Moctezuma I made a number of administrative decisions which cemented the Aztec Empire’s unity. He strengthened the Aztec Triple Alliance
Aztec Empire
The Aztec Empire, or the Triple Alliance, was an alliance of three Nahua altepetl city-states: Mexico-Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlacopan. These three city-states ruled the area in and around the Valley of Mexico from 1428 until the combined forces of the Spanish conquistadores …
How did Moctezuma respond to the Aztecs?
As a result of this, the subjugated peoples who were dissatisfied with their Aztec overlords rebelled from time to time. Moctezuma responded by brutally suppressing the rebellions with force, which increased the hatred felt towards the Aztecs. Moctezuma was also a competent administrator.
Why did Moctezuma order a watch on the coast?
Hearing that these men were sailing in vessels that were larger than anything the Aztecs had ever seen, Moctezuma ordered that a watch on the coast be kept. When the Spanish landed in April 1519, the emperor became even more alarmed, especially since they began to move inland.
Who was Moctezuma II?
Moctezuma II was born in 1466 to Axayacatl, the sixth ruler of the Aztec Empire, and Xochicueyetl. When his father died in 1481, the throne passed to one of his uncles, Tizocic, who reigned until 1486.
How does Moctezuma die in the Hateful Eight?
Hoping to use Moctezuma to calm the people down, Cortez orders him to speak to his people from a roof / balcony. Instead of listening to their emperor, however, the enraged population pelts him with stones and arrows. Moctezuma dies of his wounds three days later.
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What did Moctezuma I conquer?
These conquests opened the path for goods such as cocoa, rubber and seashells for the Aztec Empire. Later in his reign, Moctezuma I defeated the Mixtec army and launched similar campaigns against Orizaba and other regions.
What were Moctezuma's major achievements?
Another of his major administrative achievements was the construction of an aqueduct system to bring fresh water to Tenochtitlan.
What were the omens of Moctezuma II?
Most of the details of Moctezuma II come from later written historical sources and is often open to academic controversy. Some historians claim he was a weak leader. Other sources cite that before the arrival of the Spaniards, a number of events strengthened his suspicions of an impending disaster. These included the appearance of a comet in the sky, the burning of a temple and many other similar events. Historical sources claim that Moctezuma II and the city of Tenochtitlan received these omens with a foreboding which may explain why they let the Spaniards enter and stay at the city.
What was the role of the Aztecs in the Aztec Empire?
It was also during his reign that the Aztec Empire reached as far as the Gulf Coast, being able to access goods such as cocoa.
Who was the Spanish leader who held Moctezuma hostage?
In 1519, Hernen Cortes arrived at the gates of Tenochtitlan with a band of soldiers. Moctezuma II received him into the city and exchanged gifts with him. He then invited Cortes and his men to stay as guests at the city. Later, Cortes was somehow able to hold Moctezuma II hostage in his own house which led to an increased dissatisfaction of the city’s populace with the Spaniards. Eventually, this culminated in a massacre at the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan. Before he could mount a resistance against the Spaniards, Moctezuma II was killed in 1520 according to later historical sources.
Who was the Aztec emperor?
Moctezuma I was the Aztec Emperor in the 15th century. He overlooked the solidification of the Triple Alliance that founded the Aztec Empire. During his reign, the Empire significantly expanded beyond the Valley of Mexico and a double aqueduct system was constructed to provide fresh water to the city of Tenochtitlan. Moctezuma II was the Aztec Emperor when Hernes Cortes led a Spaniard invasion of the Valley of Mexico. He expanded the Aztec Empire so that it reached is maximum size during his reign. When Cortes came to Tenochtitlan, Moctezuma II treated him as a guest but eventually he was killed while Spanish forces were pitted against the city’s population.
Who was the son of the Aztecs?
Was the son of the Aztec Emperor Huitzilihuitl. The notable Aztec Emperor Itzcoatl who is considered among the founders of the Aztec Empire was his half uncle. He was the brother of Tlacaelel I, Chimalpopoca and Huehue Zaca.
How did Moctezuma respond to the Aztecs?
Moctezuma responded by brutally suppressing the rebellions with force, which increased the hatred felt towards the Aztecs. Moctezuma was also a competent administrator. This is evident, for instance, in the building programme he initiated in Tenochtitlan.
When did Moctezuma die?
Moctezuma died in June 1520, though it is unclear as to how he met his end. According to one version of the story, the Spanish had the emperor killed after they felt he was no longer useful.
What happened to Cortez in 1517?
When the Spanish landed in April 1519, the emperor became even more alarmed, especially since they began to move inland. As Cortez encountered the subjugated peoples of the Aztec Empire, he formed alliances with those against imperial rule, whilst killing those loyal to the empire.
When did the Spanish arrive in Tenochtitlan?
This, however, had the opposite effect, as it increased the determination of the invaders instead. In November 1519 , the Spanish finally arrived in Tenochtitlan , and what they saw must have made them aware that they were greatly outnumbered. Moctezuma presents gifts to Cortez ( public domain ).
Who was the god of the Aztecs?
Nevertheless, Cortez and his men were welcomed by the emperor. According to some, the emperor believed that Cortez was the god Quetzalcoatl, whom the Aztecs believed would one day return to rule over Mexica. Others, however, argue that Moctezuma was buying his time, and would crush the Spanish at the appropriate moment.
Who was the Aztec ruler who lost his empire to a European power?
Moctezuma is remembered today mainly as the Aztec ruler who lost his empire to a European power, although this is an unfair assessment of him. This is due to the fact that Moctezuma was a capable ruler in his own right, as it was during his reign that the Aztec Empire reached its greatest height. Moctezuma II was born in 1466 to Axayacatl, ...
Who was Moctezuma's uncle?
When his father died in 1481, the throne passed to one of his uncles, Tizocic, who reigned until 1486. He was in turn succeeded by another of Moctezuma’s uncles, Ahuitzotl. During this time, Moctezuma served as a general under his uncle.
Moctezuma I & Moctezuma II History
- Moctezuma I
Assumed the position of the Aztec Emperor in 1440 and ruled until 1469. His reign was marked by an increased cooperation between the city of Tenochtitlan and other two members of the Aztec Triple Alliance. It was also during his reign that the Aztec Empire reached as far as the Gulf Coas… - Moctezuma II
Was the Aztec Emperor from 1502 to 1520, when he was killed. The Aztec Empire reached its peak during his reign in terms of the area under its control. He regulated the social hierarchy of the Aztec society so that the roles of the nobility and the commoners were more clearly defined.
Moctezuma I & Moctezuma II Conquests
- During the reign of Moctezuma I, the Huastec and Totonac peoples in the Gulf Coast region were defeated and subjugated. These conquests opened the path for goods such as cocoa, rubber and seashells for the Aztec Empire. Later in his reign, Moctezuma I defeated the Mixtec army and launched similar campaigns against Orizaba and other regions. Moctezuma II led the final expan…
Moctezuma I & Moctezuma II Administration
- Moctezuma I made a number of administrative decisions which cemented the Aztec Empire’s unity. He strengthened the Aztec Triple Alliance by forging stronger ties between the city of Tenochtitlan and other members of the alliance which included Tlacopan and Texcoco. Another of his major administrative achievements was the construction of an aqueduct...
Moctezuma I & Moctezuma II Family
- Moctezuma I
Was the son of the Aztec Emperor Huitzilihuitl. The notable Aztec Emperor Itzcoatl who is considered among the founders of the Aztec Empire was his half uncle. He was the brother of Tlacaelel I, Chimalpopoca and Huehue Zaca. - Moctezuma II
Also descended from the royal family of Tenochtitlan. He had Teotlalco and Tlapalizquixochtzin as his queens. He had two sons and a daughter, although the exact number of his children outside marriage is considered to be fairly high.
Moctezuma II Superstitions
- Most of the details of Moctezuma II come from later written historical sources and is often open to academic controversy. Some historians claim he was a weak leader. Other sources cite that before the arrival of the Spaniards, a number of events strengthened his suspicions of an impending disaster. These included the appearance of a comet in the sky, the burning of a templ…
Moctezuma II Massacre in The Great Temple
- In the final months leading up to Moctezuma II’s death, Spaniards were staying in the city of Tenochtitlan. During this stay, Hernen Cortes had to go away and in the interim, the Spanish soldiers carried out a massacre in the Great Temple of the city. Native historical sources say that men and women inside the temple were killed because the Spaniards wanted to loot their gold. …
Moctezuma II Death
- The death of Moctezuma II is historically remarkable because facts about it are controversial and unconfirmed. What is known for certain is that he was killed in the city of Tenochtitlan sometime after the arrival of Hernen Cortes and the Massacre in the Great Temple. Historical sources say that he was killed by the Spaniards, while the Spanish version of history derived from Cortes’ cor…
Moctezuma I & Moctezuma II Summary
- Moctezuma I and Moctezuma II were both Aztec Emperors during two different reigns. Moctezuma I ruled the Empire in the time of its peak and expanded it significantly, while at the same time developing local structures such as water supply to the city of Tenochtitlan. He also forged closer relations with members of the Aztec Triple Alliance. Moctezuma II ruled the Empir…