Dona Marina Bernard Diaz del Castillo( - ) wrote in his True History of the Conquest of Mexico that the people of Tabasco gave Cortes a woman attendant called Dona Marina. She was fluent in three local languages, and was able to play a crucial role as interpreter for Cortes. ‘This was the great beginning of our conquests,and without Dona Marina we could not have understood the language of New Spain and Mexico.’ Diaz thought she was a princess, but the Mexicans called her ‘Malinche’, a word meaning ‘betrayal’. Malinchista means someone who slavishly copies the costumes and language of another people.
The Spaniards pressed against the Tlaxcalans, fierce fighters who submitted only after a stiff resistance. The Spaniards proceeded to massacre them cruelly. Then they marched to Tenochtitlan, which they reached on November . The invading Spaniards were dumbstruck at the sight of Tenochtitlan.
It was five times larger than Madrid and had , inhabitants, twice the population of Seville, Spain’s largest city. Cortes was cordially received by Montezuma. The Aztecs led the Spaniards into the heart of the city, where the Emperor showered them with gifts. His people were apprehensive, having heard of the massacre of the Tlaxcalans.
An Aztec account described the situation: ‘It was as though Tenochtitlan had given shelter to a monster. The people of Tenochtitlan felt as if everyone had eaten stupefying mushrooms... as if they had seen something astonishing. Terror dominated everyone, as if all the world were being disemboweled...
people fell into a fearful slumber.’ Bernard Diaz wrote: ‘And when we saw all those cities and villages built in the water, and other towns on dry land, and that straight and level causeway leading to Mexico City, we were astounded. These great towns and buildings rising from the water all made of stone, seemed like an enchanted vision from the tale of Amadis. Indeed, some of our soldiers asked whether it was not a dream.’ The fears of the Aztecs proved to be well founded. Cortes without any explanation placed the Emperor under house arrest and attempted to rule in his name.