Cuitláhuac was the tenth Tlatoani of Tenochtitlan, who ruled from September 1520 to November 1520, just before the final siege of Tenochtitlan by the Spanish. Cuitláhuac, whose name means “place of the dung heap” or “soiled lord,” was a member of the Mexica royal family, and he was chosen as Tlatoani by the council after the death of Moctezuma II in June 1520. Cuitláhuac is remembered as one of the great heroes of Mexica history, and he led the resistance to the Spanish during the critical period of the conquest.
The Choice of Cuitláhuac
Cuitláhuac was chosen as Tlatoani by the council of nobles and priests in September 1520, after the death of Moctezuma and the departure of the Spanish from Tenochtitlan during La Noche Triste. The choice of Cuitláhuac was a deliberate one, and it was based on several considerations. First, Cuitláhuac was a member of the Mexica royal family, and he was a close relative of several of the previous rulers. Second, Cuitláhuac had a reputation for being a skilled military leader, and he had commanded Mexica forces in several campaigns. Third, Cuitláhuac had been a strong opponent of the accommodationist policy of Moctezuma, and he was believed to be willing to take a more aggressive stance against the Spanish.
The choice of Cuitláhuac marked a turning point in the Mexica response to the Spanish, and it signaled a shift from the accommodationist policy of Moctezuma to a more aggressive resistance. Cuitláhuac was determined to expel the Spanish from Tenochtitlan, and he began to organize the Mexica defenses and to prepare for the Spanish return.
The Reorganization of the Mexica State
Cuitláhuac moved quickly to reorganize the Mexica state and to prepare for the Spanish return. He appointed new officials to the major positions of state, and he reorganized the Mexica military to be more effective against the Spanish. He also worked to rebuild the alliances that had been damaged by the events of 1519-1520, and he sought to convince the subject peoples of the empire to remain loyal to the Mexica state.
Cuitláhuac also worked to address the religious and psychological aspects of the Spanish threat. He encouraged the priests to perform the religious rituals that were believed to ensure the success of the Mexica state, and he reminded the population of the divine mission of the Mexica. He also worked to repair the damage that had been done to the Templo Mayor and to the other religious sites of the capital.
The Death of Cuitláhuac
Cuitláhuac died of smallpox in November 1520, just two months after he became Tlatoani. His death was a major blow to the Mexica resistance, and it left the Mexica state without a strong leader at a critical moment. The succession passed to Cuauhtémoc, a young man who was a nephew of Moctezuma II, and who would lead the final resistance to the Spanish during the siege of Tenochtitlan in 1521.
Cuitláhuac’s death from smallpox illustrates the devastating impact of European diseases on the indigenous population of the Americas. The disease was a major factor in the fall of the Mexica state, and it killed many of the leaders who might have been able to organize an effective resistance. The death of Cuitláhuac was one of the great tragedies of Mexica history, and it has been remembered as a symbol of the destructive power of the European diseases.
The Legacy of Cuitláhuac
Cuitláhuac is remembered as one of the great heroes of Mexica history, and he has been celebrated for his courage and his determination to resist the Spanish. His short reign marked a turning point in the Mexica response to the Spanish, and it set the stage for the final resistance under Cuauhtémoc. The name Cuitláhuac has been used for a number of things in modern Mexico, including a municipality in the state of Puebla and a street in Mexico City.
The legacy of Cuitláhuac is also evident in the modern Mexican national identity. Cuitláhuac is often invoked as a symbol of indigenous resistance to foreign domination, and he has been celebrated by various Mexican political and cultural movements. The image of Cuitláhuac, leading the Mexica resistance against the Spanish, has become a powerful symbol of the Mexican national identity, and it continues to inspire Mexicans today.
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- When did the Spanish conquer Tenochtitlan? — the chronology
- What role did disease play in the fall of the Aztec Empire? — the biological factor
- The Tlatoani and the Imperial Office — the Mexica rulers
- The Spanish Conquest and Hernán Cortés — the campaign
- History of the Aztec Civilization — the broader history