On 8 November 1519, the grand city of Tenochtitlan bore witness to a momentous encounter that would alter the course of history: Aztec Emperor Moctezuma II met Spanish Conquistador Hernán Cortés.
Moctezuma, adorned in elaborate regalia befitting his divine status, welcomed the foreign invader with ceremonial grandeur, perhaps perceiving Cortés as the embodiment of a prophecy.
The Spaniard, with a mix of awe and ambition, saw opportunity to exploit the rich empire's wealth and power.
Beneath the diplomatic gestures and offerings of gold lay an undercurrent of tension that foreshadowed the devastating collapse of the Aztec Empire and the reshaping of Mexico’s destiny under Spanish rule.
