New book portrays Cuauhtémoc in a different light

Cuauhtémoc, the last Aztec emperor, had strengths and weaknesses and was not as much of a hero as history says, said writer Antonio Guadarrama in an interview with EFE.

In his book "Cuauhtémoc, el ocaso del imperio” (Cuauhtémoc the decline of the empire), that completes his series “Big tlatoanis of the empire”, Guadarrama described him as "arbitrary and arrogant" in his decisions after ascending to the throne, around 1520.

"His actions against the Spaniards reflect a foolish, arbitrary and arrogant behavior," the 39-year-old writer said.

His novel, presented this weekend at the International Book Fair in Mexico City, seeks to provide "a view of ancient Mexico different to the one generally told, which is a story of heroes and villains."

Guadarrama said that Cuauhtémoc, which means descending eagle in Náhuatl, led his people to a "collective suicide" with his decision to fight at all costs and ultimately acted as a coward when he fled by boat and was eventually taken prisoner.

Cuauhtémoc, son of Ahuízotl, nephew of Moctezuma and cousin of Cuitlahuac, the emperors who preceded him, led the final defense of Tenochtitlan from the Spaniards under Hernán Cortés. His capture and death in 1525 represents the end of the Aztec Empire and the beginning of the Spanish Colony.

The author considered that Moctezuma is a far more interesting character than Cuauhtémoc.