About the collectivization of the story of the Conquest of Mexico

Abstract

n this article, I highlight the reasons why the story of the Conquest of Mexico was the product of a collectivization process imposed by Hernán Cortés, and accepted by his captains and close friends, in return for obtaining honors and mercies. This story, condensed in the Cartas de Relacio?n (Letters of Relationship), was repeated without structural modifications in the 16th Century, it was adopted by the Spanish Crown as the basis of the “official history” and, since then, it has preserved the sequence and content of the events, as well as the image of “the Indian enemies,” suitably adapted to the interests of the Captain General and his company.