77 Facts About Moctezuma II

Moctezuma II changed the previous meritocratic system of social hierarchy and widened the divide between pipiltin and macehualtin by prohibiting commoners from working in the royal palaces.

Historical portrayals of Moctezuma II have mostly been colored by his role as ruler of a defeated nation, and many sources have described him as weak-willed, superstitious, and indecisive.

Moctezuma II's story remains one of the most well-known conquest narratives from the history of European contact with Native Americans, and he has been mentioned or portrayed in numerous works of historical fiction and popular culture.

Moctezuma II was the great-grandson of Moctezuma I through his daughter Atotoztli II and her husband Huehue Tezozomoc.

Moctezuma II was Nezahualcoyotl's grandson; he was son of emperor Axayacatl and one of Nezahualcoyotl's daughters, Izelcoatzin or Xochicueyetl.

Moctezuma II would've been enrolled into the institution at a very early age, likely at the age of five years, as the sons of the kings were expected to receive their education at a much earlier age than the rest of the population.

Approximately in the year 1490, Moctezuma II obtained the rank of tequihua, which is reached by capturing at least 4 enemy commanders.

However, most documents say Moctezuma II's coronation happened in the year 1502, and therefore most historians believe this to have been the actual date.

Moctezuma II sent out bureaucrats, accompanied by military garrisons, who made sure tax was being paid, national laws were being upheld, and served as local judges in case of disagreement.

Moctezuma II ordered the tlacxitlan, the criminal court of Tenochtitlan, to free those children and offer food to those noblemen.

Moctezuma II prohibited any commoners or illegitimate children of the nobility from serving in his palace or in high positions of government.

Moctezuma II likely sought to resolve this conflict by installing despotist policies that would settle it.

Fortunately, his invitation was accepted, and Moctezuma II used this opportunity to show his greatness to the lords who attended.

However, because the invitation was secret to avoid a scandal for inviting his rivals to this ceremony, Moctezuma II ordered that no one should know that the lords were present, not even the rulers of Tlacopan and Texcoco, and the lords saw themselves often forced to pretend to be organizers to avoid confusion.

Moctezuma II would try to campaign against these rebellions one at a time throughout the following years, campaigning against territories in Oaxaca, including Icpatepec again, in 1511 or 1512.

The empire's expansion during Moctezuma II's rule was mainly focused on southwestern Mesoamerican territories, in Oaxaca and modern-day Guerrero.

The first important conquest during Moctezuma II's rule occurred in the year of 1504, when the city of Achiotlan was conquered.

The campaign in Tototepec occurred as the result of a large group of Mexica merchants sent by Moctezuma II being killed after they attempted to trade for some of the resources of the area on his behalf.

Moctezuma II came out victorious and then returned to Mexico through Chalco, where he received many honors for his victory.

Moctezuma II went to war against the Tarascan Empire for the first time since Axayacatl was defeated in his disastrous invasion.

Moctezuma II then decided to betray Nezahualpilli by sending a secret embassy to Tlaxcala telling them about the incoming army.

Moctezuma II spent his last months mostly inactive in his rule and his advisors, on his own request, took most of the government's decisions during this period.

Moctezuma II personally assigned two men to take control of almost all government decisions.

Moctezuma II's death is recorded to have been mourned in Texcoco, Tenochtitlan, Tlacopan and even Chalco and Xochimilco, as all of these altepeme gave precious offerings, like jewelry and clothes, and sacrifices in his honor.

Moctezuma II himself was reported to have broken into tears upon receiving the news of his death.

Moctezuma II had six legitimate sons: Cacamatzin, Coanacochtli, Tecocoltzin, Ixtlilxochitl II, Yoyontzin and Tetlahuehuetzquititzin, all of whom would eventually take the throne, though most of them after the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire.

Ixtlilxochitl argued that the reason why Moctezuma II supported Cacamatzin was because he wanted to manipulate him so that he could take over Texcoco, being that he was his uncle.

Moctezuma II then accelerated his pace, possibly because he received worrying news from Texcoco, and advanced to the city of Tepeapulco, where he was welcomed.

Moctezuma II eventually reached Texcoco and placed the city under siege, while occupying the cities of Papalotlan, Acolman, Chicuhnautlan, Tecacman, Tzonpanco and Huehuetocan in order to take every possible entrance Moctezuma could use to send his troops to Texcoco.

Moctezuma II used his influence to enter the city of Texcoco and obtain access to the Acolhua cities not yet occupied by Ixtlilxochitl.

Moctezuma II approved this decision and Xochitl was sent along with some troops.

Once the news of this defeat were heard by Moctezuma II, he ordered that no more military engagements shall be done for the moment to prevent further escalation, and that he wanted to rightfully punish Ixtlilxochitl for what he did in a more appropriate moment.

However, this would only be done under the condition that Moctezuma II wouldn't get involved by any means.

The Spanish captain Hernan Cortes, who was the main commander of the Spanish troops who entered Mexico, decided to act and ordered Moctezuma II to send someone to arrest Cacamatzin before the attack.

Moctezuma II suggested for Ixtlilxochitl to be sent due to the crisis, as then he could take the throne and prevent another succession crisis.

Moctezuma II still tried to establish negotiations between the Texcoco leadership and the Spaniards, but was unable to change Cacamatzin's mind.

Moctezuma II's figure has remained controversial in the historical record, as some have seen him as a man who betrayed his people for his own ambition, while others have seen him as a brave warrior who fought against the tyrannical rule of Moctezuma II and liberated the peoples he subjugated with the help of Hernan Cortes.

Moctezuma II went to the fight along with four or five of his brothers and a two of his nephews.

Moctezuma II named one of his brothers, Tlacahuepan, as the main commander of the troops against the troops of Huejotzingo.

Moctezuma II began by sending 200 troops to launch skirmishes against the Huexotzinca, but despite the large numbers and skirmishes, he was unable to break the enemy lines.

Anyway, the defeat was a humiliating one, and Moctezuma II is said to had cried in anguish upon hearing of the death of Tlacahuepan and the massive loss of soldiers.

Moctezuma II himself welcomed the soldiers who survived back into Mexico, while the population that welcomed them mourned.

The result of this battle was indecisive, as some reported it as a victory, but it seems Moctezuma II took it as a defeat and was highly upset about it, to the point that he complained against the gods.

Moctezuma II had the disadvantage that many of his dominions surrounding Tlaxcala did not want to fight them, as many of them used to be their allies in the past even with all the promises Moctezuma II made, and therefore his support was actually quite limited.

In 1518, Moctezuma II 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 Ulua, which although within Totonac territory was under the auspices of the Aztec Empire.

Moctezuma II ordered that he be kept informed of any new sightings of foreigners at the coast and posted extra watch guards and watchtowers to accomplish this.

When Cortes arrived in 1519, Moctezuma II was immediately informed and he sent emissaries to meet the newcomers; one of them was an Aztec noble named Tentlil in the Nahuatl language but referred to in the writings of Cortes and Bernal Diaz del Castillo as "Tendile".

Moctezuma II was aware of this and sent gifts to the Spaniards, probably in order to show his superiority to the Spaniards and Tlaxcalteca.

Moctezuma II gave Cortes the gift of an Aztec calendar, one disc of crafted gold and another of silver.

Six days after their arrival, Moctezuma II became a prisoner in his own house.

Moctezuma II claimed innocence for this incident, claiming that though he was aware of the attack as Quetzalpopoca brought him the severed head of a Spaniard as a demonstration of his success, he never ordered it and was highly displeased by these events.

Moctezuma II was publicly executed by burning soon after, but Moctezuma remained prisoner regardless.

The Aztec nobility reportedly became increasingly displeased with the large Spanish army staying in Tenochtitlan, and Moctezuma II told Cortes that it would be best if they left.

Four leaders of the Aztec army met with Moctezuma II to talk, urging their countrymen to cease their constant firing upon the stronghold for a time.

The Aztecs, disgusted by the actions of their leader, renounced Moctezuma II and named his brother Cuitlahuac tlatoani in his place.

Moctezuma II was then succeeded by his brother Cuitlahuac, who died shortly after during a smallpox epidemic.

Moctezuma II did not wear his hair long but just over his ears, and he had a short black beard, well-shaped and thin.

Moctezuma II's face was rather long and cheerful, he had fine eyes, and in his appearance and manner could express geniality or, when necessary, a serious composure.

Moctezuma II was very neat and clean, and took a bath every afternoon.

Moctezuma II had many women as his mistresses, the daughters of chieftains, but two legitimate wives who were Caciques in their own right, and only some of his servants knew of it.

Moctezuma II had a guard of two hundred chieftains lodged in rooms beside his own, only some of whom were permitted to speak to him.

Moctezuma II's prose is characterized by simple descriptions and explanations, along with frequent personal addresses to the King.

Moctezuma II came down the middle of this street with two chiefs, one on his right hand and the other on his left.

Anthony Pagden and Eulalia Guzman have pointed out the Biblical messages that Cortes seems to ascribe to Moctezuma II's retelling of the legend of Quetzalcoatl as a vengeful Messiah who would return to rule over the Mexica.

Historian James Lockhart suggests that the people needed to have a scapegoat for the Aztec defeat, and Moctezuma II naturally fell into that role.

Some Aztec stories about Moctezuma II describe him as being fearful of the Spanish newcomers, and some sources, such as the Florentine Codex, comment that the Aztecs believed the Spaniards to be gods and Cortes to be the returned god Quetzalcoatl.

Moctezuma II practiced a variety of sports, among them archery and swimming.

Moctezuma II was well trained in the arts of war, as he was well experienced in the battlefield from an early age.

Moctezuma II used to invite servants to this forest, should he order for certain animals to be hunted for him, which would often be done for the entertainment of his guests.

Moctezuma II was recorded to have been heavily obsessed with cleanliness and personal hygiene, such as bathing multiple times a day in his private pool; as well as not wearing the same clothes every day.

Moctezuma II was passionate for chocolate; had it flavored with vanilla or other spices such as chili peppers, his chocolate was whipped into a froth that dissolved in the mouth.

Moctezuma II had children by the latter two, from whom descend the illustrious families of Andrade-Montezuma and Cano-Montezuma.

In 1627, their son Pedro Tesifon de Moctezuma II was given the title Count of Moctezuma II, and thus became part of the Spanish nobility.

Descendants of Pedro Tesifon de Moctezuma included General Jeronimo Giron-Moctezuma, 3rd Marquess de las Amarilas, a ninth-generation descendant of Moctezuma II, who was commander of the Spanish forces at the Battle of Fort Charlotte, and his grandson, Francisco Javier Giron y Ezpeleta, 2nd Duke of Ahumada and 5th Marquess of the Amarillas who was the founder of the Guardia Civil in Spain.

Hubert Howe Bancroft, writing in the 19th century, speculated that the name of the historical Aztec emperor Moctezuma II had been used to refer to a combination of different cultural heroes who were united under the name of a particularly salient representative of Mesoamerican identity.

One such example was the rebellion of the Virgin Cult in Chiapas in 1721, where the followers of the Virgin Mary rebelled against the Spanish after having been told by an apparition of the virgin that Moctezuma II would be resuscitated to assist them against their Spanish oppressors.

Moctezuma II is the subject of Roger Sessions' dodecaphonic opera Montezuma, and the protagonist in the modern opera La Conquista by Italian composer Lorenzo Ferrero, where his part is written in the Nahuatl language.