title: The Broken Spears:   The Aztec Account of the Conquest of Mexico
author: Miguel Leon-Portilla
description: A moving and powerful account, a unique reading experience which should not be missed by any reader interested in history.<i>Los Angeles Times</i>
zlib_text: 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  With a Foreword by
  
  
  
  
  
  J. JORGE KLOR DE ALVA
  
  
  
  
  
  Translated from Nahuatl into Spanish by
  
  
  
  
  
  ANGEL MARIA GARIBAY K.
  
  
  
  
  
  English Translation by
  
  
  
  
  
  LYSANDER KEMP
  
  
  
  
  
  Illustrations, adapted from original codices paintings, by
  
  
  
  
  
  ALBERTO BELTRAN
  
  
  
  
  
  ![image](../Images/45250_pgii_fmt.jpeg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  The Broken Spears
  
  
  
  
  
  The Aztec Account of the Conquest of Mexico
  
  
  
  
  
  EXPANDED AND UPDATED EDITION
  
  
  
  
  
  Edited and with an Introduction by
  
  
  
  
  
  MIGUEL LEON-PORTILLA
  
  
  
  
  
  ![image](../Images/45250_pgiii_fmt.jpeg)
  
  
  
  
  
  Beacon Press Boston
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Contents
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Illustrations](../Text/fm6.html#fm6)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Translator’s Note](../Text/fm7.html#fm7)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Foreword](../Text/fm8.html#fm8)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Introduction](../Text/fm9.html#fm9)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chapter One
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Omens Foretelling the Arrival of the
  Spaniards](../Text/chapter1.html#chapter1)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chap