[2] Cortés was leading a semblance of an expedition in eastern Mexico, amassing treasures in an attempt to convince the King of Spain to leave his conquest enterprise beyond Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar’s control.

Several of the ships split up and Narváez didn’t land until April 22, at which point Cortés had already found extravagant lodging in Tenochtitlan.

[5] For his part, after trading messengers with Narváez and ultimately resolving to free Cempoala by force, Cortés sent a soldier to contact their Chinantec allies for help.

[5] On May 27, Cortés, Sandoval, and fellow conquistador captains launched a surprise attack on Narváez's forces in the middle of the night with 266 soldiers and 200 native auxiliary troops.

Due to heavy rainfall and superior numbers, Cortesian forces quickly captured his opponent's cavalry and artillery.

[4] The most immediate fratricidal threat to Cortés' campaign was thwarted, marking a pivotal Cortesian victory in the course of the Spanish-Aztec War.