Fearing an insurrection, the Spanish colonizers massacred 600 noble Aztecs and high-ranking personalities during an important celebration.
The Aztecs immediately organized a response surrounding the Spanish and imposing a long and terrible siege on them. Hernán Cortés - who was absent during the events -, after returning from Tenochtitlán, was not able to have emperor Moctezuma to intervene and pacify the situation. The latter was assassinated. When the situation went completely out of control, the Spaniards quickly left the city after suffering great losses.
In spite of its ephemeral character, this episode of the history of Mexico, known as the “la noche triste” (the sad night) represents one of the first victories over the colonizers. Mexico achieved its independence in 1821, more than 300 years later.