Montezuma, << `mon` tuh ZOO muh, >> II (1466?-1520) was an Aztec emperor who ruled in what is now Mexico from 1502 to 1520. The Spaniards took control of the Aztec Empire in 1521, shortly after his death. His name is also spelled Moctezuma << `mok` tay SOO mah >> or Motecuhzoma << maw `tay` kwah SOH mah >> .
During his reign, Montezuma extended the Aztec domain to cover much of south-central Mexico. However, the people Montezuma conquered disliked him because he taxed them heavily.
In 1519, Hernán Cortés, the leader of a Spanish expedition, arrived in Mexico. Some historians believe that Montezuma and his people thought Cortés might be Quetzalcoatl—the White God of the Aztec—or his representative. At first, Montezuma welcomed the Spaniards with gold ornaments and other gifts. He hoped that the gifts would satisfy the Europeans and that they would leave his empire. But the gifts only made the Spaniards eager to see the riches of the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan (now Mexico City).
In late 1519, Cortés took Montezuma hostage and tried to control the empire with Montezuma as a puppet ruler. In 1520, the Aztec rebelled against the Spaniards and attacked the emperor’s palace. During the attack, a stone hit and injured Montezuma. He died several days later, on about June 20. The Aztec claim the Spaniards slit Montezuma’s throat as they prepared to retreat from Tenochtitlan.
See also Aztec (History) ; Cortés, Hernán ; Tenochtitlan .
