Question

What did the Spanish and their indigenous allies hope to gain by presenting this image of Motecuzoma?

Answer 1

Answer: The Spanish were trying to make the Aztec leader out to be a coward and weak.

The Spanish were attempting to give the impression of being powerful with their animals and technology.

Perhaps the Spanish were trying to give the impression that they were likely to win—thereby attracting more indigenous allies.

Explanation:

the following document based on indigenous account but filtered through imperial Spanish sensibilities suggested that the motecuzoma reacted with fright when presented with reports that were less than reassuring since they focused on fearsome weapons and animals of the Spanish. Given the material response of Aztecs to the Spanish invasion it seems highly unlikely that Motecuzoma or the azetecs would have expressed terror in such a humiliating fashion