Cuitláhuac
10th Huey Tlatoani of Tenochtitlan who led resistance against Spanish conquest.
Cuitláhuac (c. 1476–1520) was the tenth emperor of the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan, reigning for just 80 days in the year Two Flint (1520). He is best known for organizing the resistance against the Spanish and their Tlaxcalteca allies after the death of his relative Moctezuma II.
The eleventh son of the ruler Axayacatl, Cuitláhuac was a younger brother of Moctezuma II. His maternal grandfather, also named Cuitláhuac, had ruled Iztapalapa, and the younger Cuitláhuac initially governed that same city. An experienced warrior and advisor to Moctezuma, he warned against allowing the Spaniards into Tenochtitlan. Both he and Moctezuma were imprisoned by Hernán Cortés. When Cortés left the city to confront a Spanish force sent by Governor Diego Velásquez of Cuba, Aztec elites were massacred, and the Mexica besieged the Spanish and their indigenous allies. Cuitláhuac was released on the pretext of reopening the market to supply food to the invaders. Moctezuma was stoned to death after urging his people to withdraw from the fighting, and Cuitláhuac was elected tlatoani after the Spanish and their allies fled Tenochtitlan on June 30, 1520. Some sources suggest he may have already been serving in that role before Moctezuma’s death. He was ritually married to Moctezuma’s eldest daughter, a girl of ten or eleven who later became known as Isabel Moctezuma.
Cuitláhuac ruled only 80 days, possibly dying from smallpox introduced to the New World by an African slave in Pánfilo de Narváez’s expedition sent to capture Cortés. Early sources do not explicitly state the cause of his death. After him, Cuauhtémoc became the next tlatoani.
His legacy includes the modern municipality of Cuitláhuac, Veracruz; Mexico City’s Metro Cuitláhuac station; and the asteroid 2275 Cuitláhuac. An avenue in Mexico City called Cuitláhuac (Eje 3 Norte) runs from Avenida Insurgentes to Avenida México-Tacuba as part of an inner ring, and many other streets across Mexico bear his name.
- born
- c. 1476
- died
- 1520
- field
- Ruler, military leader
- nationality
- Aztec (Mexica)
- known_for
- Leading Aztec resistance against Spanish invaders; 10th Huey Tlatoani of Tenochtitlan
Lore & Background
Cuitláhuac was the eleventh son of the ruler Axayacatl and a younger brother of Moctezuma II. His mother's father, also called Cuitlahuac, had been ruler of Iztapalapa, and the younger Cuitláhuac also ruled there initially. He was an experienced warrior and an adviser to Moctezuma, warning him not to allow the Spaniards to enter Tenochtitlan. Hernán Cortés imprisoned both Moctezuma and Cuitláhuac. Cortes had to leave the city to meet a Spanish force sent by Diego Velasquez, Spanish governor of Cuba. Following the massacre of Aztec elites when Cortés was away, the Mexica besieged the Spanish and their indigenous allies. Cuitláhuac was released on the pretense to reopen the market to get food to the invaders. Moctezuma was stoned to death after trying to tell his people to withdraw from the battle, and Cuitláhuac was elected tlatoani following the flight of the Spaniards and their allies from Tenochtitlan on June 30, 1520. Some sources claim he was serving in that role even before Moctezuma's death. Cuitláhuac was ritually married to Moctezuma's eldest daughter, a ten- or eleven-year-old girl, later called Isabel Moctezuma.
Reader's Guide
Cuitláhuac's significance lies in his brief but pivotal rule during the Spanish conquest of the Mexica Empire. He is best known for leading the Aztec resistance after the death of Moctezuma II, organizing the defense of Tenochtitlan and forcing the Spanish and their allies to flee on June 30, 1520. His reign lasted only 80 days, perhaps ending due to smallpox introduced by an African suffering from the disease who was part of Pánfilo de Narváez's expedition to capture Cortés, though early sources do not explicitly state the cause. Despite his short tenure, Cuitláhuac's leadership marked a critical moment of indigenous resistance. His legacy is commemorated in modern Mexico through the municipality of Cuitláhuac, Veracruz, the Mexico City Metro station Metro Cuitláhuac, and the asteroid 2275 Cuitláhuac. An avenue in Mexico City called Cuitláhuac (Eje 3 Norte) also bears his name, along with many streets in other towns and villages.
Did You Know?
- Cuitláhuac ruled as Huey Tlatoani for only 80 days during the year Two Flint (1520).
- He was ritually married to Moctezuma's eldest daughter, a ten- or eleven-year-old girl later known as Isabel Moctezuma.
- Some sources claim he was serving as tlatoani even before Moctezuma's death.
- The asteroid 2275 Cuitláhuac is named after this ruler.
More in Founders And Unifiers Of Asian Dynasties 1-24
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