<P> As of 14 November 1519, Moctezuma was Cortés' prisoner as insurance against any further resistance, until the end of May 1520, Moctezuma lived with Cortés in the palace of Axayácatl . </P> <P> However, Moctezuma continued to act as Emperor, subject to Cortés' overall control . During the period of his imprisonment, Moctezuma stated "he was glad to be a prisoner, since either our gods gave us power to confine him or Huichilobos permitted it ." He would even play the game of totoloque with Cortés . After the treason of Cacamatzin, Moctezuma and his caciques, were forced to take a more formal oath of allegiance to the King of Spain, though Moctezuma "could not restrain his tears". Moctezuma told his caciques that "their ancestral tradition, set down in their books of records, that men would come from the direction of the sunrise to rule these lands" and that "He believed...we were these men ." </P> <P> Cortés sent expeditions to investigate the Aztec sources of gold in the provinces of Zacatula, Tuxtepec, and the land of the Chinantec . Moctezuma was then made to pay a tribute to the Spanish King, which included his father's treasure . These treasures, the Spaniards melted down to form gold bars stamped with an iron die . Finally, Moctezuma let the catholic conquistadors build an altar on their temple, next to the Aztec idols . </P> <P> Finally, the Aztec gods allegedly told the Mexican papas, or priests, they would not stay unless the Spaniards were killed and driven back across the sea . Moctezuma warned Cortés to leave at once, as their lives were at risk . Many of the nobility rallied around Cuitláhuac, the brother of Moctezuma and his heir - apparent; however, most of them could take no overt action against the Spanish unless the order was given by the Emperor . </P>

How did the spanish conquistadors conquer huge native american empires