Montezuma (mŏntĕs
`mä) or Moctezuma (mŏk–), 1480?–1520, Aztec emperor (c.1502–1520). He is sometimes called Montezuma II to distinguish him from Montezuma I (ruled 1440–69), who carried on conquests around Tenochtitlán Tenochtitlán (tānōchtētlän`), ancient city in the central valley of Mexico.
..... Click the link for more information. . His reign was marked by incessant warfare, and his despotic rule caused grave unrest. When Hernán Cortés Cortés, Hernán, or Hernando Cortez (kôrtĕz`, Span.
..... Click the link for more information. arrived in Mexico he was thus able to gain native allies, notably in the province of the Tlaxcala. Montezuma, believing the Spanish to be descendants of the god Quetzalcoatl Quetzalcoatl (kĕt'sälkôät`əl)
..... Click the link for more information. , tried to persuade them to leave by offering rich gifts. That failing, he received them in his splendid court at Tenochtitlán in Nov., 1519. Cortés later seized him as a hostage and attempted to govern through him. In June, 1520, the Aztec rose against the Spanish. Montezuma was killed, although whether by the Spanish or the Aztec is not certain. His successor died a few months later and was replaced by Cuauhtémoc Cuauhtémoc (k–outā`môk), d. 1525, Aztec emperor.
..... Click the link for more information. . Montezuma's name is linked by a legend to fabulous treasures that the Spanish appropriated and presumably lost at sea.
`mä) or Moctezuma (mŏk–), 1480?–1520, Aztec emperor (c.1502–1520). He is sometimes called Montezuma II to distinguish him from Montezuma I (ruled 1440–69), who carried on conquests around Tenochtitlán Tenochtitlán (tānōchtētlän`), ancient city in the central valley of Mexico...... Click the link for more information. . His reign was marked by incessant warfare, and his despotic rule caused grave unrest. When Hernán Cortés Cortés, Hernán, or Hernando Cortez (kôrtĕz`, Span.
..... Click the link for more information. arrived in Mexico he was thus able to gain native allies, notably in the province of the Tlaxcala. Montezuma, believing the Spanish to be descendants of the god Quetzalcoatl Quetzalcoatl (kĕt'sälkôät`əl)
..... Click the link for more information. , tried to persuade them to leave by offering rich gifts. That failing, he received them in his splendid court at Tenochtitlán in Nov., 1519. Cortés later seized him as a hostage and attempted to govern through him. In June, 1520, the Aztec rose against the Spanish. Montezuma was killed, although whether by the Spanish or the Aztec is not certain. His successor died a few months later and was replaced by Cuauhtémoc Cuauhtémoc (k
–outā`môk), d. 1525, Aztec emperor...... Click the link for more information. . Montezuma's name is linked by a legend to fabulous treasures that the Spanish appropriated and presumably lost at sea.
Bibliography
See H. Thomas, Conquest: Montezuma, Cortés, and the Fall of Old Mexico (1994).
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