City (pop., 2000: 327,162), capital of Morelos state, south-central Mexico.
As the capital city of the Tlahuica Indians, it was known as Cuauhnáhuac. The name was changed ( 0441; 1521) when it was taken by Hernán Cortés ; his palace, now the Morelos State House (decorated with murals by painter Diego Rivera ), is located there. Nearby are pre-Columbian ruins. A favourite retreat of the emperor Maximilian , the area is still popular with tourists. The University of Morelos was established there in 1953.