Who they were
Under Moctezuma the empire reached its greatest extent and its tribute system its fullest development. He was both a warrior-king and a religious leader at the center of Aztec ceremony.
What they did
When Cortés reached Tenochtitlan in 1519, Moctezuma received the Spanish into the city and was then taken captive. He died in 1520 during the uprising against the Spanish, in circumstances still disputed.
Legacy
His reign came to symbolize the fall of the Aztec world to European conquest. He remains a debated figure, portrayed variously as hesitant, diplomatic, or overwhelmed by an unprecedented crisis.