The clash of two cultural worlds - the chronicle of one of the most consequential events of the early modern period. The conquest of Mexico and the downfall of the Aztecs: Bernal Díaz del Castillo, who joined the troops of the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés as a foot soldier, was a witness to this event. He left behind one of the most reliable and information-rich sources for posterity with his accounts. Unlike Hernán Cortés, who sugarcoated his actions in letters to Emperor Charles V, Díaz del Castillo does not hold back: he vividly describes the brutal actions taken with cross and sword against the natives, reports on the intrigues among the Spaniards, the search for treasures, and the unequal distribution of war spoils, as well as the soldiers' discontent, who justifiably felt cheated yet could not escape the allure of Cortés.