Moctezuma II

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
1502–1520
Predecessor	Ahuitzotl
Successor	Cuitláhuac
Born	c. 1466
Died	June 29, 1520 (aged 53–54) Tenochtitlan
Consort	Teotlalco Tlapalizquixochtzin
Issue	Isabel Moctezuma Another daughter Chimalpopoca Tlaltecatzin
Father	Axayacatl

Arrival of Cortés

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.

Death

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.

Moctezuma II Media

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  Headdress traditionally attributed to Moctezuma II in the Museum of Ethnology, Vienna. The object, however, might have not belonged to Moctezuma and, contrary to popular belief, it was not used as his crown. It might have been a religious headdress to represent the god Quetzalcoatl during religious events, a battle standard, or a military device worn in the back.

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  Moctezuma's ancestry as depicted in a 1566 manuscript

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  Then-prince Moctezuma the Younger is arriving to the rescue of the merchants who were put under siege during the conquest of Ayotlan, according to the Florentine Codex. The merchants are seen talking to Moctezuma, informing him about the end of the war.

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  Stone of the Five Suns, a stone with inscriptions in Nahuatl writing depicting the date 15 July 1503 in the Aztec calendar. Some historians believe this to be the date on which Moctezuma was crowned.

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  Moctezuma's coronation according to the Durán Codex

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  Moctezuma's Palace from the Codex Mendoza (1542)

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  Wikimania Mexico City

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  The location of Moctezuma's palace (left) is south of the central plaza of Tenochtitlan and the Totocalli (down) next to it in a map likely made by Hernán Cortés.

Other websites

• A reconstructed portrait of Motecuhzoma Xocoyotzin, based on historical sources, in a contemporary style.

Preceded by Ahuitzotl

Tlatoani of Tenochtitlan 1502–1520

Succeeded by Cuitláhuac