Question

How much credence do you place in the story that Montezuma and the Aztecs believed Hernando Cortes to be the agent of the god Quetzalcoatl?

Answer 1

Although this is a common myth regarding the Conquest of Tenochtitlan, it is unproven that Moctezuma did in fact believed Hernando Cortes to be an agent of Quetzalcoatl. Moctezuma ruled at a time when the Aztec Empire was massive, and it had successfully conquered many people from neighbouring towns. Many of these towns were not happy with the Aztec rule, or with the tributes that they owed the Aztecs. It is possible that Moctezuma did not fight the Spaniards because he feared this would lead to a large war against the Aztecs' many enemies. It is also possible that Moctezuma was unsure about the intentions of the conquistadores, and he preferred to have them close by until their intentions became clearer. All of these could be reasons for Moctezuma's initial hospitality, as opposed to the idea of the connection between Cortes and Quetzalcoatl.

Answer 2

It's true that's why they let him live