What happened when Cortes and his soldiers first arrived in the Aztec capital of tenochtitlan?
When Cortes and his soldiers first arrived in the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan, they were welcomed by the Aztec ruler Moctezuma, who believed Cortes to be the god Quetzalcoatl returning as prophesied. The Aztecs treated Cortes and his men as honored guests and allowed them to enter their city without resistance.
However, tensions soon arose between the Spanish soldiers and the Aztecs as Cortes sought to establish control over the city. The Spanish eventually took Moctezuma hostage in an attempt to assert their authority, leading to a major conflict known as the Noche Triste (Sad Night) where the Aztecs revolted against the Spanish and drove them out of the city. This event marked the beginning of the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire.