Last Emperors

Moctezuma II ($r. 1502 - 1520$)

Moctezuma II was the ninth $Tlatoani$ of Tenochtitlan and was the ruler at the time of the first contact between Mesoamerica and Europeans.

• Spanish Arrival: In $1519$, he met Hernán Cortés and initially treated the Spaniards as honored guests, though he was eventually taken prisoner within his own palace by the conquistadors.

• Death: He died in $1520$, during the early stages of the Spanish conquest, after an uprising by the Aztec people against the occupiers. The exact cause of his death remains a subject of historical debate, often cited as being killed by his own people or by the Spanish.

Cuitláhuac ($r. 1520$)

Cuitláhuac was the younger brother of Moctezuma II and was elected as the tenth $Tlatoani$ following his brother's death.

• Military Leadership: He is best known for leading the successful Aztec resistance during the $Noche\ Triste$ (Night of Sorrows) on June $30$, $1520$, which forced the Spanish to flee Tenochtitlan.

• Short Reign: His reign lasted only about $80$ days, as he tragically succumbed to smallpox—a disease introduced by the Europeans—before the final siege of the city.

Cuauhtémoc ($c. 1495 - 1525$)

Cuauhtémoc was the eleventh and last Aztec ruler ($Tlatoani$) of Tenochtitlan, reigning from $1520$ to $1521$. His name translates to 'one who has descended like an eagle,' symbolizing his determination and strength during the final days of the Aztec Empire.

1. Defense of Tenochtitlan

   • He took power during the Spanish siege of the capital after the death of Cuitláhuac.

   • He is celebrated for leading a heroic and desperate defense against Hernán Cortés and his allies despite the overwhelming odds and the impact of disease and famine.

2. Capture

   • On August $13$, $1521$, he was captured by the Spanish while attempting to flee the city across Lake Texcoco.

   • His capture effectively marked the absolute end of the Aztec Empire.

3. Torture and Death

   • Despite being a captive, he was tortured—most famously by having his feet burned—to force him to reveal the location of hidden Aztec treasures.

   • He was eventually executed by Cortés in $1525$ during an expedition to Honduras.