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Glite Dictionary
Montezuma II

Montezuma II

1 9.1
The last Aztec emperor who ruled when the Spanish arrived and was killed by Cortés
  • proper noun
: Moctezuma II
  • Montezuma II, the last Aztec emperor, was overthrown by Hernán Cortés in 1520.

Examples

  • Montezuma II ruled the Aztec Empire during the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors.

  • Montezuma II was the last Aztec emperor.

  • Historians debate whether Montezuma II was captured or killed during the fall of Tenochtitlan.

  • The tragic fate of Montezuma II remains a central topic in Aztec history.

  • Montezuma II ruled the Aztec Empire during a time of great wealth.

  • After the defeat of the Aztecs, Montezuma II became a symbol of colonial resistance.

  • The reign of Montezuma II marked a significant period in Mesoamerican history.

Synonyms

Moctezuma II
vsMontezuma II
9.5

The last Aztec emperor of Mexico who the Spanish overthrew and killed in 1520

is the identical historical person but noted with a different spelling

Surface Forms

Montezuma II main

Morphology

Montezuma + II

The form 'Montezuma II' is compositionally transparent in that 'II' is a Roman numeral marking the second person named Montezuma, so a learner who knows the parts can infer it means 'Montezuma the second'. However, the detailed historical identity (that he was the last Aztec emperor and was overthrown by Cortés) is encyclopedic world knowledge not recoverable from the constituents, so the expression is only partly transparent.

Etymology

Montezuma II was the Aztec emperor who met the Spanish leader Hernán Cortés and watched his empire fall. The II shows he was the second ruler named Montezuma, and he is remembered as the 'last Aztec emperor' who was overthrown and killed, so his name now brings to mind the end of the Aztec world.