Cortés Enters Aztec Capital in 1519
On this day in 1519, the Spanish conquistador arrived in Tenochtitlán, an event that preceded the collapse of the Aztec empire.
By Hiroshi Ferrari ·
Hernán Cortés and his Spanish soldiers entered Tenochtitlán on Nov. 8, 1519. The city served as the capital of the Aztec empire. The site corresponds to the location of present-day Mexico City.
The arrival of the expedition was received by Moctezuma II, the ruler of the Aztec people. Cortés led a force that would eventually bring about the downfall of the empire. The entry into the capital marked a key moment in the Spanish conquest of the region.
This date in history includes other major events spanning several centuries. In 1793, the Louvre in France began admitting the public to its galleries. The museum had already opened officially in August of that year, but public access expanded on this specific day.
Political milestones occurred on Nov. 8 in the United States and Germany. In 1864, Abraham Lincoln won reelection as president, defeating George B. McClellan. In 1923, Adolf Hitler attempted to seize power in Munich with a failed coup known as the Beer Hall Putsch.
Military actions shaped the global stage on this date during the 20th century. In 1942, Allied forces launched Operation Torch, landing in French North Africa. In 1950, U.S. Air Force Lt. Russell J. Brown shot down a North Korean MiG-15, marking the first air-to-air combat between jet warplanes in the Korean War.
The 2000 U.S. presidential election hinged on a statewide recount in Florida that began on Nov. 8. The process determined the winner between George W. Bush and Al Gore. The recount ended on Dec. 12 by order of the U.S. Supreme Court, which delivered the presidency to Bush.
Natural disasters and legal proceedings also occurred on this date. In 2013, Typhoon Haiyan struck the central Philippines. The storm killed more than 7,300 people and displaced over 5 million. In 2018, a wildfire in Northern California killed 85 people and nearly destroyed the community of Paradise.
In 2024, the eight restored bells in the north tower of Notre-Dame Cathedral rang together for the first time since the 2019 fire. This event preceded the cathedral's reopening in December. Three new bells were scheduled for installation above the altar, including one used during the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Other events on this date include the sentencing of Jared Lee Loughner in 2012 and the election of Donald Trump in 2016. In 1974, a federal judge in Cleveland dismissed charges against eight Ohio National Guardsmen regarding the 1970 Kent State shootings.
The date also marks the birthdays of several public figures. These include jockey Angel Cordero Jr., singer Bonnie Raitt, and author Kazuo Ishiguro. The list spans individuals in film, music, sports, and television, with ages ranging from 27 to 84 years old.
