The most famous Aztec king is Moctezuma II (Montezuma). He ruled the Aztec Empire from 1502 to 1520 and is best known for being the emperor when Hernán Cortés and the Spanish conquistadors arrived in Mexico. Moctezuma’s reign marked the height of Aztec power, but also the beginning of its fall, as his cautious response to the Spaniards allowed them to enter Tenochtitlán, eventually leading to the collapse of the empire. Today, he’s remembered as a symbol of both Aztec greatness and tragedy.

Aztecs: Arrival of Cortes and the Conquistadors