Montezuma is Made a Prisoner—Quauhpopoka and His Leaders Burned—The
Mexicans Swear Allegiance to the King of Spain
Cortes summoned his officers to a council of war and set before them the
great danger to which they would be exposed in case Montezuma attacked
them. They recognized at once that the situation must be met. Some were
of opinion they should leave the city entirely and cross the causeways
before their road was cut off. Others suggested that they should retire
with the knowledge of the Emperor. Both these measures, however,
appeared unwise, since any withdrawal would seem like flight and would
involve not only a battle with the Mexicans but also the contempt of
their allies. Cortes announced a plan, inspired by the highest daring in
the face of a desperate situation. He would make Montezuma a prisoner,
leaving him an appearance of sovereignty, but actually ruling in his
name. The deed of Quauhpopoka, for which the Emperor was responsible,
would furnish justification for his imprisonment. After the council had
approved this project, preparations were made to carry it out. The whole
force was placed under arms in the closed courtyard in readiness at the
first signal to go to the help of the general. Some small detachments
were ordered to occupy the streets leading to Montezuma’s palace, which
would not create excitement, as the people were used to seeing armed
Spaniards. When the hour came in which Cortes was accustomed to wait
upon the Emperor, he betook himself with five officers and thirty of the
bravest men in his army to the palace. This also aroused no suspicion,
for a military escort was a common spectacle.
Cortes as usual was courteously received and was conducted to
Montezuma’s apartment with his officers and interpreter. The servants
withdrew and the venturesome scene began. With a countenance expressive
of the highest indignation Cortes denounced the faithless act of
Quauhpopoka, who, at a time of peace, and in defiance of justice, had
attacked his people and allies, inhumanly slaughtered a Spaniard, and
sent his head through the country as a show. He added that report made
Montezuma himself responsible for this and therefore he was forced to
demand satisfaction for the insult which had been offered to his master,
the greatest monarch of the earth.
Montezuma was so terrified that he turned pale, but he declared by all
that was most sacred he was in no way responsible for the outrage. As a
proof of his innocence he added that he would at once order Quauhpopoka
and his accomplices to be brought to Mexico in chains. Cortes thereupon
assumed a more friendly attitude and assured Montezuma that as far as he
himself was concerned he was entirely content, but to satisfy his
enraged soldiers he would have to demand more. They would never be
persuaded that such a deed could have happened without the Emperor’s
knowledge if he did not agree publicly to prove his good faith and
sincere friendship. The proof which they demanded was his presence for
several days in their quarters where they might offer fitting honors to
His Majesty.
Montezuma was beside himself with astonishment and indignation at this
unusual demand. He was unable to speak and stood like a statue, while
Cortes represented to him that this request of his soldiers was not
unseemly as he would spend the time in quarters assigned to him in one
of his own palaces. At last the astonished man came to himself and found
words to express his indignation. With great dignity he said: “A
sovereign of the Mexican Empire is not accustomed voluntarily to accept
imprisonment, and, even if I were capable of it, my subjects would never
submit to such shameful treatment.”
Cortes, who was reluctant to use force, both flattered and threatened
Montezuma to induce him to give his consent, but it was in vain. At
last, after three hours had been wasted in useless talk, Velasquez De
Leon, one of the Spanish officers, a young, excitable man, whose
patience was exhausted, exclaimed with threatening gestures: “Why all
this consideration? Take him by force or kill him.” Montezuma asked what
he had said. Marina informed him and added that she trembled for his
life if he refused to go. The poor man at once lost all courage. He
realized that he was in the power of strong men and that he must expect
the worst if he longer refused. He yielded to his fate, sprang from his
seat, and informed Cortes he trusted to his assurances and would go with
him.
[Illustration: _MONTEZUMA THE CAPTIVE OF THE SPANIARDS_]
Thereupon he called together his leading officials and informed them
that for important reasons he should spend a few days with his guest.
They were greatly astonished but did not venture to offer the least
objection to the absolute will of their master. They carried the litter
in which the unfortunate monarch was borne away from his own people, a
prisoner under Spanish guard. Hardly was his removal known in the city
before the streets were filled with crowds. Some shrieked, others wept,
others threw themselves upon the ground as if in their last despairing
agony. But Montezuma tried to calm them. He appeared with a smiling
countenance, motioned to them with his hand, and assured them he was not
a prisoner. He was voluntarily going to visit this guest for a few days.
This quieted them somewhat, and the Spaniards proceeded without
hindrance to their quarters with their prisoner. Montezuma went to an
apartment he was accustomed to occupy and the attendants treated him
with the utmost respect, as their general had ordered. His first act was
to send an order in Cortes’ presence to his body-guard, to bring
Quauhpopoka and the rest of the guilty ones in chains to the city.
In due time Quauhpopoka, his son, and five of his principal people were
brought to Mexico. Cortes called a council of war and the unfortunates
were condemned to be burned alive. As soon as the decision was made, in
order to humble this submissive monarch to the utmost and make a mockery
of his former power, Cortes, in sight of all the people, arbitrarily
emptied Montezuma’s arsenal of the great quantity of spears, shields,
and other weapons kept there, in order to make a pyre of it upon which
to burn the victims, who were not guilty of crime for they had only done
what their master had ordered. The weapons collected for the protection
of the Empire were heaped up. A countless multitude of dazed spectators
stood there, not knowing what to say or do. The awful sacrifice was
made.
At the same instant Cortes, accompanied by several officers and a
soldier carrying iron fetters, went to Montezuma’s apartment. He
approached the terrified monarch and fiercely thundered at him that he
was the malefactor, for he was the author of the outrages perpetrated by
these victims. Hardly had he spoken these words when he turned his back
upon the man fallen so low from his former high estate, and the soldier
placed the fetters upon the Emperor. Montezuma stood speechless,
helpless, almost senseless. At last he broke into a loud wail, evidently
expecting they would immediately lead him also to the place of
punishment. But what made this piteous scene most touching was the
demeanor of his faithful attendants, who prostrated themselves in silent
grief at his feet, bedewing them with their tears. They raised his
fetters to lighten their weight and placed little pieces of soft cloth
between the iron and his skin that his precious limbs might not feel the
pressure. It was a sight to bring tears of sympathy to the eyes of the
most hard-hearted spectator.
The punishment having been inflicted, Cortes approached Montezuma in a
friendly manner and said that justice was satisfied. With these words he
ordered his fetters taken off. The distracted and humiliated monarch was
wellnigh overcome with delight. He embraced his oppressor over and over
as he expressed his gratitude for his release. The unfortunate monarch
in his excess of joy seemed to forget that the fetters taken from him
now might soon be fastened more firmly than ever.
Cortes now made one bold move after another to bring the Mexican people
into complete subjection. He sent some of his officers through the
country, partly to learn the extent and nature of each province and
partly to discover the places where gold and silver were to be found. He
also persuaded Montezuma, under various pretences, to remove the ablest
and most courageous of his officials and appoint in their places weak
and unintelligent men who could easily be managed by the Spaniards. Then
he made a last humiliating demand in his efforts to crush Montezuma’s
proud spirit. It was that he should publicly acknowledge himself a
vassal of the Spanish King and bind himself to pay an annual tribute as
a sign of his subjection. What could Montezuma do? His liberty, his
life, were in the hands of Cortes. He realized that he must concede
every demand, however exacting.
He summoned the notables of his Empire, reminded them of the old
prophecy which was now fulfilled, and announced that from now on he and
his Empire were subject to the great King of the East to whom
sovereignty had descended from their common ancestor. With these words,
the tears came to his eyes, showing how great was the sacrifice he was
making. There was a low murmur among the assembled Mexicans.
Astonishment and indignation were visible on every face, and they
appeared ready to maintain the rights of the Empire and their sovereign
by force. But Cortes allayed their anger and prevented any outbreak by
assuring them his master had no intention of taking his Empire from
Montezuma but would be contented to become its protector. This assurance
as well as their Emperor’s demeanor quieted them, and the ceremonies
which the Spaniards had arranged to make Montezuma’s subjection the more
impressive were completed without interruption. Montezuma confirmed his
allegiance by making a handsome gift and ordered the caciques of his
country to do the same.