Moctezuma II

9th tlatoani of Tenochtitlan and ruler of the Aztec Triple Alliance (1466-1520)

Moctezuma II, also known as Motecuhzoma Xocoyotzin (1466-1520) and often called Montezuma in English, was the Aztec emperor (tlahtoani) from 1502 to 1520. His name comes from the Nahuatl word Motecuhzoma, which means "he who is leader because of his fury". In Spanish, he is called Moctezuma.

Moctezuma II
Motecuhzoma Xocoyoti
9th Tlatoani of Tenochtitlan
Ruler of the Aztec Triple Alliance
Moctezuma II in the Codex Mendoza
Reign1502–1520
PredecessorAhuitzotl
SuccessorCuitláhuac
Bornc. 1466
DiedJune 29, 1520 (aged 53–54)
Tenochtitlan
ConsortTeotlalco
Tlapalizquixochtzin
IssueIsabel Moctezuma
Another daughter
Chimalpopoca
Tlaltecatzin
FatherAxayacatl

Arrival of Cortés

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Hernán Cortés, a Spanish conquistador, arrived in Mesoamerica in 1519 and invaded the Aztec Empire. Instead of seeing Cortés as a threat, Moctezuma thought Cortés was the god Quetzalcoatl and did not fight back.

The Spanish took control of the empire's capital city, Tenochtitlan, in 1520. Cortés took Moctezuma prisoner. When the Aztec people resisted, Cortés told Moctezuma to calm them down. While doing that, Moctezuma was killed.

Historians do not know exactly how Moctezuma died. The Spaniards said he was killed by Aztec people who threw rocks at him. Meanwhile, the Aztecs said Cortés killed Moctezuma. They said they found Moctezuma's body in the streets with many sword wounds after the Spanish left.

Other websites

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Preceded by
Ahuitzotl
Tlatoani of Tenochtitlan
1502–1520
Succeeded by
Cuitláhuac