THE BIOGRAPHY OF MONTEZUMA II
AND HERNAN CORTES
THE BIOGRAPHY OF MONTEZUMA II AND
HERNAN CORTES
• Although Montezuma II became known as the emperor who let the
Spanish Explorers capture the Aztec Empire, most of his years as a ruler
had been very successful.
THE BIOGRAPHY OF MONTEZUMA II AND
HERNAN CORTES
• Montezuma Xocoyotl was the youngest son of Emperor Axacayatl.
• Aztec leadership was not hereditary, so after Axacayatl’s death a man
named Ahuitzotl was selected as Emperor.
THE BIOGRAPHY OF MONTEZUMA II AND
HERNAN CORTES
• Montezuma was in his early
twenties when he was chosen as
emperor.
• He became a popular leader and
won over 40 battles against the
Mesoamerican kingdoms south of
the Aztecs.
• His one major mistake was his
dealings with the Spanish
Conquistadors.
THE BIOGRAPHY OF MONTEZUMA II AND
HERNAN CORTES
• Leading the Spanish march into
the Aztec Empire in 1519 was a 34
year old Spaniard named Hernan
Cortes.
• Cortes was born in the
Extremadura province in Spain.
• At age 19, Cortes left his University
studies and boarded a ship for the
Spanish lands in America seeking
fame and fortune.
THE BIOGRAPHY OF MONTEZUMA II AND
HERNAN CORTES
• In 1511, Spanish troops led by Diego Velazquez conquered Cuba.
• Cortes took part in the invasion, impressing Velazquez all the way…in fact
Velazquez rewarded Cortes by giving him control of several villages.
THE BIOGRAPHY OF MONTEZUMA II AND
HERNAN CORTES
• Six years later, smallpox swept across Cuba, killing thousands of Native Americans.
• Without Native American workers, the farms and mines the Spanish had built in
Cuba could not function.
THE BIOGRAPHY OF MONTEZUMA II AND
HERNAN CORTES
• Velazquez asked Cortes to lead an expedition to the Yucatan to find new
peoples who could be forced to work for the Spanish Conquistadors.
• He was also asked to investigate reports of a wealthy civilization there.
THE BIOGRAPHY OF MONTEZUMA II AND
HERNAN CORTES
• Several years later, after conquering the Aztec, Cortes took part in one more
expedition to Honduras and became Governor General of New Spain.
• He returned to Spain a very wealthy man and died a year later near the city of
Seville in 1547 from a Pleurisy, is an issue with the lungs.
THE BIOGRAPHY OF MONTEZUMA II AND
HERNAN CORTES
• Then and Now:
• Due to their encounters with each other in war, the names of
Montezuma and Cortes often appear together in history books. What
two leaders today do you think will be paired in future history books.
Why?