Cuitláhuac, a kinsman and adviser to Moctezuma, succeeded him as tlatoani, mounting the defense of Tenochtitlan against the Spanish invaders and their indigenous allies. He ruled for only 80 days, perhaps dying in a smallpox epidemic, although early sources do not give the cause. He was succeeded by Cuauhtémoc, the last independent Mexica tlatoani, who continued the fierce defense of Tenochtitlan. The Aztecs were weakened by disease, and the Spanish enlisted tens of thousands of Indian allies, especially Tlaxcalans, for the assault on Tenochtitlan. After the siege and destruction of the Aztec capital, Cuauhtémoc was captured on 13 August 1521, marking the beginning of Spanish hegemony in central Mexico. Spaniards held Cuauhtémoc captive until he was tortured and executed on the orders of Cortés, supposedly for treason, during an ill-fated expedition to Honduras in 1525. His death marked the end of a tumultuous era in Aztec political history.
cuitláhuac a kinsman and adviser to moctezuma succeeded him as tlatoani mounting the defense of tenochtitlan against the spanish invaders and their indigenous allies he ruled for only 80 days perhaps dying in a smallpox epidemic although early sources do not give the cause he was succeeded by cuauhtémoc the last independent mexica tlatoani who continued the fierce defense of tenochtitlan the aztecs were weakened by disease and the spanish enlisted tens of thousands of indian allies especially tlaxcalans for the assault on tenochtitlan after the siege and destruction of the aztec capital cuauhtémoc was captured on 13 august 1521 marking the beginning of spanish hegemony in central mexico spaniards held cuauhtémoc captive until he was tortured and executed on the orders of cortés supposedly for treason during an ill-fated expedition to honduras in 1525 his death marked the end of a tumultuous era in aztec political history