Aztec Empire

[bombshellboi]

I read an alternate reality book a couple of years ago based on the premise that Cortez defected to the Mexica(Aztecs) when he arrived in the central americas.

I cant remember if Cortez defected and became an aide of Montezuma - or if he shot Montezuma and crowned himself Emperor; the latter however seems more plausible especially if I remember correctly in the book the Mexica royal family has Spanish blood in them but then that could have came from years of inter-marriage.

The book itself was set in the modern day - but because of the Aztec Empire the "West" did not develop in the way it should have, they were still at about 1970s technology minus the Atomic bomb.
Save the Aztecs; they were way ahead to the point of using orbital laser cannons as weapons.

My point about all of this was I am surprised that no one has proposed an alternate history scenario for EU2 based on this book - or indeed even the premise that Cortez would possibly defect.
And dont say it wasnt possible because if Cortez had been a little more power hungry then it would have been no stretch for him to have deposed Montezuma and converted the heathen Aztecs en masse to Catholicism.

Just wondering if anyone had any thoughts about doings something like this?

[Eldin]

It's probably because Cortez defecting couldn't have that much of an impact... He would be isolated and have a people that were prone to the simplest of illnesses. Over 50% of his subjects would die the following years and if he would try to 'spanify' (=westernise) the more numerous Aztecs, one can imagine it would not be the greatest of successes...

And even if Cortez DID manage to overthrow Aztec society and turn into something workable, the aftershock would probably last some centuries and the western powers would not shun conquest in other areas (Africa, Asia, South and North America...) On the whole, not a very plausible Alternate Universe...

Anyway, who wrote that book? Can't imagine it being a good writer...

[bombshellboi]

Well the author didnt justify the Aztecs conquering the world on that ONE event obviously - being in the 1990s as it was set would have made such a massive change rediculous.

As i said i cant recall the name of the book nor its author - but i do recall the majority of what the book said inside. It was a very good book - and i was only 11 when i read it (9 years ago) so i didnt understand as much as it as i would have liked; i should prolly go find it and read it again.

But the author - a woman i believe - said that Cortez overthrew Montezuma and gave the Aztecs western technology and taught them western ideas; enough that they were able to repel early Spanish-Portuguese invasions.

Cortez and his successors did not attempt to turn the Mexica into a Spanish like state in the novel - the idea was Cortez was enamoured enough with and power hungry enough to want to stay in the Aztec state.
He ordered conversion to Catholicism - and in Aztec society the Emperors word was law and the conversion was almost instant amongst the general populace.
Of course there were heretical uprisings as such - and attempts by Spain to unseat the traitor Emperor and his heirs.

I would imagine Cortezs' defection would have allowed the Aztecs time to grow accustomed to the Spanish way of life and resist Spain long enough for England to come to their rescue.
That was hinted at in the novel - that Spanish attempts to subjugate the central americas in accordance with the Treaty of Tordesillas was foiled by the Aztecs supported by English and French monarchs intermittently.
The reason England and France would help the Mexica is because they were now good Catholics under god; it served to frustrate their Spanish rivals for colonial Empire; it served to cause fragmentation in the Iberian Union because Spain was ever making greater demands of Portugal and ITS Empire; and finally the Aztecs regularily sent the French and English gold bullion for their help.

Good thing greed dont you think?

The rest of history was pretty much the same - making allowances for Aztec advances where it was appropriate.
Like the English colonised Canada and the eastern seaboard of the US - and they rebelled and during the Rebellion - the Aztecs aided the rebels and helped them set up their own states of Canada and the New English Confederacy.

The author did leave many questions unanswered in the novel - like at some point along the way the Mexica diplomatically annexed Spain.
How and why this happened wasnt really told but it was supposed to be in recent years to when the novel was written.
Things like that were left unanswered - but one could easily speculate on possible answers...

My point is that the idea that Cortez would defect is possible - and could set off a series of events which would bring about their eventual greatness.
I was just wondering why no one mentioned it before?

But if every one felt that Cortezs' defection wouldnt have made any difference like you then i can see why.