La Malinche, or Dona Marina, was an indigenous woman that served as Cortes' translator. This allowed the Spaniards to establish alliances with Aztec enemies.
The Massacre in the Great Temple was carried out by Pedro de Alvarado. Moctezuma was killed during it.
During La Noche Triste (June 30, 1520), the Spanish conquistadores and their allies were driven out of Tenochtitlan by Aztec forces. They would come back a year later, when the population of the city had been weakened by smallpox and famine.