Montezuma: Warlord of the Aztecs

Chapter 6 The Taming of Motecuhzoma

61 6 The Taming of Motecuhzoma The Seizure of the Tlatoani Six days after the Spanish arrival in Tenochtitlan, Tlaxcallan messengers slipped into the compound with letters reporting the murder of the Spaniards near Vera Cruz. Already Cortés’s captains had demanded the seizure of Motecuhzoma to prevent his turning upon them. The size and splendor of Tenochtitlan had left them sleepless in fear of just such an event, a fear equally shared by Cortés himself. Then, with the boldness that underwrote his every deed, Cortés coolly announced a visit to the tlatoani on 14 November . With Marina and thirty men he was welcomed into Motecuhzoma ’s presence. After a few pleasantries, Cortés began to berate his host for a series of conspiracies that led all the way back to the coast, and especially for his murder of the Spaniards. There was no choice but to accompany the Spaniards back to their own compound , where he would be treated as well as in his palace, “but if you cry out or make any disturbance you will immediately be killed, by these my captains, whom I have brought solely for this purpose.” These words staggered Motecuhzoma. His first thought was to deny any treachery. He pulled off a signet and gave it to a messenger ordering the officer responsible for the death of the Spaniards to report to him immediately. Then remembering who he was, he tried to stand on his dignity, saying such a demand could not be given to one such as he. Cortés found his every argument parried by a better one; this was the man who had charmed the electors of the Eagle Clan with his well-reasoned words. Unfortunately, this time his skill was wasted on the grim captains . After a half hour, one of them broke in and told Cortés in a loud, rough voice, “What is the good of your making so many words, let us either take him prisoner, or stab him, tell him once more that if he cries out or makes an uproar we will kill him, for it is better at once to save our lives than lose them.” His growl and body language cut through all the blather. Motecuhzoma asked Marina what was meant. Now this iron woman with the silver voice became a player in the drama. In his own language, she made it deadly clear that he had no choice but to come now or die. She sweetened the choice by saying that all would be made clear once he was in the Spanish compound. “What I counsel you, is to go at once to their quarters without any disturbance at all, for I know that they will pay you much honour as a great Prince such as you are, otherwise you will remain here a dead man, but in their quarters you will learn the truth.” Now he was truly unnerved. Desperately, he offered his children in his place. “Señor Malinche, if this is what you desire, I have a son and two legitimate daughters, take them as hostages, and do not put this affront upon me, what will my chieftains say if they see me taken off as prisoner?” Cortés was obdurate. He must come. More talk followed. Finally Motecuhzoma’s spirit shrank to the size of the whisper in which he consented to go. Now the Spanish rattle of iron melted into sweet words of consideration , even caresses for the ruined king.1 The man who whispered his own moral death was not the young tlatoani who had been first over the wall at Nopallan in the glory of his coronation war. There is a Spanish saying, “He was a brave man that day.” Courage waxes and wanes in each man, but weariness and fear devour physical courage, and Motecuhzoma’s fears had been a 62 montezuma long time simmering. Still, courage comes easier when to the champion of a host in the glare of the sun. Now surrounded by his enemies , fear had eaten him through. There was no courage left. It was a fear of his own making. Within him was self-doubt that all the godlike trappings, all the rigid control, and all the haughtiness could not heal. In this place, fear found a rich breeding ground. Had he been a different man, he might have died well then and...