Montezuma 2nd biography

More From encyclopedia. About this article Motecuhzoma II c. Motchenbacher, C urt D. Motal, Abraham ben Jacob. Motahhari, Mortaza — Motacilla flava. Mota, Rosa —.

Montezuma 2nd biography: Biography of Montezuma II:

Mota, Nehemia. Mota y Escobar, Alonso de la. Moszumanska-Nazar, Krystyna —. Moszumanska-Nazar, Krystyna. Moszkowski, Moritz. Mosul, Anglo-Turkish Dispute Over. He received a thorough education in religion, science, and art and was especially devoted to his religion, becoming a priest in the temple of the war god Huitzilopochtli. He also distinguished himself in the numerous Aztec wars.

In Montezuma succeeded his uncle Ahuitzotl to the throne and became known for his pride and superstition. He lacked the harsh realism of his predecessors and was very much influenced by omens and prophecies. He dismissed all plebeians from his court and increased taxation of the merchants. Although his advisers warned him that his measures would weaken the empire, he requested heavier tribute from conquered tribes and launched numerous expeditions to obtain sacrificial victims.

Under these circumstances Montezuma learned of the arrival of the Spaniards in Fearing that they were emissaries of the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl, whose return was believed to be imminent, and following the decisions of the Supreme Council of the Indian Confederation, Montezuma tried to appease the conquistadores by sending gifts and offering homage.

This only whetted the appetite of the Spaniards. Using Montezuma as his mouthpiece, he governed from behind the throne. Montezuma summoned all his caciques chiefsordering them to obey the Spaniards and to collect tribute and gold for the Spanish monarch.

Montezuma 2nd biography: Montezuma II was the last

He ordered Montezuma to arrange for supplies, but the Emperor refused. Instead, Cuitlahuac assumed the leadership of the revolt. The most famous of Aztec emperors, Moctezuma is seen as a symbol of resistance against the Spanish and his name was invoked during several rebellions centuries later. Yet according to a Spanish source, Moctezuma was killed by a group of rebels amongst his own people who were angry at his failure to deal with the invading army.

Moctezuma could give the King of Siam a run for his money when it came to fathering children. Known for his countless wives and concubines, a Spanish chronicler claims he may have sired over children. Of his female partners only two women held the position of queen, in particular his favourite and most highly ranked consort, Teotiaico. This depended on the status of their mothers, many of whom were without noble family connections.

Despite portrayals of Moctezuma as indecisive, vain and superstitious, he doubled the size of the Aztec Empire.

Montezuma 2nd biography: Moctezuma Xocoyotzin (c. – 29

By the time he became king inAztec influence spread from Mexico into Nicaragua and Honduras. This reflects his importance at the time as well as the fact that he was the fully independent ruler of the Aztec Empire until its collapse in the 16 th century. Moctezuma had a talent as an administrator. He set up 38 provincial divisions in order to centralize the empire.

Part of his plans to maintain order and secure revenues was to send out bureaucrats accompanied by a military presence to make certain that tax was being paid by the citizens and that national laws were being upheld. Montezuma II inherited the throne from his uncle due to his position as the highest-ranking priest of the tribal god Huitzilopochtli.

Upon being proclaimed tlatoani emperorMontezuma II retreated to a temple to pray.

Montezuma 2nd biography: Montezuma II, ninth Aztec emperor

His older brother, Malinaltzin, who was renowned as a skilled warrior, was initially declared his successor. However, it is believed that Montezuma II arranged for his brother's assassination, as he did not want the rulers of Tlaxcala to gain access to power through his brother's marriage to one of the daughters of Nezahualpilli, the ruler of Texcoco.

Once in power, Montezuma II purged all those who had served the previous tlatoani, including messengers, ambassadors, and elders. He sought to surround himself with loyal individuals, often appointing his relatives to positions of authority.