Juan Velázquez Tlacotzin was an Aztec leader in Tenochtitlan, during the final decades of the Aztec Empire. He then was the first post-Spanish conquest indigenous ruler of Tenochtitlan from 1525 to 1526. Biography Aztec era Tlacotzin was a Cihuacoatl (counselor) during the rule of Moctezuma II and of Cuauhtémoc. Spanish era Tlacotzin was captured and later tortured by Hernán Cortés, along with Cuauhtémoc, to reveal the location of Royal Treasures and gold of the Imperial Family. After the execution of Emperor Cuauhtémoc he was chosen as the Cuauhtemoc's successor by Hernán Cortés. Immediately after the execution of Cuauhtemoc, Cortés ordered Tlacotzin be dressed as a Spaniard, given a sword and a white horse as symbols of his new position as Aztec ruler. Tlacotzin was also baptized by the Spanish as don Juan Velásquez. Although Tlacotzin was to govern like a tlatoani, his non-noble birth (and lack of connection to the previous royal dynasty) as well as him not going through the traditional investiture ceremony meant that he was regarded by the Nahua subjects as cuauhtlatoani ("eagle ruler"; a non-dynastic interim ruler) instead. He accompanied Cortés on his three-year expedition, but died in 1526 (8 Tochtli) while on it, of an unknown sickness in Nochixtlan. Cortés immediately chose Andrés de Tapia Motelchiuh as his successor. See also List of Tenochtitlan rulers Aztec emperors family tree Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire References Anales de Tlatelolco (1540) External links Aztec nobility Tenochca tlatoque 16th-century monarchs in North America 16th-century indigenous people of the Americas 16th-century Mexican people Year of birth unknown 1526 deaths Nobility of the Americas