Aztec King Cuauhtémoc was Executed by Cortés’s forces in 1525

Today in Latin American history, the Aztec king Cuauhtémoc was executed by Hernán Cortés’s forces in 1525.

Hernán Cortés was marching on Tenochtitlán and Cuauhtémoc defended the city through a four-month siege.

When the city fell, Cuauhtémoc was captured by the Spanish. 

He was tortured to reveal the location of Aztec gold but he refused to speak.

Other events that occurred on this day:

Today in LatAm history, the Cry of Asencio signaled the beginning of the Uruguayan War of Independence in 1811

Today in LatAm history, Mexican writer José Vasconcelos who was the father of the “indigenismo” philosophy was born in 1882

Today in LatAm history, Brazilian scientist Peter Medawar who won the 1960 Nobel Prize was born in 1915

Today in LatAm history, Mexican drug trafficker Manuel Torres Félix was born in 1954

Today in LatAm history, Brazilian footballer Diego Ribas da Cunha who plays for the National team & VfL Wolfsburg was born in 1985

Today in LatAm history, former President of El Salvador Fidel Sánchez Hernández who was in office 1967-72 died in 2003