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Moctezuma II.
| Moctezuma Xocoyotzin | |
|---|---|
| Reign | 1502/1503–1520 |
| Coronation | 1502/1503 |
| Predecessor | Ahuitzotl |
| Successor | Cuitláhuac |
What are some interesting facts about Montezuma II?
Montezuma II Facts. The ninth ruler of the Aztec empire, Montezuma II (1466-1520) was seized by the Spanish conquistadores, who used him to control and rule the empire. Montezuma was born in Tenochtitlán, capital of the Aztec empire, and the present site of Mexico City. He received a thorough education in religion, science,...
How did Montezuma rule the Aztecs?
In 1502 Montezuma succeeded his uncle Ahuitzotl, becoming the ninth ruler of an Aztec empire that was at its greatest geographical extent and cultural height. It was during his reign that Spaniard Hernán Cortés first landed in Mexico, and his arrival led to Montezuma’s death in 1520 and the end of the Aztec empire in 1521.
Who ruled after Moctezuma II?
Moctezuma II was born in 1466 to Axayacatl, the sixth ruler of the Aztec Empire, and Xochicueyetl. When his father died in 1481, the throne passed to one of his uncles, Tizocic, who reigned until 1486. He was in turn succeeded by another of Moctezuma’s uncles, Ahuitzotl.
What is another name for king Montezuma?
Last Updated: Oct 18, 2018 See Article History. Alternative Titles: Moctezuma II, Moteucçoma. Montezuma II, also spelled Moctezuma, (born 1466—died c. June 30, 1520, Tenochtitlán, within modern Mexico City), ninth Aztec emperor of Mexico, famous for his dramatic confrontation with the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés.
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How long did Montezuma rule for?
He was elected in 1502 to take the throne and ruled for eighteen years, until 1520. Under his command, the Aztec empire reached its peak and expanded its territories, dominating other tribes. Montezuma II had a reign full of opulence and separation from the people. He was also a despotic ruler.
Where did Montezuma II rule?
The ninth ruler of the Aztec empire, Montezuma II (1466-1520) was seized by the Spanish conquistadores, who used him to control and rule the empire. Montezuma was born in Tenochtitlán, capital of the Aztec empire, and the present site of Mexico City.
Why did the Aztecs turn against their ruler Montezuma?
The Aztec people, however, resented the emperor's frequent demands for tribute and victims for religious sacrifice. So when Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés arrived in 1519, Montezuma saw some of his subjects turn against him. He was killed soon after, and the Aztec empire came to an end.
Who ruled the Aztecs in 1519?
When Spanish conquistadors arrived in the Aztec imperial city in 1519, Mexico-Tenochtitlán was led by Moctezuma II.
When did Montezuma become emperor?
1502When did Montezuma II reign? In 1502 Montezuma succeeded his uncle Ahuitzotl, becoming the ninth ruler of an Aztec empire that was at its greatest geographical extent and cultural height.
Was Montezuma a good ruler?
He Was a Great Warrior and General Montezuma was a brave warrior in the field as well as a skilled general. If he had never shown great personal bravery on the battlefield, he never would have been considered for Tlatoani in the first place.
Was Montezuma the last Aztec king?
Definition. Montezuma (aka Moctezuma), or more correctly, Motecuhzoma II Xocoyotzin, meaning 'Angry Like A Lord', was the last fully independent ruler of the Aztec empire before the civilization's collapse after the Spanish Conquest in the early 16th century CE.
Who is thought to have killed Moctezuma?
The Spaniards say he died from stoning by his own people, and the locals say that Cortés and his men speared him one night through the groin. A third, also indigenous though less well known, account states that Moctezuma could have been strangled to death before their retreat.
Where was Tenochtitlan located?
Mexico CityTenochtitlán, ancient capital of the Aztec empire. Located at the site of modern Mexico City, it was founded c. 1325 in the marshes of Lake Texcoco. It formed a confederacy with Texcoco and Tlacopán and was the Aztec capital by the late 15th century.
Where was the Aztec empire located?
northern MexicoThe Aztecs were the Native American people who dominated northern Mexico at the time of the Spanish conquest in the early 16th century. A nomadic culture, the Aztecs eventually settled on several small islands in Lake Texcoco where, in 1325, they founded the town of Tenochtitlan, modern-day Mexico City.
Where did Montezuma II live?
TenochtitlanDuring his reign, Motecuhzoma expanded the Aztec empire and was considered a god by his people, literally a manifestation and perpetuator of the sun. The ruler famously lived in a huge palace at the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan which boasted magnificent hanging gardens and even a zoo.
Where did the Aztecs controlled the most powerful empire?
From their magnificent capital city, Tenochtitlan, the Aztecs emerged as the dominant force in central Mexico, developing an intricate social, political, religious and commercial organization that brought many of the region's city-states under their control by the 15th century.
What empire did Moctezuma conquer?
During his reign, the Aztec Empire reached its greatest size. Through warfare, Moctezuma expanded the territory as far south as Xoconosco in Chiapas and the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, and incorporated the Zapotec and Yopi people into the empire.
What year was Moctezuma crowned?
The year in which Moctezuma was crowned is uncertain. Most historians suggest the year of 1502 to be most likely, though some have argued in favor of the year 1503.
What is the name of the volcano named after Moctezuma?
Moctezuma River and Mount Moctezuma, a volcano in Mexico City, are named after him. Montezuma Falls in Tasmania is named after him. Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma Brewery, a brewery of Heineken International in Monterrey, Mexico, is named after Moctezuma II and his nephew, Cuauhtémoc.
What is the color of Moctezuma?
The conquests of Moctezuma II are marked by the colour green (based on the maps by Ross Hassig in Aztec Warfare ). As a symbol of resistance against the Spanish, the name of Moctezuma has been invoked in several indigenous rebellions.
Why did the Aztecs kill the sons of Moctezuma?
During the siege of the city, the sons of Moctezuma were murdered by the Aztecs, possibly because they wanted to surrender. By the following year, the Aztec Empire had fallen to an army of Spanish and their Native American allies, primarily Tlaxcalans, who were traditional enemies of the Aztecs.
Where did Moctezuma and Hernán Cortés meet?
e. Meeting place of Moctezuma and Hernán Cortés. In 1517, Moctezuma received the first reports of Europeans landing on the east coast of his empire; this was the expedition of Juan de Grijalva who had landed on San Juan de Ulúa, which although within Totonac territory was under the auspices of the Aztec Empire.
When did Moctezuma die?
In his Historia, Bernal Díaz del Castillo states that on 29 June 1520, the Spanish forced Moctezuma to appear on the balcony of his palace, appealing to his countrymen to retreat.
Synopsis
When Montezuma II was born (circa 1466), the Aztec empire spread to present-day Honduras and Nicaragua. The Aztec people, however, resented the emperor's frequent demands for tribute and victims for religious sacrifice. So when Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés arrived in 1519, Montezuma saw some of his subjects turn against him.
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How did Moctezuma respond to the Aztecs?
Moctezuma responded by brutally suppressing the rebellions with force, which increased the hatred felt towards the Aztecs. Moctezuma was also a competent administrator. This is evident, for instance, in the building programme he initiated in Tenochtitlan.
When did Moctezuma die?
Moctezuma died in June 1520, though it is unclear as to how he met his end. According to one version of the story, the Spanish had the emperor killed after they felt he was no longer useful.
What happened to Cortez in 1517?
When the Spanish landed in April 1519, the emperor became even more alarmed, especially since they began to move inland. As Cortez encountered the subjugated peoples of the Aztec Empire, he formed alliances with those against imperial rule, whilst killing those loyal to the empire.
When did the Spanish arrive in Tenochtitlan?
This, however, had the opposite effect, as it increased the determination of the invaders instead. In November 1519 , the Spanish finally arrived in Tenochtitlan , and what they saw must have made them aware that they were greatly outnumbered. Moctezuma presents gifts to Cortez ( public domain ).
Who was the Aztec ruler who lost his empire to a European power?
Moctezuma is remembered today mainly as the Aztec ruler who lost his empire to a European power, although this is an unfair assessment of him. This is due to the fact that Moctezuma was a capable ruler in his own right, as it was during his reign that the Aztec Empire reached its greatest height. Moctezuma II was born in 1466 to Axayacatl, ...
Who was Moctezuma's uncle?
When his father died in 1481, the throne passed to one of his uncles, Tizocic, who reigned until 1486. He was in turn succeeded by another of Moctezuma’s uncles, Ahuitzotl. During this time, Moctezuma served as a general under his uncle.
Who was the god of the Aztecs?
Nevertheless, Cortez and his men were welcomed by the emperor. According to some, the emperor believed that Cortez was the god Quetzalcoatl, whom the Aztecs believed would one day return to rule over Mexica. Others, however, argue that Moctezuma was buying his time, and would crush the Spanish at the appropriate moment.
Overview
Further reading
• Chimalpahin, Domingo (1997) [17th century]. Anderson, Arthur J. O.; Schroeder, Susan (eds.). Codex Chimalpahin: Society and politics in Mexico Tenochtitlan, Tlateloloco, Texcoco, Culhuacan, and other Nahua Altepetl in Central Mexico. Vol. 2. University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 9780806129501.
• de Alva Ixtlilxóchitl, Fernando (1892) [17th century]. Chavero, Alfredo (ed.). Obras históricas [Historical Works] (PDF) (in Spanish). Vol. 2. México: Oficina Tip. de la Secretaría de F…
Name
The Nahuatl pronunciation of his name is [motekʷˈsoːma]. It is a compound of a noun meaning "lord" and a verb meaning "to frown in anger", and so is interpreted as "he is one who frowns like a lord" or "he who is angry in a noble manner." His name glyph, shown in the upper left corner of the image from the Codex Mendoza below, was composed of a diadem (xiuhuitzolli) on straight hair with an attached earspool, a separate nosepiece, and a speech scroll.
Biography
Moctezuma II was the great-grandson of Moctezuma I through his daughter Atotoztli II and her husband Huehue Tezozómoc (not to be confused with the Tepanec leader). According to some sources, Tezozómoc was the son of emperor Itzcóatl, which would make Moctezuma his great-grandson, but other sources claim that Tezozómoc was actually Chimalpopoca's son, thus nephew of Itzcóatl, and a lord in Ecatepec. Moctezuma was also Nezahualcóyotl's grandson; he …
Reign
After his coronation he set up thirty-eight more provincial divisions, largely to centralize the empire. He sent out bureaucrats, accompanied by military garrisons. They made sure tax was being paid, national laws were being upheld, and served as local judges in case of disagreement.
Moctezuma's reign began with difficulties. In the year of 1505, there was a drought that resulted in crop failure, and thus a large portion of the population of central Mexico began to starve. One of …
Texcoco crisis
One of the most controversial events during his reign was the supposed overthrowal of the legitimate government of Nezahualpilli in Texcoco. Historians like Alva Ixtlilxóchitl even went as far as referring to this action as "diabolical," though while also making claims that are not seen in other chronicles and are generally not trusted by modern historians.
The circumstances of Nezahualpilli's death are not clear, and many sources offer highly conflicti…
War with Tlaxcala, Huejotzingo and their allies
Though the first conflicts between Mexico and Tlaxcala, Huejotzingo and their allies began during the rule of Moctezuma I in the 1450s, it was during the reign of Moctezuma II when major conflicts broke through.
Approximately in the year of 1503 (or 1507, after the conquest of Tototepec, according to historian Diego Durán), a massive battle occurred in Atlixco which was fought mainly against H…
Contact with the Spanish
In 1518, Moctezuma received the first reports of Europeans landing on the east coast of his empire; this was the expedition of Juan de Grijalva who had landed on San Juan de Ulúa, which although within Totonac territory was under the auspices of the Aztec Empire. Moctezuma ordered that he be kept informed of any new sightings of foreigners at the coast and posted extra watch guards and watchtowers to accomplish this.