Montezuma II, ninth Aztec emperor of Mexico, famous for his dramatic confrontation with the Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes. Montezuma became Cortes’s prisoner in Tenochtitlan. The Spanish claimed Montezuma died at the hands of his own people; the Aztecs believed that the Spanish murdered him.
Why was Montezuma The second important?
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.
Why was Montezuma important to the Aztecs?
Montezuma II (1466-1520) was one of the last rulers of the great Aztec Empire before the arrival of the Spanish. Under his mandate, the city of Tenochtitlan managed to maintain its power and the domain it exercised over other peoples, who were obliged to pay tribute.
What was Moctezuma I known for?
Montezuma I (1397-1469), who ruled the Aztecs from 1440 to 1469, is best known for his expansion of the empire and for his building projects, including the dike across Lake Texcoco and the temple to the god Huitzilopochtli.
Why Was Montezuma a good leader?
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.
How is Moctezuma remembered?
He is a former head writer at VIVA Travel Guides. Emperor Montezuma Xocoyotzín (other spellings include Motecuzoma and Moctezuma) is remembered by history as the indecisive leader of the Mexica Empire who let Hernan Cortes and his conquistadors into the magnificent city of Tenochtitlan virtually unopposed.
Who was Montezuma II quizlet?
Montezuma II was the emperor of the Aztecs and during his reign Hernan Cortès conquered the empire. Pachacuti conquered all of Peru & continued to gain land from conquests. Later on, Francisco Pizarro arrived, weakened the empire & then conquered it. You just studied 11 terms!
What did Moctezuma II rule over?
Moctezuma II was one of the final rulers of the Aztec empire and its capital city Tenochtitlan. He ruled prior to its destruction around 1521 AD at the hands of the Conquistadors, their Indigenous allies, and the effect of disease spread by the European invaders.
Why is Montezuma Revenge called that?
Etymology. Named for Montezuma or Moctezuma II (c. 1466 – 1520), the last Aztec ruler before the empire was conquered by the Spanish. The condition is seen as “retribution” for the slaughter and enslavement of the Aztec people by Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés on 13 August 1521.
When did Moctezuma I expand Aztec empire?
In about 1458, Moctezuma led an expedition into Mixtec territory against the city-state of Coixtlahuaca, the pretext being the mistreatment of Aztec merchants. Despite the support of contingents of Tlaxcala and Huexotzinco warriors, traditional enemies of the Aztecs, the Mixtecs were defeated.
How did Montezuma expand the Aztec empire?
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 happened when Cortés tried to embrace Montezuma?
Cortés placed a necklace of pearls and cut glass around the neck of Montezuma, but was held back by two lords when he tried to embrace the emperor. The Aztecs led the Spaniards into the heart of the city where Montezuma showered them with more gifts and then quartered them in sumptous apartments.
Why is Montezuma II significant?
While Aztec emperor, Montezuma had a famous confrontation with Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés. He initially welcomed Cortés but, when unable to...
When 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 cultu...
How did Montezuma II die?
After being taken captive by Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés, Montezuma spoke to his subjects in an attempt to quell growing unrest. However, up...
Was Montezuma the last Aztec emperor?
Montezuma was not the last Aztec emperor. After he died, Cuitlahuac was named emperor, but soon he died from smallpox. Cuauhtemoc then took the thr...
Who was Montezuma and why was he important?
Montezuma II was one of the last Aztec emperors. Under his rule, the Aztec empire had its peak, conquering other tribes and expanding their territo...
Was Montezuma II a good leader?
He was a ruler who knew how to expand his empire and took it to its peak. However, he led an opulent lifestyle away from the people and many tribes...
What was the biggest issue for Montezuma as a new king?
The biggest issue for Montezuma as a new king was what to do with such a large empire. His uncle had spent so much time and effort expanding, but Montezuma's responsibility became maintaining that power. The peoples conquered by the Aztecs had to make payments to Tenochtitlan and to the king.
Who captured Montezuma and ruled the Aztecs?
Many tribes conquered by the Aztecs disliked Montezuma and formed an alliance with Hernan Cortes and the Spanish conquistadors. Cortes captured Montezuma and ruled the Aztecs through him. Montezuma died in 1520 after his people threw rocks and stones at him. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
What did the Aztecs pay to the king?
These payments came in the form of gold, precious metals, foods, and different goods. Montezuma decided to increase the size of the tributes, and he also demanded that the conquered tribes pay him human tributes, too.
What did Cortes decide to do when he reached Montezuma?
As they traveled, they heard stories of Montezuma and realized how angry and upset some of the tribes were. Cortes decided to form alliances with these tribes. By the time Cortes reached Montezuma, he decided that the only way to get what he wanted was to capture the Aztec ruler.
What did Cortes do to Montezuma?
Cortes used Montezuma as his puppet and managed to swindle gold and treasure from the Aztecs. Eventually, the Aztec people revolted against the Spanish and their weak leader. Montezuma's people threw rocks at him that caused wounds that might have caused his death.
How many people did Montezuma rule?
Well, this is exactly what some of these tribes decided to do. Montezuma was not popular outside of Tenochtitlan. In total, he was the ruler of over 5 million people. That's a lot of upset and angry followers!
What did the Aztecs do to bring fresh water into the city?
In fact, Aztec engineers were so advanced that they built large aqueducts, or large pipes, that brought fresh water into the city. The center of the city had a large marketplace, fantastic pyramids for the Aztec gods, and a place to play sports. But Tenochtitlan was more than just the capital of the Aztec Empire;
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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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.
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.
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 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 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.
