June 30: The Spanish conquistadors led by Hernan Cortes struggling to get out of Tenochtitlan in 1520.

Hernan Cortes

“The Night of Sorrows” of June 30, 1530, was a major event during the Spanish conquest of Mexico where Hernan Cortes and his army had to find how to flee the city of Tenochtitlan, Aztecs’ capital, after killing King Moctezuma II, who Cortes had already as a prisoner.

Cortes. The Conqueror

The name "La Noche Triste" (The Night of Sorrows) emerged from the pain of having lost all the treasures that were stolen from the Aztecs in the form of looting and aggravated theft. That is, the Aztecs stole all of the gold and silver Cortes had stolen from them.

A map of Tenochtitlan and its causeways leading out of the capital.

Moctezuma died, Cortes and Alvarado knew they were in a very precarious position. The rebellion of the Aztecs was swift and the Spaniards had to fly while shooting bullets to the air outside the island of Tenochtitlan.

Battle of The Sad Night

The Aztecs had damaged four of the eight dams and bridges to leave the island. The excessive greed of the conquerors to take charge more gold and silver they could carry weakened their flight away. Aztec army canoes arrived from all sides and many Spaniards drowned and others were killed in fierce fighting.

Tenochtitlán Map From The Memory Of Hernan Cortés. Museo del Templo Mayor.

Hernán Cortés returned for Pedro de Alvarado and found him severely injured. Even Cortes was injured, lost artillery and most horses. The saddest night for the Spanish conquest was over bathed in blood.