.1 ch.LXXI–LXXIII |
| AD 1519 | Tlaxcala | On September 23, 1519, Cortés's army entered the city of Tlaxcala. | Maudslay vol.1 ch.LXXV |
| AD 1519 | Tlaxcala | Mase Escasi and Xicotenga explained the defenses of the city of Mexico, the depth of the lake, the causeways and the wooden bridges. | Maudslay vol.1 ch.LXXVIII–LXXIX |
| AD 1519 | Cholula | The Cholulans sent four humble natives to excuse their failure to go to Tlaxcala (chapter 81 title). | Maudslay vol.1 ch.LXXXI |
| AD 1519 | Cholula | Cortés's party entered Cholula and received a lavish welcome (chapter 82 title). | Maudslay vol.2 ch.LXXXII |
| AD 1519 | Cholula | On Montezuma's orders a plot to kill the Spaniards was made at Cholula, and its outcome unfolded (chapter 83 title). | Maudslay vol.2 ch.LXXXIII–LXXXIV |
| AD 1519 | Leaving Cholula, they marched toward the pass between the two volcanoes (chapter 86 title). | Maudslay vol.2 ch.LXXXVI | |
| AD 1519 | Amecameca | They crossed the pass and reached Amecameca (chapter 86). | Maudslay vol.2 ch.LXXXVI–LXXXVII |
| AD 1519 | Ayotzingo | They were met at Ayotzingo, on the way to Chalco (around chapter 87, based on the itinerary in Appendix C). | Maudslay vol.2 ch.LXXXVII–LXXXVIII |
| AD 1519 | Iztapalapa | Reaching a broad causeway, they marched toward Iztapalapa and saw cities and villages standing on the water. | Maudslay vol.2 ch.LXXXVII–LXXXVIII |
| AD 1519 | Mexico City (Tenochtitlan) | The great chiefs whom Montezuma had sent ahead welcomed Cortés and kissed the hand they had placed on the ground: entry into Mexico. | Maudslay vol.2 ch.LXXXVIII |
| AD 1519 | Mexico City (Tenochtitlan) | After supper, Montezuma came to the Spaniards' lodging with many attendants. | Maudslay vol.2 ch.LXXXIX |
| AD 1519 | Mexico City (Tenochtitlan) | Cortés went out with mounted soldiers to the market of Tlatelolco. | Maudslay vol.2 ch.XCII |
| AD 1519 | Mexico City (Tenochtitlan) | Having set up a church and altar in the lodging, they found the room of Montezuma's father and the treasure room, and decided to arrest Montezuma (chapter 93 title). | Maudslay vol.2 ch.XCIII |
| AD 1519 | Nautla (Almería) | Juan de Escalante and the soldiers who had guarded Villa Rica fought the Mexican troops, and Escalante was killed (chapter 94). | Maudslay vol.2 ch.XCIV |
| AD 1519 | Mexico City (Tenochtitlan) | Capture of Montezuma (chapter 96). | Maudslay vol.2 ch.XCV–XCVII |
| AD 1519 – 1520 | Mexico City (Tenochtitlan) | Two small sailing boats for the lake were launched and decorated with royal banners (chapter 99). | Maudslay vol.2 ch.XCIX |
| AD 1519 – 1520 | Mexico City (Tenochtitlan) | Cacamatzin and other nephews and relatives of Montezuma plotted with other lords to attack the Spanish troops and free Montezuma (chapter 100). | Maudslay vol.2 ch.C |
| AD 1519 – 1520 | Mexico City (Tenochtitlan) | Montezuma and several chiefs swore loyalty to the king (chapter 101 title). | Maudslay vol.2 ch.CI |
| AD 1519 – 1520 | Coatzacoalcos | Captains were sent to survey the gold mines, rivers and harbors, including the great river of Coatzacoalcos (chapter 102 title). | Maudslay vol.2 ch.CII–CIII |
| AD 1520 | Mexico City (Tenochtitlan) | After first setting aside the king's fifth, Cortés demanded his own fifth, which he had been promised on the sand dunes (chapter 105). | Maudslay vol.2 ch.CV |
| AD 1520 | Mexico City (Tenochtitlan) | Montezuma told Cortés to leave Mexico with his soldiers, on the grounds that chiefs and priests were plotting rebellion (chapter 108 title). | Maudslay vol.2 ch.CVII–CVIII |
| AD 1520 | Velázquez hurried to send a great fleet with Pánfilo de Narváez as commander-in-chief (chapter 109). | Maudslay vol.2 ch.CIX | |
| AD 1520 | Veracruz (San Juan de Ulúa 앞) | The Narváez fleet arrived at the port of San Juan de Ulúa (Veracruz) (chapter 110). | Maudslay vol.2 ch.CIX–CXI |
| AD 1520 | Five envoys from Narváez demanded that Sandoval at Villa Rica surrender (chapter 111 title). | Maudslay vol.2 ch.CXI–CXII | |
| AD 1520 | When Narváez tried to arrest the oidor Ayllón and send him away, his relatives and soldiers grew indignant and crossed over to Sandoval (chapter 113). | Maudslay vol.2 ch.CXIII | |
| AD 1520 | Zempoala | After driving out Ayllón, Narváez camped at Cempoala with his baggage, supplies and munitions. | Maudslay vol.2 ch.CXIV |
| AD 1520 | Mexico City (Tenochtitlan) | Montezuma asked Cortés why he was going to fight Narváez (chapter 115 title). | Maudslay vol.2 ch.CXV–CXVI |
| AD 1520 | Zempoala | The Mercedarian friar reached Narváez's camp and met the leading men as Cortés had instructed (chapter 117). | Maudslay vol.2 ch.CXVII |
| AD 1520 | They inspected the long lances made in the village of Chinanteca and trained to block Narváez's cavalry (chapter 118 title). | Maudslay vol.2 ch.CXVII–CXIX | |
| AD 1520 | Andrés de Duero, Usagre, and two Cuban natives arrived at Cortés's camp (chapter 119 title). | Maudslay vol.2 ch.CXIX–CXX | |
| AD 1520 | The order to march to attack Narváez's camp, Cortés's speech, and the soldiers' reply (chapter 122 title). | Maudslay vol.2 ch.CXXII–CXXIII | |
| AD 1520 | Zempoala | At dawn on May 29, 1520, Cortés made a surprise attack on Narváez's camp, defeated him and took him prisoner (chapters 122–123). | Maudslay vol.2 ch.CXXII–CXXIII |
| AD 1520 | Sending Francisco de Lugo to the port, they brought the captains and pilots of Narváez's fleet to Cempoala, and had the sails, rudders and compasses removed (chapter 124). | Maudslay vol.2 ch.CXXIV | |
| AD 1520 | Tlaxcala | Marching at full speed, the whole party reached Tlaxcala and learned that Montezuma's troops had not stopped attacking until the news of Narváez's defeat came (chapter 125). | Maudslay vol.2 ch.CXXV |
| AD 1520 | Mexico City (Tenochtitlan) | Montezuma was placed at the parapet of a rooftop, guarded by soldiers, and made to speak to the people: the great Mexican assault (chapter 126). | Maudslay vol.2 ch.CXXVI |
| AD 1520 | Mexico City (Tenochtitlan) | When Montezuma died, Cortés decided to inform the chiefs who were attacking (chapter 127). | Maudslay vol.2 ch.CXXVI–CXXVIII |
| AD 1520 | The night of the retreat: the guns and crossbows had been left on the bridges, so they charged with swords in a chaotic melee (chapter 128). | Maudslay vol.2 ch.CXXVIII | |
| AD 1520 | Otumba | The great battle of Otumba: close fighting with toes touching, and enemies fighting like dogs (chapter 128). | Maudslay vol.2 ch.CXXVIII |
| AD 1520 | Tlaxcala | The Spanish troops reached the great city of Tlaxcala and were welcomed there (chapter 129 title). | Maudslay vol.2 ch.CXXIX–CXXX |
| AD 1520 | Tepeaca (Segura de la Frontera) | They went to the Tepeaca region to pacify it (chapter 130). | Maudslay vol.2 ch.CXXX |
| AD 1520 | Quecholac | From Segura de la Frontera they swept through the area of Quecholac and Tecamachalco and pacified it. | Maudslay vol.2 ch.CXXX |
| AD 1520 | A ship from Cuba under Captain Pedro Barba, sent by Velázquez, arrived and was captured (chapter 131 title). | Maudslay vol.2 ch.CXXXI | |
| AD 1520 | Huaquechula | The new king Cuauhtémoc sent garrisons to the border and a strong large force toward Huaquechula; the people of Huaquechula asked Cortés for help (chapter 132). | Maudslay vol.2 ch.CXXXII |
| AD 1520 | A ship sent by Francisco de Garay to open up Pánuco reached a harbor near Villa Rica (chapter 133). | Maudslay vol.2 ch.CXXXIII | |
| AD 1520 | Jalacingo | Cortés sent Sandoval as commander, with 200 soldiers and others, to pacify Xalacingo and Cacatami (chapter 134). | Maudslay vol.2 ch.CXXXIV |
| AD 1520 | Tepeaca (Segura de la Frontera) | Gathering the captive slaves, they set aside the king's fifth and decided to brand them with the royal mark (chapter 135). | Maudslay vol.2 ch.CXXXV |
| AD 1520 | The Narváez captains asked to return to Cuba and were allowed; Cortés sent envoys to Castile, Santo Domingo and Jamaica (chapter 136 title). | Maudslay vol.2 ch.CXXXVI |