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Mexico City / Cafe Tacuba - Cortez's Defeat

Aztecs attacking the fleeing Spaniards as they attempt to carry looted gold over the breached causeway. Cortez lost all of the gold and at least half his forces in the battle a few blocks to the west of Cafe Tacuba. The Spanish called it the "Sad Night" (Noche Triste). The Aztecs called it the "Night of Victory".

 

The inscription says:

 

"The Spanish on the Tlacopan Causeway.

 

Our people will always remember that glorious day, 30 June 1520. At last we had explelled the Spanish from the city: Tenochtitlan is free!"

 

The Spanish (or what was left of them) regrouped and launched a naval attack from Texcoco (the other side of the island where the Aztec capitol was located) and defeated the Aztecs the following year.

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Uploaded on July 5, 2013
Taken on June 16, 2013