The (Second Relation Letter), written by Hernán Cortés and sent to King Charles V of Spain in 1520, is one of the most critical documents in Latin American history. It provides a first-hand, albeit highly subjective, account of the encounter between European explorers and the Aztec Empire.
The letter details the first meeting with the Aztec emperor on November 8, 1519, portraying a mix of mutual curiosity and strategic tension.
It recounts how the Spaniards turned native rivals of the Aztecs into allies, a move essential to the eventual conquest. Segunda carta de relación: AP® Spanish Literature Review