|
CuauhtEmoc[kOO–outA´mOk] Pronunciation Key, d. 1525, Aztec emperor. Succeeding the brother of Montezuma II in 1520, CuauhtEmoc failed to unite the native city-states of the Valley of Mexico against the Spanish after the expulsion of HernAn CortEs from TenochtitlAn. He courageously defended his capital, but was taken prisoner when it fell (1521) after a three-month siege. Tortured to reveal his treasure, CuauhtEmoc replied that it lay at the bottom of the lake : where the Spaniards had perished with it in their flight from TenochtitlAn on the noche triste [sad night]. CortEs took CuauhtEmoc with him on his march to Honduras and, accusing the Aztec of treason, had him hanged. The name occurs also as CuauhtemoctzIn, GuatEmoc, GuatemozIn, and QuauhtEmoc.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia Copyright © 2009, Columbia
University Press.
Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
|
