MONTEZUMA, the name of two of the emperors of Mexico.—Montezuma I., the most able of the Mexican emperors, ascended the throne about 1437, and soon after com menced a war with the neighboring monarch of Chalco,whieh resulted in the annexation of that kingdom to Mexico. Tlatelolco, Cuiliixeas, and Tzompalmacan were next annexed. Some reverses which his arms now suffered led to a confederacy of the Tlas calans and two other powerful tribes against him; but in tho war which followed Mon tezuma's arms were again signally triumphant, and the territories of the conquered tribes increased the domain of the now all-powerful Montezuma. After several other success ful wars, he died in 1471.—Montezuma II., the last of the Mexican emperors, before its subjugation by the Spaniards, succeeded to the throne in 1502. He had distinguished himself as a warrior during the reign of his predecessor, and after his accession, carried the terror of his arms to the frontiers of Nicaragua and Honduras. He was at the same time a member of the priestly order, and did not demit his functions on his accession. He devoted his chief attention to the improvement of the laws, and of the internal administration, and displayed his taste for pomp and luxury by the magnificence of his household arrangements, and a profuse embellishment of his capital. This necessitated heavy taxation, which, combined with the strictness of his administration, led to con tinual revolts among his subjects, especially those who had lately conic under his sway. When Cortes landed in Mexico with his small army in 1519, Montezuma, blinded by an old prophecy, and by the strange appearance of the invaders, acknowledged them as beings of a superior order, and as his masters (see Cote•Es). The inhabitants of Mexico
having risen against Cortes, the latter caused Montezuma. who was then his prisoner, to appear in order to pacify them; hut being wounded accidentally by a stone flung from amongst the crowd of his own subjects, he so keenly felt the indignities which he had suffered, that he repeatedly tore the dressing from his wound, and soon •after died, June :30, 1520. Some of his children adopted the Christian religion, and his eldest son received from Charles V. the title of count of Montezuma. One of his descendants was viceroy of Mexico from 1697 to 1701. His last descendant, Don Marsilio de Teruel, count of Montezuma, was banished from Spain by Ferdinand VII., and afterwards from Mexico on account of his liberal opinions, and died at New Orleans in 1836.
MONTF.A.UcON, BERNARD DE, 1655-1741; b. Languedoc, of noble family. Edu cated for a military life, but ill suited to it, he joined the Benedictine order in 1676, -.studied till 1687, and was then called to Paris,where his profound knowledge of Hebrew and Chaldaic brought him an appointment to study the libraries of France and Italy in the interest of church history. In Italy he found trouble with the Jesuits, and asked his own recall, on the ground that it was useless " to follow up a dogmatic controversy with such great liars as the Jesuits." His numerous works are mostly in Latin.