Montezuma09

=media type="custom" key="4649719"= = = =Script= Born in 1470, Moh-tecah-zoma, better known as Montezuma the Second, was poised to rule the great Aztec Empire from the day he was born. He was the nephew of Ahuizotl.(A-huey-zoh-tle), the current Tlatoani (Tee-la-toe-ahni), or ruler of Tenochtitlan, which was the capital city of the Aztec Empire. He received a thorough education in religion, science, and the arts. He was particularly devoted to his religion, which would affect his reign significantly. He became a priest in the temple of the war god, Huitzilopochtli (Huit - zilo-poch-tlee), and gained much prestige in numerous wars.

In 1502, at around the age of 25, he assumed the throne of his uncle, Ahuizotl. Because of his deep devotion to his religion, he was very heavily influenced by omens and prophecies, which is a big contrast to the realism exhibited by previous Tlatoanis. He was a very harsh ruler, expelling all common-folk from his court and, from fear of betrayal, the the previously employed nobles as well. He appointed his own men to these offices, and gave them new privileges, to further distinguish them from the commoners. His court was one of lavish ceremony and rituals, that emphasized himself as semi-divine.

His days were spent imposing harsh rule upon his subjects and the outlying areas. At the time of his inauguration, so to speak, the Empire was divided into independent city-states, and he tried to strengthen his authority over the city-states and enforcing a more centralized government. He increased taxation of all merchants, demanded heavier tribute from conquered tribes, and launched countless expeditions to obtain sacrificial victims. As a result of all these things, there were many uprisings and wars between Tenochtitlan and several tribes.

It was during these wars that Montezuma learned of the arrival of the Spanish. They were described as fair-skinned, iron-clad warriors, who rode anterless deer. These of course were horses, which the Aztecs have never seen before. This description matched the profile of Quetzalcoatl, one of the Aztec's main Gods. Fearing Quetzalcoatl wrath, he sent the Spanish, namely Hernan Cortes, gifts of appeasement. These gifts only increased Cortes's greed. Hernan Cortes used his status as a God to gain the Aztec's trust while secretly devising their takeover. On his way to meet the Aztecs for the first time, Cortes allied himself with the Tlaxcalteca, a tribe that had long suffered the Aztecs taxes and demand for sacrifices.

Montezuma invited the Spanish to stay in his kingdom, which did not sit well with the nobles of his court. Some time later Cortez left to see to the arrival of Panfilo de Narvaez, and while the Aztecs held a celebration of Toxcatl, an Aztec celebration of Tezcatlipoca, the jaguar god, Pedro de Alvarado slaughtered many of the upper-class nobles. This was the final straw, and tensions between the Aztecs and Spanish snapped. In the ensuing battle, Cortes took Montezuma hostage, ensuring the safety of his men. Shortly thereafter Montezuma died a captive in his own throne room.

Research
Moctezuma, better known was Montezuma II, was the last and most famous ruler of the Aztec empire. Born in c.1470 in the capital city of Tenochtitlan. Nephew of the current reigning Tlatoani (ruler of Tenochtitlan) Ahuizotl, he received a thorough education in religion, science, and art. Becoming particularly devoted to his religion he became a a priest in the temple of Huitzilopochtli, the god of war, and gained prestige in numerous Aztec wars.

In 1502, he became the Tlatoani after his uncle died. In contrast to the previous Tlatoani who believed in realism, he was influenced heavily by omens and prophecies.

As a ruler he was very harsh, dismissing all the common-folk from his court, increasing taxes from all merchant, demanding heavier tribute from conquered tribes, and launching countless expeditions to obtain sacrificial victims. Because of this harsh rule there were many uprisings and wars between Tenochtitlan and several tribes.

Over the course of these wars Moctezuma learned of the arrival of the Spanish. Fearing these Spanish conquistadors to be the emissary of the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl, he sent them gifts and offered homage in an attempt to appease them. These gifts only increased Hernan's appetite for the riches of the Aztec empire.

The last independent Aztec ruler, Montezuma II ruled most of what is now Mexico on the eve of the Spanish conquest. When he came to power, the Aztec Empire was made up of semi-independent city-states. Montezuma spent most of his reign strengthening his authority over the city-states and enforcing a more centralized government.

Fearing betrayal by those nobles who had served his predecessor, Montezuma replaced many of them with his own men and reformed his administration. He made it more difficult for commoners to attain high office and further distinguished the nobility by giving them new privileges, thus creating a rich and lavish court whose ritual and ceremony emphasized his semi-divine status.

When the Spanish arrived in Mexico in 1519, Montezuma failed to recognize their true intentions. Bewildered by their strange appearance and cunning in battle - they defeated towns that had long resisted the Aztecs - Montezuma adopted a placatory stance that led to his own capture and death, as well as the end of the empire.

The fall of the Aztecs coincided with the rise of Moctezuma II to his throne. He was the last ruler of the empire before its fall in 1521, a year after his death. When Montezuma assumed the throne after the death of his uncle, he fired all the nobles who had served his Uncle, the previous Tlatoani, because he feared betrayal, and replaced them with his own men, forming his own court. A new system made it harder for commoners to attain high office and gave the nobility new privileges, creating a court that was of a greater prestige.
 * The Fall of the Aztecs**

When Hernan Cortes arrived in Mexico, he was sent appeasements from Moctezuma. The reason for this was that the Aztecs thought Cortez was the emissary for the main god, Quetzalcoatl, who was described as lighter complected and riding a horse. Cortez fit the description and was treated as such. Cortez used his status to manipulate the Aztecs and gain their trust, while secretly planning their hostile takeover. The Spanish planned to take over Tenochtitlan, and on their way towards the city they allied themselves with the Tlaxcalteca, a tribe that was an enemy of the Aztecs. The Aztecs took from them many sacrifices and taxes of sorts. Moctezuma sent them gifts, to say perhaps that he was better and superior to them. The Aztec ruler then invited part of the Spanish army to stay in his kingdom. Aztec nobility became increasingly displeased that the Spaniards were up in their business, so Moctezuma told them it would be best if they left. Cortez left to see to the arrival of Panfilo de Narvaez, and while the Aztecs held a celebration of Toxcatl, an Aztec celebration of Tezcatlipoca, one of their main gods, Pedro de Alvarado slaughtered many of the upper-class nobles.

This increased tensions until they finally snapped and Cortes held Moctezuma hostage, thereby ensuring the safety of the Spaniards. Shortly after, Moctezuma was killed.

Works Cited
 * Hill M.G. (1973). Montezuma II. //The Mcgraw-hill encyclopedia of world biography//. McGraw Hill.
 * Sample, J.Q. (n.d.). //Montezuma II//. Retrieved from http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/Biographies/MainBiographies/M/Montezuma/a72.html
 * Wikimedia, Inc. (2009, Semptember 25). //Montezuma II//. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moctezuma_II