The Story of Moctezuma of the Aztecs (Moctezuma)

Moving from such a vast dynasty like the Capetians to something so small and seemingly irrelevant like the family of Moctezuma is rather funny. However, even small formerly royal families can still leave fairly interesting stories. Moctezuma's story is no different. Unlike many royal families in Europe, Moctezuma spread his seed wide and strong across both the Americas and the Iberian Peninsula. While in Mexico the line is extremely hard to follow, in Spain it developed a life of its own. And at least a few branches even rose to prominence and still remain prominent today. But I am getting ahead of myself...

The Aztec Empire was new when Cortés brazenly conquered it from its native rulers. Its origins don't go back much farther than the early 1300s and its fall in 1521 was due to local politics as much as Cortés' conquest of Tenochtitlan. In reality, there was no "Aztec Empire" at all. Rather, it was a loose alliance of three geographically adjacent city-states that had focused their strength, by 1520, at Tenochtitlan, a location sitting roughly on present-day Mexico City. Likewise, there was no "Emperor" of the Aztec Alliance, but rulers of the individual city-states that deferred to the rule of the Tlatoani (king) of Tenochtitlan. And so begins our journey into the Tenochtitlan Royal Family.

Acamapichtli, first Tlatoani of the Aztecs

Prior to the Spanish Conquest, there were eight tlatoani who ruled the Aztecs. The first, Acamapichtli, was the product of a union between a Mexica leader with the daughter of a Culhua tlatoani. The Mexica were a rejected peoples but the city-state of Tenochtitlan wanted to strengthen their regional ties and so chose this person as a unifier. He married the daughter of the current ruler of Culhuacán as well as one daughter from each noble family in Tenochtitlan. Throughout the course of his reign, he brought in allies from the surrounding region, strengthening the might of the Aztecs, even while avoiding wars which could destroy his burgeoning alliance. During this time, the Aztecs remained a tributary state of the Tepanecs, although the two enjoyed relatively good relations.

Itzcoatl, Tlatoani of the Aztecs

The subsequent six tlatoani empowered and strengthened the empire. All the tlatoani married the daughters of local leaders to increase the power of the Aztec alliance and give the ruler of that alliance more credibility. War broke out between Tenochtitlan and Texcoco in 1416 and it lasted for many years until the two sides reconciled and Texcoco joined the Aztec Alliance as an equal partner with Tenochtitlan. It was the fourth Aztec tlatoani that established the Triple Alliance between Texcoco, Tenochtitlan and Tlacopan when Itzcoatl overthrew the dominating power of the Tepanecs. Itzcoatl then led numerous campaigns in the Valley of Mexico to take possession of valuable agricultural lands necessary for his new empire to thrive. By the time of Itzcoatl's death, the Aztec Empire ruled much of central Mexico and Tenochtitlan was unrivaled in magnificence in America. The seventh tlatoani, Ahuitzotl, doubled the size of the Aztec Alliance and completed the famous Great Pyramid of Tenochtitlan in 1487.

The Aztec Empire, c. 1515

Moctezuma II, Tlatoani of the Aztecs

Thus we return to the person of Motecuhzoma Xocoyotzin, better known as Moctezuma II. Reigning from 1502 until 1520, he made all the right decisions at the exact wrong time. He expanded the Aztec Alliance to its largest expanse, produced eight daughters and eleven sons, and handed it all to the god-like personage of Fernando Cortés. The transfer of power was quick but unclear. Apparently Moctezuma invited Cortés and his army into Tenochtitlan and they lived together for seven months before Moctezuma decided to send the Spaniards away. During their absence, the small occupation force that remained turned against the Aztecs during a human sacrifice ceremony and the majority of the Aztec nobility was murdered. Cortés returned and placed Moctezuma under house arrest. The tlatoani was later killed by his own people, apparently stoned to death. The government of the empire fell apart. Cortés fled and allied with an enemy of Tenochtitlan while Moctezuma's successor died of smallpox. The last tlatoani, a young nephew of Moctezuma, was captured and tortured by the Spaniards even while Moctezuma's sons were unceremoniously murdered by the Aztecs. The Aztec Alliance was over, conquered by gold-hungry conquistadors.

The Aztec Royal Family Tree

Moctezuma's daughter, Techichpotzin, renamed Isabel, was deemed the heiress of the Aztec Empire in the eyes of the Spanish. All surviving lines of descent from Moctezuma descend from her, her two sisters, and her brother, Pedro Moctezuma. Pedro's son, Diego Luis, was brought to Spain by King Philip II where he married into the Spanish aristocracy. His son, Pedro Tesifón, became the 1st Count of Moctezuma de Tultengo in 1627. In 1766, the title was elevated to the status of Grandee of Spain, giving it a place in the Spanish House of Lords. In 1865 the county became the Duchy of Moctezuma by Isabella II of Spain. Today, the title holder still sits in the Spanish House of Lords and is considered one of the grandest noble families in Spain.

The three daughters of Moctezuma all passed on the royal blood as well. Isabel became something of a trader in husbands. She was betrothed to first her uncle and then her cousin before they both died. She then married a member of Cortés' expedition and was granted an encomienda (large property) after his death. She then married two other Spanish blokes in succession and produced children with both of them. And finally, she had one daughter out of wedlock with Cortés himself. At her death, her lands were divided up and her descendants quickly dispersed themselves among the new and old inhabitants of New Spain (Mexico).

While it is unlikely that any current European royal descends from Moctezuma, it is entirely possible that such a descent may occur in the future. The Spanish royal family has a long history of marrying younger children off to nobility and those younger children do sometimes inherit the throne. Unlike many recent royal families, the house of Moctezuma flows freely in America and in Spain and it is entirely likely that people born in the Valley of Mexico may have just a touch of Moctezuma's blood running through them as well.