What did Cortes say to Montezuma?

What did Cortés say to Montezuma?

Then he addressed him in these words: “Our lord, you are very welcome in your arrival in this land. You have come to satisfy your curiosity about your noble city of Mexico.

Was Moctezuma II a good leader?

Much is known about the rule of Moctezuma II, the great 16th-century supreme military commander and “divine leader” who inspired worldwide awe with his battle-hardiness and wondrous ability to mediate with the Gods.

How did Moctezuma II and the Aztec people greet the explorers Why?

The prophecy spoke of Quetzalcoatl’s arrival at the same time as the Spanish, and Quetzalcoatl was said to have white skin. Unsure of whether or not Cortés was the god, Moctezuma II responded by greeting him with honor and giving him many gifts. Regardless, the Aztecs were amazed by the Spanish.

Did Montezuma think Cortés was a god?

An unnerving series of coincidences led Montezuma to believe that perhaps Cortés was the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl, who had promised to return one day to reclaim his kingdom. Quetzalcoatl, “the feathered serpent,” stood for the solar light, the morning star. He symbolized knowledge, arts, and religion.

What kind of leader was Moctezuma II?

Montezuma was commander of the army and organized extensive expeditions of conquest in deference to Huitzilopochtli, the god of war and of the sun. Through astrologers, the god instilled in the emperor a kind of fatalism in the face of an uncertain future.

Was Moctezuma a weak leader?

Historical portrayals of Moctezuma have mostly been colored by his role as ruler of a defeated nation, and many sources have described him as weak-willed, superstitious, and indecisive.

How did Aztecs greet each other?

(Written/compiled by Ian Mursell/Mexicolore) The most formal of Aztec greetings was kissing the earth: a noble would bend the knees, bow – head remaining close to the ground – scoop up earth in the hand and raise it to the mouth. Bowing of course allowed you to avoid direct visual as well as physical contact.

How did Montezuma respond to the Spanish?

After being taken captive by Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés, Montezuma spoke to his subjects in an attempt to quell growing unrest. However, upset by his believed submission to the Spaniards, the Aztecs threw stones and arrows.

What happened when Hernán Cortés met Montezuma in 1519?

On 8 November 1519, Moctezuma met Cortés on the causeway leading into Tenochtitlán and the two leaders exchanged gifts. Moctezuma gave Cortés the gift of an Aztec calendar, one disc of crafted gold and another of silver. Cortés later melted these down for their monetary value.

Did Hernan Cortes pretend to be a god?

Hernando Cortés himself penned a series of letters that he sent back to the king of Spain between 1519 and 1525. And in his letters, written on the spot, Cortés never claimed that he was perceived as a god. The idea first appeared, albeit in somewhat incoherent form, in some writings by Europeans in the 1540s.

Which is the correct spelling Montezuma or Moctezuma?

Today his name has a lot of spellings, including Montezuma and Motecuhzoma. Modern scholars sometimes call him Moctezuma II to differentiate him from the other emperor of the name, but in his time the number was not used. The name signifies frowning and kingly anger.

How old was Montezuma II when he died?

Montezuma II, also spelled Moctezuma (born 1466—died c. June 30, 1520, Tenochtitlán, within modern Mexico City), ninth Aztec emperor of Mexico, famous for his dramatic confrontation with the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés.

Why was the story of Moctezuma II so controversial?

Just about every aspect of Moctezuma II has been open to controversy. The problem is that sources are highly contradictory. Somebody was rewriting history, or maybe everybody was. The Spanish were no doubt anxious to justify the conquest of the empire. The indigenous peoples themselves may have wanted someone to blame as well.

How did Montezuma II get his diarrhea name?

Montezuma II is the namesake of Montezuma’s revenge, a form of diarrhea that arises when a tourist consumes a food that he/she does not often eat. It is often linked to the bacterium E. coli. Montezuma II himself was taken as a hostage by the notorious Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortes in 1519.