MONTEZUMA, or, more correctly, MOTE CUHZOMA. The name of two celebrated war chiefs of ancient Mexico. MONTEZUMA I. (1390? 1464) was the son of Iluizililmitl. ruler of Tenochtitlan (Mexico). and during the reigns of his father, his uncle, and his brother, acquired fame as a warrior in numerous expeditions against surrounding tribes. In 1430 he was elected "Emperor," and soon after entered into a war against the town of Chaleo to the southeast of Mexico. Chaleo was destroyed and many of its inhabitants were carried to Mexico, where they were offered up as sacrifices during the festivities attending the coronation of Montezuma. In this reign the Mexicans extended their conquests to the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific l/cean. The capital was greatly enlarged and beautified. and a vast system of dams was begun for the protec tion of the city against inund:ttion.—MoNTEZt'an-A II. ( f—I520). the last of the Aztec rulers of Mexico, became "Emperor" in I502. succeeding his uncle Ahuizotl. His reign began with the usual warlike expedition undertaken with the purpose of obtaining human sacrifices for the royal coronation. Montezuma 11. was successful in the limits within which the domi nation of the City of Mexico (Tenochtitlan) was reeogmized, especially toward the south. his ex
peditions reaching both Honduras and Nicara gua. The national tradition that Quetzalcoatl, a tribal divinity or hero, Nvonld return front the sun rising. white in color and bearded, rendered the Aztec chieftain's yourse vacillating and weak when he w;is informed of the landing of Corbs Ile tried by diplomacy and gifts to keep the Spaniards away from city. hut refused to tight them until too late to oppose their prog ress effectively. After readied the city. Montezuma allowed himself to be detained as a prisoner. his uncertainty a, to what should he 11011e paralyzing all action by his warriors until the :-.paniards had made their position secure. When the Mexicans refused longer to endure the of their Spanish visitors and called upon Alontezunia's brother, Cuitlahuatzin, to lead them against the white 111(.11, Alontezuma, acting pre sumably under pressure from Cortt.s, endeavored to quiet the revolt. Failing in this, he was probably killed by the Spaniards, who gave out that he died as a result of a blow from a stone thrown by one of his own people. while lie Was trying to address them from the roof of the house occupied hi the Spaniards (dune 27, 1520).