MONTEZUMA II

born 1466 died , c. June 30, 1520, Tenochtitln, near modern Mexico City also spelled Moctezuma ninth Aztec emperor of Mexico, famous for his dramatic confrontation with the Spanish conquistador Hernn Corts. In 1502 Montezuma succeeded his uncle Ahuitzotl as the leader of an empire that had reached its greatest extent, stretching to what is now Honduras and Nicaragua, but that was weakened by the resentment of the subject tribes to the increasing demands for tribute and victims for the religious sacrifices. Although Montezuma was commander of the army and organized extensive expeditions of conquest, he was also profoundly influenced by his belief in the god, Huitzilopochtli. Through astrologers, the god instilled in the Emperor a kind of fatalism in the face of an uncertain future. The Aztecs feared and expected the return of Quetzalcatl, the white, bearded god who would rule over the empire. Instead, the white, bearded Corts arrived; he was aware of this fear and used it to his advantage in his expedition across Mexico. Montezuma tried to buy off Corts, but the Spaniard made alliances with those subject tribes who hated Aztec rule. Welcomed into the capital city of Tenochtitln by Montezuma, Corts realized it was a trap and, instead, made the Emperor his prisoner, knowing that the Aztecs would not attack as long as he held Montezuma captive. Montezuma's submission to the Spaniards, however, had eroded the respect of his people. According to Spanish accounts, he attempted to speak to his subjects and was assailed with stones and arrows, suffering wounds from which he died three days later. The Aztecs, however, believed the Spaniards had murdered their emperor, and Corts' force was nearly destroyed as it tried to sneak out of Tenochtitln at night.