CUITLAHUATZIN, or CUITLAHUATL (kweet-lah-wah-tseen'), tenth Mexican or Aztec king (twelfth king, according to other chroniclers), born in 1490; died 12 October 1520. Being one of the sons of Axayacatl, he was also the lord of Tztapalapan and a general of the Mexican army, when elected king upon the death of his brother, Moctezuma II. His rank of generalissimo was won in the battles of Atlixco, Mixteca.pan, and Tehuantepec. While ruling at Tztapalapan, he improved and enlarged that City by means of important public works. Before and after the occupation of the City of Mexico by the Spaniards he advocated a policy of resistance to the invaders, advised other native princes to oppose any advance made by Cortes, and also sent ambassadors to Tlaxcala to ask aid from that republic. But he was unsuccessful in this attempt, after having caused Cortes the defeat and subsequent troubles that gave rise to the events of "La noche triste," and died of smallpox, which had recently been introduced into Mexico by a slave of Narvaez. Cuitlahuatzin's rule lasted but three months.