Difference between revisions of "Cuauhtémoc" - New World Encyclopedia
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{{dablink|For the [[Mexican Navy|Mexican Naval]] training ship or the [[brewery]], see [[Cuauhtémoc (ship)]] or [[Cervecería Cuauhtémoc]].}} | {{dablink|For the [[Mexican Navy|Mexican Naval]] training ship or the [[brewery]], see [[Cuauhtémoc (ship)]] or [[Cervecería Cuauhtémoc]].}} | ||
| − | '''Cuauhtémoc''' (also known as '''Cuauhtemotzin''' or '''Guatimozin'''; c. | + | '''Cuauhtémoc''' (also known as '''Cuauhtemotzin''' or '''Guatimozin'''; c. 1502 – February 28, 1525) was the last [[Aztec]] ruler ([[Tlatoani]]) of [[Tenochtitlán]] and the last "Aztec Emperor". The name means "descending eagle", from [[Nahuatl]] ''cuauhtli'' (eagle) and ''temoc'' (descent); by extension it can be interpreted as "setting sun". |
| − | Cuauhtémoc took power in | + | Cuauhtémoc took power in 1520 as successor of [[Cuitláhuac]] and was a nephew of the emperor [[Moctezuma II]], and his young wife was one of Moctezuma's daughters. He ascended to the throne when he was 18 years of age, as his city was being besieged by the [[Spain|Spanish]] and devastated by an epidemic of [[smallpox]]. Probably after the [[The Massacre in the Main Temple, Tenochtitlán|killings in the main temple]], there were few Aztec captains available to take the position. |
| − | On | + | On August 13, 1521, Cuauhtémoc went to call for reinforcements from the countryside to aid the falling Tenochtitlán, after eighty days straight of urban warfare against the Spanish. Of all the Nahuas, only Tlatelolcas remained loyal, and the surviving Tenochcas looked for refuge in [[Tlatelolco]] where even women took part in the battle. Cuauhtémoc was captured while crossing [[Lake Texcoco]] in disguise. He surrendered to [[Hernán Cortés]] along with the surviving ''pillis'' (nobles), and offered him his knife and asked to be killed. |
At first, Cortés treated his foe chivalrously. "A Spaniard knows how to respect valor even in an enemy," he declared. However, he allowed Aldrete, the greedy royal treasurer, to have Cuauhtemoc tortured to make him reveal the whereabouts of hidden treasure. Cuauhtémoc, insisting that there was no hidden treasure, stood up under the ordeal. | At first, Cortés treated his foe chivalrously. "A Spaniard knows how to respect valor even in an enemy," he declared. However, he allowed Aldrete, the greedy royal treasurer, to have Cuauhtemoc tortured to make him reveal the whereabouts of hidden treasure. Cuauhtémoc, insisting that there was no hidden treasure, stood up under the ordeal. | ||
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: "Let Cortés listen," he said. "This is how that treasure was made. When Motecuhzoma was alive, war was declared and we, the Méxicas, the Tlalteoloca, the Tepanec, and the Acolhua campaigned together. When we conquered, when a city fell, we all returned to our cities. Only later the people of the conquered cities came to us and brought their tribute: jade, turquoise, gold, and precious feathers; it was all brought here to Tenochtitlán… and now it is lost." ([[Florentine Codex]]) | : "Let Cortés listen," he said. "This is how that treasure was made. When Motecuhzoma was alive, war was declared and we, the Méxicas, the Tlalteoloca, the Tepanec, and the Acolhua campaigned together. When we conquered, when a city fell, we all returned to our cities. Only later the people of the conquered cities came to us and brought their tribute: jade, turquoise, gold, and precious feathers; it was all brought here to Tenochtitlán… and now it is lost." ([[Florentine Codex]]) | ||
| − | [[Image:Cuahtemoc.jpg|thumb|400px|left|"The Torture of Cuauhtémoc", a 19th century painting by Leandro Izaguirre.]]Cuauhtémoc was tortured by having his feet put to a fire, along with Tetlepanquetzal, the ''tlatoani'' of [[Tlacopán]], and the ''Cihuacóatl'' (counselor) Tlacotzin, but even so they refused to divulge information about the treasures the Spanish coveted. It is said that during the torture, Tetlepanquetzal asked him to reveal the location of the treasures in order to stop the pain given to them, and Cuauhtémoc is quoted to say "Do you think I am in a bath or pleasure?". This would be popularized in the | + | [[Image:Cuahtemoc.jpg|thumb|400px|left|"The Torture of Cuauhtémoc", a 19th century painting by Leandro Izaguirre.]]Cuauhtémoc was tortured by having his feet put to a fire, along with Tetlepanquetzal, the ''tlatoani'' of [[Tlacopán]], and the ''Cihuacóatl'' (counselor) Tlacotzin, but even so they refused to divulge information about the treasures the Spanish coveted. It is said that during the torture, Tetlepanquetzal asked him to reveal the location of the treasures in order to stop the pain given to them, and Cuauhtémoc is quoted to say "Do you think I am in a bath or pleasure?". This would be popularized in the 19th century as "Do you think I am in a bed of roses?". The date and details of this episode are unknown. In the end, a shamed Cortés delivered Cuauhtémoc from Aldrete's hands. |
Eventually Cortez recovered some gold from one of the nobles house, but most of the tales about the "aztecs gold" is a myth. Since for the aztec, gold had no intrinsec value, they did not have big solid pieces of gold, instead they prefer wood covered with gold. After those pieces were melted, they only gave a fraction of the gold that Cortez and his men expected. | Eventually Cortez recovered some gold from one of the nobles house, but most of the tales about the "aztecs gold" is a myth. Since for the aztec, gold had no intrinsec value, they did not have big solid pieces of gold, instead they prefer wood covered with gold. After those pieces were melted, they only gave a fraction of the gold that Cortez and his men expected. | ||
| − | In 1525, Cortés took Cuauhtémoc on his expedition to [[Honduras]], perhaps because he feared Cuauhtémoc would lead an insurrection in his absence. During this expedition, Cortés ordered Cuauhtémoc hanged on | + | In 1525, Cortés took Cuauhtémoc on his expedition to [[Honduras]], perhaps because he feared Cuauhtémoc would lead an insurrection in his absence. During this expedition, Cortés ordered Cuauhtémoc hanged on 28 February 1525 along with Teltepanquetzaltzin. |
| − | A story by the Chontal Maya of Acalan from the early | + | A story by the Chontal Maya of Acalan from the early 17th century records an account of the execution of Cuauhtémoc. Because the Spaniards only asked for food and lodging, Paxbolancha trusted them, staying for twenty days. During this time, Paxbolancha met with Cuauhtémoc, who tried to warn him about the Spaniards and asked Paxbolancha to join forces with him and kill them. Paxbolaoncha refused, but because Cuauhtémoc insisted for several days, Paxbolancha decided to warn Cortés. Cortez imprisoned Cuauhtémoc, and after the third day, baptized him as "Don Juan" and ordered that Cuauhtémoc to be decapitated. His head was put on a tree in the town of Yaxzam. (France V Scholes "The Maya Chontal Indians of Acalan-Tixchtel, op cit pp 271-272). |
[[Bernal Díaz del Castillo]] described a somewhat different version of the conspiracy. Convinced by an Indian convert to Christianity that Cuauhtémoc was conspiring against him, Cortés had him tried for treason. Although even some of the Spaniards — notably Bernal Diaz de Castillo — believed the former emperor innocent, the sentence was carried out. Cuauhtémoc's last words to Cortés demonstrate his unconquerable spirit: "I knew what it was...to trust to your false promises; I knew that you had destined me to this fate since I did not fall by my own hand when you entered my city of Tenochtitlan." | [[Bernal Díaz del Castillo]] described a somewhat different version of the conspiracy. Convinced by an Indian convert to Christianity that Cuauhtémoc was conspiring against him, Cortés had him tried for treason. Although even some of the Spaniards — notably Bernal Diaz de Castillo — believed the former emperor innocent, the sentence was carried out. Cuauhtémoc's last words to Cortés demonstrate his unconquerable spirit: "I knew what it was...to trust to your false promises; I knew that you had destined me to this fate since I did not fall by my own hand when you entered my city of Tenochtitlan." | ||
Revision as of 21:22, 4 August 2006
- For the Mexican Naval training ship or the brewery, see Cuauhtémoc (ship) or Cervecería Cuauhtémoc.
Cuauhtémoc (also known as Cuauhtemotzin or Guatimozin; c. 1502 – February 28, 1525) was the last Aztec ruler (Tlatoani) of Tenochtitlán and the last "Aztec Emperor". The name means "descending eagle", from Nahuatl cuauhtli (eagle) and temoc (descent); by extension it can be interpreted as "setting sun".
Cuauhtémoc took power in 1520 as successor of Cuitláhuac and was a nephew of the emperor Moctezuma II, and his young wife was one of Moctezuma's daughters. He ascended to the throne when he was 18 years of age, as his city was being besieged by the Spanish and devastated by an epidemic of smallpox. Probably after the killings in the main temple, there were few Aztec captains available to take the position.
On August 13, 1521, Cuauhtémoc went to call for reinforcements from the countryside to aid the falling Tenochtitlán, after eighty days straight of urban warfare against the Spanish. Of all the Nahuas, only Tlatelolcas remained loyal, and the surviving Tenochcas looked for refuge in Tlatelolco where even women took part in the battle. Cuauhtémoc was captured while crossing Lake Texcoco in disguise. He surrendered to Hernán Cortés along with the surviving pillis (nobles), and offered him his knife and asked to be killed.
At first, Cortés treated his foe chivalrously. "A Spaniard knows how to respect valor even in an enemy," he declared. However, he allowed Aldrete, the greedy royal treasurer, to have Cuauhtemoc tortured to make him reveal the whereabouts of hidden treasure. Cuauhtémoc, insisting that there was no hidden treasure, stood up under the ordeal.
- Surrounded at Tlatelolco, the Aztec lords decided to surrender on August 13, 1521. Emperor Cuauhtemoc went by canoe. He was taken to Cortés.
- "And so the war ended, we laid down our shields. We have suffered enough! Some fled across the lake others across the causeways. Spanish soldiers stopped people everywhere, looking for gold. They stripped the women, even peering into their mouths. As for the men many were taken and branded on the cheeks." (Florentine Codex)
- "But what of the gold?" demanded Cortés. Cuauhtemoc directed that all that he had in his canoe be brought forth.
- "Is that all there is?" replied Cortés. An Aztec lord reminded the Spanish commander that they had taken all the gold, but had lost it in the Tolteca canal when they fled the city the year before.
- "Let Cortés listen," he said. "This is how that treasure was made. When Motecuhzoma was alive, war was declared and we, the Méxicas, the Tlalteoloca, the Tepanec, and the Acolhua campaigned together. When we conquered, when a city fell, we all returned to our cities. Only later the people of the conquered cities came to us and brought their tribute: jade, turquoise, gold, and precious feathers; it was all brought here to Tenochtitlán… and now it is lost." (Florentine Codex)
Cuauhtémoc was tortured by having his feet put to a fire, along with Tetlepanquetzal, the tlatoani of Tlacopán, and the Cihuacóatl (counselor) Tlacotzin, but even so they refused to divulge information about the treasures the Spanish coveted. It is said that during the torture, Tetlepanquetzal asked him to reveal the location of the treasures in order to stop the pain given to them, and Cuauhtémoc is quoted to say "Do you think I am in a bath or pleasure?". This would be popularized in the 19th century as "Do you think I am in a bed of roses?". The date and details of this episode are unknown. In the end, a shamed Cortés delivered Cuauhtémoc from Aldrete's hands.
Eventually Cortez recovered some gold from one of the nobles house, but most of the tales about the "aztecs gold" is a myth. Since for the aztec, gold had no intrinsec value, they did not have big solid pieces of gold, instead they prefer wood covered with gold. After those pieces were melted, they only gave a fraction of the gold that Cortez and his men expected.
In 1525, Cortés took Cuauhtémoc on his expedition to Honduras, perhaps because he feared Cuauhtémoc would lead an insurrection in his absence. During this expedition, Cortés ordered Cuauhtémoc hanged on 28 February 1525 along with Teltepanquetzaltzin.
A story by the Chontal Maya of Acalan from the early 17th century records an account of the execution of Cuauhtémoc. Because the Spaniards only asked for food and lodging, Paxbolancha trusted them, staying for twenty days. During this time, Paxbolancha met with Cuauhtémoc, who tried to warn him about the Spaniards and asked Paxbolancha to join forces with him and kill them. Paxbolaoncha refused, but because Cuauhtémoc insisted for several days, Paxbolancha decided to warn Cortés. Cortez imprisoned Cuauhtémoc, and after the third day, baptized him as "Don Juan" and ordered that Cuauhtémoc to be decapitated. His head was put on a tree in the town of Yaxzam. (France V Scholes "The Maya Chontal Indians of Acalan-Tixchtel, op cit pp 271-272).
Bernal Díaz del Castillo described a somewhat different version of the conspiracy. Convinced by an Indian convert to Christianity that Cuauhtémoc was conspiring against him, Cortés had him tried for treason. Although even some of the Spaniards — notably Bernal Diaz de Castillo — believed the former emperor innocent, the sentence was carried out. Cuauhtémoc's last words to Cortés demonstrate his unconquerable spirit: "I knew what it was...to trust to your false promises; I knew that you had destined me to this fate since I did not fall by my own hand when you entered my city of Tenochtitlan."
Tlacotzin became a puppet tlatoani under the Spanish, he held the title for three years, but he died before returning to Tenochtitlan.
The modern-day Mexican town of Ixcateopan in Guerrero state is home to an ossuary purportedly containing Cuauhtémoc's remains.
Many places in Mexico are named in honour of Cuauhtémoc. These include Ciudad Cuauhtémoc in Chihuahua and the Cuauhtémoc borough of the Mexican Federal District. There is also a Cuauhtémoc station on the Mexico City metro and the Monterrey Metrorrey. Cuauhtémoc is also a popular given name for Mexican boys, one of the few non-Spanish given names to be so.
| Preceded by: Cuitláhuac |
Tlatoani of Tenochtitlán 1520–1521 |
Succeeded by: Diego Velázquez Tlacotzin puppet under Spanish rule |
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