Moctezuma II

Moctezuma II Motecuhzoma Xocoyotzin
9th Tlatoani of Tenochtitlan Ruler of the Aztec Triple Alliance
Moctezuma II in the Codex Mendoza
Reign	1502–1520
Predecessor	Ahuitzotl
Successor	Cuitláhuac
Born	c. 1466
Died	June 29, 1520 (aged 53–54) Tenochtitlan
Consort	Teotlalco Tlapalizquixochtzin
Issue	Isabel Moctezuma Another daughter Chimalpopoca Tlaltecatzin
Father	Axayacatl
Mother	Xochicueyetl

Moctezuma II (c. 1466 – 29 June 1520), variant spellings include Montezuma, Moteuczoma, Motecuhzoma and referred to in full by early Nahuatl texts as Motecuhzoma Xocoyotzin (Moctezuma the Young, modern Nahuatl pronunciation ), was the ninth tlatoani or ruler of Tenochtitlan, reigning from 1502 to 1520. The first contact between indigenous civilizations of Mesoamerica and Europeans took place during his reign, and he was killed during the initial stages of the Spanish conquest of Mexico, when conquistador Hernán Cortés and his men fought to escape from the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan.

During his reign the Aztec Empire reached its greatest size. Through warfare, Moctezuma expanded the territory as far south as Xoconosco in Chiapas and the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, and incorporated the Zapotec and Yopi people into the empire. He changed the previous system of social hierarchy and widened the divide between pipiltin (nobles) and macehualtin (commoners) by prohibiting commoners from working in the royal palaces.

The portrayal of Moctezuma in history has mostly been colored by his role as ruler of a defeated nation, and many sources describe him as weak-willed and indecisive. The biases of some historical sources make it difficult to understand his actions during the Spanish invasion.