

	Aztec Emperor Montezuma The name can also be spelled as Moctezuma, and he was the ninth Aztec emperor of Mexico. Montezuma is particularly famous for his confrontation with Hernán Cortés, the Spanish conquistador. He was the leader of the Aztec empire from 1502 until his death in the year 1520. During this time, the Aztec empire extended from central Mexico to what is today Honduras in Central America. Montezuma reached the Aztec throne as a successor of his uncle Ahuizotl. During this time, he organized military expeditions that extended the scope of the Aztec influence, however, he also built resentment among various tribes in the region, who were not willing to pay the tributes that Montezuma demanded. This resentment, among other circumstances, was what helped the Spanish conquistadores submit the Aztec tribe. We cannot talk about Montezuma without referring to his profound belief in the god Quetzalcoatl. The Aztecs expected the return of Quetzalcoatl, a white bearded god that ruled the Toltec empire. Some historians suggest that Quetzalcoatl was, in fact, a Viking that arrived to Mexico before Columbus. The legend of Quetzalcoatl talks about a white god that brought with him the knowledge of handling metal, and when looking into the Aztec codex, the pictographic representations of the god Quetzalcóatl resemble the image of a Nordic person. The Vikings were particularly known for being good sailors, and it is widely accepted today that Vikings such as Erick the red could have traveled as far as the Caribbean in Viking sailships. Evidence of Viking settlements has been found in northern Canada, so it is not such a wild idea to think that they could have traveled down to Mexico. When the Spaniards arrived to Mexico, and Montezuma heard about white bearded men arriving by sea on the east, he mistakenly believed that the god Quetzalcoatl had returned. Hernán Cortés was aware of this belief and used it in his advantage during his expedition across Mexico. When Cortés arrived to the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan, he was received by Montezuma and invited into the emperor’s palace. Cortes, taking advantage of the Aztec hospitality, made Montezuma his prisoner. Montezuma’s submission to the Spaniards gained wide resentment among the Aztec people. It is said in the Spanish chronicles that when he was attempting to make a public speech, he was attacked with stones and arrows from the crowd. The wounds caused by this situation led to his death after three days. The Aztec throne was then passed to Cuitláhuac, who passed away shortly after due to a smallpox epidemic brought into Mexico by the Spaniards. The Aztec rebellion forced the Spaniards out of Tenochtitlan towards the region of Tlaxcala, where they signed a treaty with the tlaxcaltecas. These people helped reinforce the Spanish troops and played a mayor role in the submission of Tenochtitlan. The tlaxcaltecas were a group of people that had been competing with the Aztecs for the domain of Mexico's central plains. They were particularly known for their war practices and were one of the few rebellious towns in central Mexico that were not under full Aztec control. The Spanish conquistadores found in them a great partner for conquering the territory of the New spain, today Mexico. Please visit our home page for guided tours in Mexico led by archaeology and History professionals.

Aztec Emperor Montezuma

The name can also be spelled as Moctezuma, and he was the ninth Aztec emperor of Mexico. Montezuma is particularly famous for his confrontation with Hernán Cortés, the Spanish conquistador. He was the leader of the Aztec empire from 1502 until his death in the year 1520. During this time, the Aztec empire extended from central Mexico to what is today Honduras in Central America.

Montezuma reached the Aztec throne as a successor of his uncle Ahuizotl. During this time, he organized military expeditions that extended the scope of the Aztec influence, however, he also built resentment among various tribes in the region, who were not willing to pay the tributes that Montezuma demanded. This resentment, among other circumstances, was what helped the Spanish conquistadores submit the Aztec tribe.

We cannot talk about Montezuma without referring to his profound belief in the god Quetzalcoatl. The Aztecs expected the return of Quetzalcoatl, a white bearded god that ruled the Toltec empire. Some historians suggest that Quetzalcoatl was, in fact, a Viking that arrived to Mexico before Columbus. The legend of Quetzalcoatl talks about a white god that brought with him the knowledge of handling metal, and when looking into the Aztec codex, the pictographic representations of the god Quetzalcóatl resemble the image of a Nordic person.

The Vikings were particularly known for being good sailors, and it is widely accepted today that Vikings such as Erick the red could have traveled as far as the Caribbean in Viking sailships. Evidence of Viking settlements has been found in northern Canada, so it is not such a wild idea to think that they could have traveled down to Mexico.

When the Spaniards arrived to Mexico, and Montezuma heard about white bearded men arriving by sea on the east, he mistakenly believed that the god Quetzalcoatl had returned. Hernán Cortés was aware of this belief and used it in his advantage during his expedition across Mexico.

When Cortés arrived to the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan, he was received by Montezuma and invited into the emperor’s palace. Cortes, taking advantage of the Aztec hospitality, made Montezuma his prisoner. Montezuma’s submission to the Spaniards gained wide resentment among the Aztec people. It is said in the Spanish chronicles that when he was attempting to make a public speech, he was attacked with stones and arrows from the crowd. The wounds caused by this situation led to his death after three days. The Aztec throne was then passed to Cuitláhuac, who passed away shortly after due to a smallpox epidemic brought into Mexico by the Spaniards.

The Aztec rebellion forced the Spaniards out of Tenochtitlan towards the region of Tlaxcala, where they signed a treaty with the tlaxcaltecas. These people helped reinforce the Spanish troops and played a mayor role in the submission of Tenochtitlan.

The tlaxcaltecas were a group of people that had been competing with the Aztecs for the domain of Mexico's central plains. They were particularly known for their war practices and were one of the few rebellious towns in central Mexico that were not under full Aztec control. The Spanish conquistadores found in them a great partner for conquering the territory of the New spain, today Mexico.

Please visit our home page for guided tours in Mexico led by archaeology and History professionals.