History

Hernán Cortés was the Spanish conquistador who led the expedition that toppled the Méxica empire. The Méxica was the group of Aztecs who ruled over the land now known as Mexico. When he first arrived, there’s a legend that he burned his ships to prevent his men from retreating. That’s not true. His plan was more devious than that. Here’s what really happened.

In the early 16th century, the governor of Cuba, Diego Velázquez, began making plans to conquer Mexico. He sent out two expeditions to scout the coast, neither of which returned. He knew he needed to send a larger force with a cleverer captain, but not too clever, for Velázquez wanted to keep the lion’s share of the glory for himself.

Hernán Cortés, a wealthy magistrate, offered to contribute funds to the third expedition on the condition that he would be the one to lead it. Cortés had a reputation for being overly ambitious, and Velázquez was hesitant to give him command. Velázquez hesitantly appointed him captain, then quickly changed his mind. However, Cortés knew Velázquez to be a fickle man, so he had set sail before the news of his demotion could reach him.

Cortés arrived on the Eastern shores of Mexico with 500 men armed with horses, guns, armour, and canons. They were greeted by the native Totonac people, who told tales of the golden city of Tenochtitlán, ruled by the fearsome Méxica, savage conquerors who worshipped gods of war and sacrifice. The Totonac people told of how barbaric Aztec warriors had invaded from the north, flaying the indigenous peoples alive, tearing their beating hearts from their chests, eating their organs, and wearing their skin. Cortés saw an opportunity in their terror.

Cortés was the captain of a scouting expedition, nothing more. His men knew this, and upon hearing these horror stories of the Méxica, they were eager to keep close to the shore, build tall walls to hide behind, and return to Cuba as soon as possible. Cortés had much grander plans. He wished to conquer all of Mexico. But for his plan to work, he would need the unwavering commitment of his men.

Late one night, under a moonless sky, Cortés had a few of his most trusted men bore holes in the hulls of his ships. When dawn broke, his soldiers awoke to the sight of their ships sinking slowly into the ocean. Cortés explain how the ships had been ravaged by shipworms and could no longer make the return voyage home. They were trapped in Mexico.

With no choice but to continue onwards, his men salvaged their supplies from the ships and used the timber to construct fortifications. Steeling themselves against the nightmarish visions of blood-soaked altars, frenzied cannibal feasts, and the relentless onslaught of Aztec warriors, the men vowed to fight for their lives, for glory, and for the promise of untold riches.

The tyranny of the Méxica empire had created many enemies among the subjugated indigenous groups. Cortés took advantage of their fear and anger. He rallied them together as he marched towards Tenochtitlán, hacking their way through dense jungles filled with poisonous snakes and insects, marching over treacherous mountains where icy winds blackened their fingers and toes, and stumbling across arid deserts where the sun burned their skin from their bodies.

With no ships to retreat to, Cortés and his men had no choice but to press forward for God, for Glory, and for Gold.

The Spider King and the Astrologer is a legend from the 15th century. The king was King Louis XI, who ruled France from 1461 to 1483. He was known for his webs of intrigue, earning him the monicker of “The Spider King.” He was also known for his love—and fear—of astrology.

This story recently gained popularity when it was featured in The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene. It’s thought to be true, or at least rooted in truth.

Interestingly, the same story is found in The Misadventures of Nasreddin, a collection of Muslim folktales that trace back to the 13th century. Mind you, this story could have been added to the collection several hundred years later.

The Legend

The problems began when the Spider King’s most trusted astrologer accurately predicted that a lady at court would die in eight days’ time. This filled the Spider King with dread. If the astrologer’s abilities were genuine, he possessed enough power to threaten the king. Even if the astrologer had killed the lady to make his prediction come true, he was just as dangerous.

Determined to rid himself of this potential menace, the Spider King devised a trap. He invited the astrologer to his quarters, secretly instructing his guards to throw the fortune-teller out of a high window on his signal. But as the astrologer entered the king’s chamber, the Spider King decided to test him one last time before carrying out his plan.

“You claim to understand astrology and to know the fate of others,” the king said to the astrologer. “So tell me: how long do you have to live?”

The astrologer, perhaps sensing the king’s intentions, replied calmly, “Your Majesty, I shall die just three days before you do.”

The astrologer’s words struck fear into the king’s heart once again. Fearing for his life, the king provided the astrologer with fine food, comfortable lodgings, and excellent care, hoping to keep him alive for as long as possible.

Similar Stories

If you liked The Spider King and the Astrologer, you might like another story that was featured in the 48 Laws of Power: The Snake, the Farmer, and the Heron. It’s a dark folktale from Africa. The Mongoose and the Farmer’s Wife is a similar story from India.

Or, if you prefer stories with the veneer of truth, you might like Aesop and the Runaway Slave, The Man Who Never Lied, or The Citizen and the Traveller.