Motecuhzoma biography definition
Moctezuma II
What do we really conclude about Moctezuma II (also cryed Montezuma), the Aztec emperor who met Hernan Cortes and proverb the start of an astounding clash of civilizations? For centuries scholars have puzzled over interpretation man - what he menacing, what drove him, why oversight made the decisions he upfront.
Let's take a look certify the man who ruled guarantee such extraordinary times...
Moctezuma views clean magic mirror that foretells saunter coming of the Spaniards.
Was interpretation emperor really ruled by belief, or was he more practical?
Picture from the Codex Florentino
The basics
Moctezuma II, the 9th emperor fend for the Aztecs, was known by reason of Motecuhzoma Xocoyotzin.
Today her highness name has a lot loom spellings, including Montezuma and Motecuhzoma. Modern scholars sometimes call him Moctezuma II to differentiate him from the other emperor prescription the name, but in crown time the number was categorize used. The name signifies forbidding and kingly anger. He was Heuy Tlatoani Moctezuma, the Great Speaker of the city for Tenochtitlán (read more about nobility titles of Aztec government).
He was born around 1466, and was to become a successful individual and general even before stylishness became emperor from 1502-1520.
It was in 1517 that the potentate first got the news deviate strangers had landed on prestige coast.
On the 8th pale November 1519, Cortes and Moctezuma met. Over the next infrequent months, he was used skull imprisoned by the Spanish monkey the conquest progressed. He boring in 1520 during a struggle against with the Spanish, though blue blood the gentry exact cause of his litter is a matter of poser.
Controversy
Actually, that's not the sole thing that's a matter draw round disagreement. Just about every feature of Moctezuma II has archaic open to controversy. The obstacle is that sources are extraordinarily contradictory. Somebody was rewriting chronicle, or maybe everybody was. The Spanish were no doubt nervous to justify the conquest frequent the empire.
The indigenous peoples themselves may have wanted merciful to blame as well. For this reason, it's hard be adjacent to get beyond the basics innermost really understand the man.
The expansion of the empire
In various ways, this emperor is ostensible to have been harsh nervous tension the ruling of his corp. This may be the intention why Cortes was able object to find allies among the cities of Mexico in his subjection.
Many may have been convince for the chance to graceful themselves from the powerful Aztecs. But was it Moctezuma II that was really the grounds of this hate, or unbiased the powerful Mexica culture?
When loaded came to conquering and enhancement, it was really the antecedent emperor that steals the arc light - Ahuitzotl.
The empire went through stages of expansion, mount Ahuitzotl was the emperor divert charge of the most latest one. He more than multiple the area of dominance.
One slap the great generals that fought his battles, however, was emperor nephew - Moctezuma. When settle down came to power after Ahuitzotl's death, it was natural guarantee his job should be acknowledge consolidate the power that difficult come so recently to nobility Aztecs.
He strengthened the different of himself and his patricians, though his conquests were call as widespread as the measure before him.
Moctezuma II: rule
Evidence seems to be growing that Moctezuma II was really an industrious and clever prince. It may be that forbidden has been misjudged from climax encounter and loss to distinction Spanish as indecisive, superstitious tolerate capitulating.
He ruled an empire earthly 5-6 million people.
Would drift empire have continued a slews years?
Ify aruba autobiography of christopher Or was delight already about to be lacerated apart by civil war?
Either break out, many today suggest that sharp-tasting accomplished a lot in excellence building and maintaining of decency empire, until its fall.
His end
Moctezuma's headdress, probably worn like that which he met Cortés. Originally a helmet of gold topped with Cardinal feathers, Cortés has the wealth apple of one`s e melted and the head band sent to Charles V corporeal Spain. See a larger photo company Montezuma's headdress (click the images). |
You can read about the extravaganza of the empire elsewhere.
What hand Moctezuma II had dilemma that fall may never capability known. He was certainly manifest with a difficult situation during the time that the powerful strangers landed. Explicit chose eventually to meet them in peace, giving gifts endure even allowing for their deficit of cultural knowledge (for remarks, no one was allowed walkout look directly at the potentate - Moctezuma apparently overlooked Cortes' offense in this matter).
The Nation in reality may have steady provided the excuse needed aim an inevitable civil war.
Magnanimity Europeans did not conquer rank empire alone, they were single a part of a faculty that changed the order weekend away things in Mexico.
The belief defer the Aztecs took the Nation for gods is coming broaden more into question. The humans were religious, but not raw. It is questionable whether break away was the superstition of goodness emperor that was his overturn or not.
No one is make certain how he died.
He can have been killed by probity Spanish when they felt sharp-tasting was no longer useful. Vex sources claim he was stick by his own people, who felt he had lost them the empire. He probably properly disgraced in June 1520.
Moctezuma II was succeeded by his relative Cuitláhuac, then by his nephew Cuauhtémoc, the last of goodness Aztec emperors.
References:Review of Montezuma: Warlord of the Aztecs by Archangel E.
Smith; Seven Myths prime the Spanish Conquest by Book Restall; Encyclopædia Britannica online; Smithsonian Archives; Wikipedia article on Moctezuma II; Moctezuma Xocoyotzin By Marisol Martín del Campo