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Prof. Ramirez
Chicano Literature
Spring 2005
Arthur Anderson, Charles E. Dibble. Eds. Florentine Codex. Fray
Bernardino de Sahagun
Note: Anderson and Dibble translated the Codex directly from Nahuatl to
English
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*Online resource for Florentine Codex:*
*http://www.azteccalendar.com*

*Chapter 8*
Moctezuma sends sorcerers and "evil men" to cast spells on the Spanish
Wizards bear fruit, beans, potatoes
Their spells are ineffectual

Then Moctezuma reverses his position (he no longer wants to bewitch the
Spanish) so that he seeks to receive the Spanish once again
*Chapter 9*
Marina is from Teticap
Mexicans weep, lament. There are universal feelings of distress
The Spanish ask about Moctezuma,  whether he is young or old, etc.
*Chapter 10*
The Otomie clan fight the Spanish; they are roundly defeated
Seeing the Otomie fall, the Tlaxcallans take counsel.
They decide ultimately to align themselves with the Spanish

*Chapter 11*
Tlaxcallans have been at war with the Cholulans. So the Tlaxcallans urge
the Spanish to attack the Cholulans.
The Tlaxcallans and Cempoallans accompany the Spanish.
This newly formed "alliance" blocks the exits/entrances of the Temple
courtyard. The Spanish and their allies attack the Cholulans who
"suspected nothing" (29).
Massacre of the Cholulans**

*Chapter 12*
Moctezuma sends nobles to meet the Spanish. He sends, among others,
Tziuacpopocatzin.
The Aztecs meet the Spanish in Quahtechcac and they offer them golden
banners, necklaces. "Like monkeys," the Spanish seized the gold (31).
Tziuacpopocatzin represents Moctezuma's court.
The Spanish ask if  Tziuacpopocatzin is Moctezuma.  Tziuacpopocatzin
says yes.
The Spanish say that they cannot be fooled; the Tlaxcallans have
informed them of who is who

*Chapter 13*
Moctezuma sends more sorcerers to cast spells on the Spanish; this is
yet another reversal of his position.
The sorcerers meet up with a "drunken youth," a Chalcan.  This "drunken
youth" asks the sorcerers all sorts of questions. The "drunken youth"
warns that Moctezuma has abandoned his people and thus destroyed his
people.

This "drunken youth" then launches into a prophecy' "Nevermore will
there be a Mexico; it is already [gone] forever" (34).
Moctezuma's sorcerers then realize that this "drunken youth"  is
Tezcatlipoca
http://www.azteccalendar.com/teotl/Tezcatlipoca.html
Moctezuma laments after hearing story of Tezcat and after meeting with
Tziuacpopocatzin

*Chapter 14*

Moctezuma orders that the road be closed off to block the Spanish.
However, more Mexicans are now submitting to the Spanish.
The Spanish come to Cuitlauac
The Spanish meet the people of the "floating gardens"
Moctezuma does not order war; he says that "no one was to contend
against them" (the Spanish) 37.)

*Chapter 15*
Spanish depart from Iztapalapan to arrive in Mexico, the home of Moctezuma
The Indians recall the formation and the weapons and horses of the Spanish:
the sword
the crossbow

the arquebus

Image from: www.irons-assoc.com/larry/ musketry.htm

*Chapter 16*
Moctezuma peacefully meets the Spanish at Xoloco (associated with a canal)
Moctezuma recalls Aztec prophecy and addresses Cortes.
The prophecy is about the the lord/Cortes that would come and occupy the
Emperor's seat
Moctezuma taken captive

*Chapter 17*
*Spaniards take Moctezuma with them into great palace*
*Firing of guns*
*Terror everywhere; apprehension*
Aztecs still feed Moctezuma, but they are angry with him
Spanish seek gold and they detach the gold from the weaponry and array
and they pile it up and melt it down.
The Spanish burn the feathers and whatever they do not deem useful
*Chapter 18*
*Spanish enter Moctezuma's storehouse. They "brighten" when they see the
gold, "as if they were lustful, greedy" (49).*
Fear prevails among the Mexicans. No one dares to do anything.
*Chapter 19*
Alvarado orders the Mexicans to celebrate festival of Huitzilopochotli:
*Chapter 20*
Spanish slay the Mexicans during feast.

The Encyclopedia Britannica on Huitzilopochotli:
"Although Montezuma was commander of the army and organized extensive
expeditions of conquest, he was also profoundly influenced by his belief
in the god, Huitzilopochtli. Through astrologers, the god instilled in
the Emperor a kind of fatalism in the face of an uncertain future. "