Montezuma: Warlord of the Aztecs

Military Profiles

by Peter G. Tsouras

Montezuma (ca. 1466-1520) ascended to the Aztec throne on the basis of a successful military record and his reputation for piety. As Peter G. Tsouras demonstrates, almost immediately Montezuma transformed himself from a man of good judgment to a pitiless autocrat. He killed indiscriminately in his own empire and waged wars of conquest against his neighbors. In 1519, Hernan Cortes arrived in Mexico at the head of a Spanish expedition. Montezuma believed the invaders to be gods fulfilling the prophecy of the god Quetzalcoatl's return. He failed to resist and cautiously offered gifts. As a result, Cortes and the conquistadors marched on the capital. Almost gladly, the monarch surrendered his power, wealth, and even the sovereignty of his people. He became a puppet of the Spaniards and finally aligned himself with Cortes in battle against his own people. When the emperor's brother at last led an uprising, the ungrateful Spaniards killed Montezuma.

Genres: History, Biography, World History

114 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2005

Reviews

[Bernie4444 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be prepared for Montezuma's revenge

A quickie overview of a historic leader of the Aztecs. Some good pictures, diagrams, and maps help us visualize the life of the Aztecs. If you want more depth or further reading check out the Bibliographic Note.

This book is just part of a larger series of "Military Profiles." This could be of interest to anyone but is imperative for active military.

[Lexi · Rating 5 out of 5]

had to read it for a paper, but it was very well written & didn’t put me to sleep like most books for class do