The defeat suffered by Hernán Cortés in the battle of the Noche Triste led to a hurried escape of the survivors up to Naucalpan. Along the way they suffered the loss of many soldiers and native allies as well as notable hostages, such as some children of Moctezuma.

The Spanish sheltered and recovered in the Indian temples until they could turn to fight the Aztecs at the Battle of Otumba. Legend tells that one of Cortés's soldiers, Gonzalo Rodriguez de Villafuerte, had with him one of the little religious images known as castrenses, and he hid it among the aloe plants in order to carry out a devotional action of thankfulness.

The legend tells that during the battle, a young girl threw dirt in the eyes of the attacking natives helping to seal the Spanish victory.