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Cuitláhuac: The Aztec Emperor Who Defeated Cortés
Description
In this episode of The Conquistadors, hosts Lucas and Luna explore the brief but pivotal reign of Cuitláhuac, the Aztec emperor who succeeded Moctezuma II and led the Mexica to their greatest victory against the Spanish — the Noche Triste of June 30, 1520. We examine how Cuitláhuac, as lord of Iztapalapa and Tlacochcalcatl (supreme war commander), organized the siege that drove Cortés's forces from Tenochtitlan, the smallpox epidemic that claimed his life just weeks later, and the political intrigue surrounding his succession after Moctezuma's death. Drawing on the Florentine Codex and the accounts of Bernal Díaz del Castillo, we discuss Cuitláhuac's military strategy, his complex relationship with the noble pipiltin, and how his death paved the way for Cuauhtémoc's doomed defense. We also touch on the modern legacy of Cuitláhuac in Mexican national memory, including his depiction in murals and his namesake Mexico City borough. This episode offers a fresh angle on a crucial turning point in the conquest, focusing on a leader often overshadowed by Moctezuma and Cortés.