Cuauhtémoc was the eleventh "Tlatoani" ( lord ) of Tenochtitlán who governed this city from 1520 until its fall in 1521. The name of this personage means in Nahuatl language: Eagle that descends.

The father of this personage was Ahuízotl, eighth Lord of Tenochtitlán from 1485 to 1502 and of the princess of Tlateloco Tiyacapantzin. As son of kings from his tender childhood he received the best education and at 15 years old he enters to the "Calmecac", school that was destined to the Aztec nobility.

Cuauhtémoc had a tragic destiny, because he saw the fall of the great Aztec kingdom and all the atrocities of the Spanish conquest.

When Cuautémoc raises the throne in February 1521, many great events had occurred already as they are: The arrival from the Spaniards to Mexico in November 1529, the slaughter commanded by Pánfilo de Narvaez in the "Templo Mayor" , during the festivities of the month of Tóxcatl ; the death of Moctezuma, the death of Cuitláhuac and the "Batalla de la Noche Triste" (Sad Night Battle).

The first task of Cuauhtémoc, as the new lord, is to reconstruct the city and to prepare the defense of Tenochtitlán against the Spanish army . Hernán Cortés was prepared for the fight, and in spite of the ferocious resistance of the Aztecs, Cortés manages to surround the city and after three months the situation was desperate for the Aztecs, since there were no food for the warriors. Cuauhtémoc decides to flee, but he was captured and due the greed of the Spaniards he is tortured with Tetlepanquetzal, Mr. of Tacuba, to reveal the supposed existence of hidden treasures.

Hernán Cortés pardons the life to Cuauhtémoc and takes with him to an expedition to Honduras in 1524, to avoid an insurrection in the conquered territory. In the year of 1525 when passing by a called place Alcalá, Hernán Cortés listening rumors that Cuauhtémoc headed an insurrection to recover Tenochtitlán. Courtés decides then to condemn him without concerning the truth, reason why he is hanged the 26th of February of 1525.