Were the "conquistadores" heroes or adventurers? A page in history waiting to be written. A few supermen and an army of officials. Cortés was not a plunderer and the aztecs were not "noble savages". Five letters to Charles V, accompanied by precious gifts. The irrestible call to adventure. A kindly spirit hardened by the demands of sate. Cortés is given command of an expedition. Vasco Nunez de Balboa was his model. Cortés' followers make him captain general. Cortés sinks his ships and makes return impossible. His strength came from his own weakness. Cortés cleverly exploits rivalries among the mexicans. Dona Marina, an indian, was this finest helper. In sight of the capital. The gods' reply was to let in the white king-god. An embrace which looked like sacrilege. Historical. meeting between two worlds. No one had ever seen anything like it. The capital city with the double name. Amazement at the sight of mexican civilization. Religion the centre of individual and social life. The way lies open for a psychological victory. A spanish expedition against the rebellious Cortés. A critical moment: the aztecs in revolt. His enemies defeated, Cortés faces the mexicans. Montezuma's mysterious death. The "noche triste": Cortés fights his way through. The last decisive battle, at Otumba. Cortés advances on the capital with new troops. Mysterious death of the last aztec emperor. The command passes to the bureaucrats from Spain. Cortés in decline. He dies in Spain without seeing Mexico again. His name is indissolubly linked with Mexico.