Tlatoani (Cuitlahuac) Cuitláhuac (abt. 1476 - abt. 1520)

Born about 1476 in Tenochtlitlán

Ancestors

Died about Oct 1520 at about age 44 in Tenochtitlán, Nueva España

Tlatoani (Cuitlahuac) Cuitláhuac is managed by the México Project. Join: Mexico Project Discuss: mexico

Biography

Cuitláhuac was the tenth Tlatoani of Tenochtlitán, after Moctezuma II. He was the son of the sixth Aztec emperor, Axayácatl, and the brother of the ninth Aztec emperor, Moctezuma II. He died of smallpox 80 days after taking power.

Cuitláhuac was born in 1476 and came from a noble lineage. He was the son of the sixth Aztec emperor, Axayácatl, and the brother of the ninth Aztec emperor, Moctezuma II. As a member of the royal governing family, Cuitláhuac played an important role in governing and administering the tribute and alliance system of the Aztec Empire. His brother Moctezuma entrusted him with diplomatic missions and sensitive negotiations after becoming emperor. Moctezuma also appointed him lord of the important city of Ixtalpalapan before the Spaniards arrived in Aztec territory.

Emperor Moctezuma held a conference of noblemen after the first news of the Spaniards reached the capital city, Tenochtitlán. At that meeting and on other occasions, Cuitláhuac forcibly argued that Moctezuma should use any means to prevent the entry of the Spaniards into the Aztec island capital. He became one of the main proponents of fighting the Spaniards, including a failed assault at the town of Cholula in 1519, which resulted in a Spanish massacre of the townspeople.

After arriving at Tenochtitlán Cortés took Moctezuma, Cuitláhuac, and a large number of important nobles captive a short time after entering the city. He kept them prisoners in the palace of Axayáctl, which the Spaniard had turned into his headquarters while in Tenochtitlán.

In May 1520, Cortés had to return to the coast to fight a rival Spanish captain sent to arrest him. In his absence, his designated commander, Capt. Pedro de Alvarado, slaughtered a large number of Aztec nobles celebrating a ritual festival in a manner that he found offensive.

Cortés returned to a tense city with reinforcements but quickly found himself under serious attack. The Aztecs besieged the Spanish headquarters. At Moctezuma's request, Cortés set Cuitláhuac free in order to appease the enraged Aztecs. This possibly represented Moctezuma's last-minute plan to right his mistakes and ensure strong leadership for his people. As soon as he was freed, Cuitláhuac directed the military assault against the Spaniards.

A council of noblemen named Cuitláhuac as Great Speaker of the Aztecs after the death of Moctezuma. The Spaniards had forced Moctezuma to the roof of their headquarters and ordered him to stop the Aztec attacks. The Aztecs responded with a hail of rocks, which killed their reviled emperor.

Cuitláhuac died in October 1520, leaving his nephew Cuauhtémoc to lead the final battle against the Spanish as the last of the Aztec emperors.

Sources

• The Codex Mendoza is an Aztec codex, created fourteen years after the 1521 Spanish conquest of Mexico with the intent that it be seen by Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain.

Section I, 16 pages, is a history of the Aztec people from 1325 through 1521 — from the founding of Tenochtitlan through the Spanish conquest. It lists the reign of each ruler and the towns conquered by them.

It is also known as the Codex Mendocino and La colección Mendoza, and has been held at the Bodleian Library at Oxford University since 1659.

• Chimalpahin Cuauhtlehuanitzin, Domingo Francisco de San Antón Muñón (1997). "Mexican History or Chronicle". Codex Chimalpahin: society and politics in Mexico Tenochtitlan, Tlatelolco, Texcoco, Culhuacan, and other Nahua altepetl in central Mexico: the Nahuatl and Spanish annals and accounts collected by don Domingo de San Antón Muñón Chimalpahin Quauhtlehuanitzin. Edited and translated by Arthur J. O. Anderson and Susan Schroeder. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. pp. 25–177. ISBN 0-8061-2921-2.