Massacre in the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan
19°26′06″N 99°07′53″W / 19.435°N 99.1314°W
The Massacre in the Great Temple, also called the Toxcatl Massacre, or the Alvarado Massacre, was an event on 22 May 1520, in the Mexica, also known as the Aztec, capital of Tenochtitlan during the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire, in which the celebration of the Feast of Toxcatl ended in a massacre of Mexica elites.
In late April of 1520, Cuban Governor Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar ordered Spanish conquistador, Pánfilo de Narváez, to arrest Hernán Cortés while he was in Tenochtitlan. Cortés heard about Narváez coming from Cuba, so he and some of his army left the city of Tenochtitlan to fight them. Before he departed, he entrusted one of his captains, Pedro de Alvarado, with governing both the Spanish and Mexica. During his absence, the Mexica emperor Moctezuma, also known as Montezuma, asked Alvarado for permission to celebrate the festival of Toxcatl, a Mexica festivity in honor of Tezcatlipoca, one of their main gods. Moctezuma had previously gotten authorization to celebrate the festival of Toxcatl from Cortés. However, Alvarado suspected that the Mexica were using Toxcatl as cover for a rebellion against the Spaniards. After the festivities had started, Alvarado turned on the Mexica, killing performers, spectators, and nobles celebrating inside Tenochtitlan's Great Temple. According to Mexica accounts, the Spanish blocked all exits and charged ferociously at the celebrants, killing indiscriminately.
Spanish accounts of the massacre suggest several possible incitements, some saying the Mexica wanted to reclaim the gold the Spaniards had taken, and others blaming Narváez for causing Cortés' abrupt departure. The Mexica also say the Spaniards openly coveted the gold the Mexica were wearing, prompting a Mexica rebellion against the orders of Moctezuma. Although Alvarado's motive was debated, all accounts agree that the Mexica at the feast were mostly unarmed and the massacre was not directly provoked, and occurred with no warning.
There were already tensions between the Mexica and the occupying Spaniards, who were holding Moctezuma prisoner. When Cortés and his men returned, the Mexica drove the Spaniards out of the city on the so-called the Sad Night (La Noche Triste), losing most of their men in battle or as prisoners who were then sacrificed.