Cuitláhuac station
Metro · 2 Line 2
Neighbouring stations
The story behind the icon
The station image shows the shield used as a defensive weapon in the battle of the Sad Night.
The station's name refers to Cuiltahuatzin, better known as Cuitláhuac, who came to power after the death of Moctezuma II in June 1520, and was the penultimate emperor of Tenochtitlan.
Shortly after entering Tenochtitlan, Cortés took prisoner Moctezuma and several of the great Mexican lords, among them his brother Cuitláhuac. Moctezuma asked Cortés to set Cuitláhuac free so that he might arrange peace with the Spaniards on behalf of his people. Once at liberty, he roused the Mexicans and at their head gave the Spaniards a great battle, driving them out of the kingdom and defeating them on the night of 30 June, in the episode history knows as the Sad Night.
His coronation had none of the magnificence enjoyed by the monarchs who preceded him. Cuitláhuac never had nor allowed any accommodation with the Spaniards. His reign was very short, for he caught smallpox and died at the beginning of December 1520.