Bernal Diaz del Castillo’s account of New Spain includes a chapter dedicated to Motecusuma’s (Moctezuma II) “person, disposition, habits, and of his great power.”

Appearance & Hygiene: He was about forty when Bernal saw him (early 1500s). He was tall of stature, of slender make, and rather thin, but the symmetry of his body was beautiful. The dress he had on one day was not worn again until four days had elapsed.

Food: >300 kinds of dishes were served up for Motecusuma’s dinner, then fruits of all kinds (he ate very little). Dishes consisted of fowls, turkeys, pheasants, partridges, quails, tame and wild geese, venison, musk swine, pigeons, hares, rabbits, and numerous other birds/beasts.

Relaxing: He was given beautifully painted and gilt tubes filled with liquid amber + herb called by the Indians tabaco. Dinner cleared away, singing and dancing done, a tube was lighted, the monarch took the smoke into his mouth, and after a short time, he fell asleep.
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Weapons: Motecusuma had also two arsenals filled with arms of every description, of which many were ornamented with gold and precious stones. Broadswords, the edge furnished with flint stones, so extremely sharp that they cut much better than our Spanish swords.

Aviary: Motecusuma had likewise a variety of aviaries… we saw here every kind of eagle, from the king’s eagle to the smallest kind included, and every species of bird, from the largest known to the little colibris, in their full splendour of plumage.

Industry: Sculptors, and the gold and silversmiths, who were clever in working and smelting gold, and would have astonished the most celebrated of our Spanish goldsmiths. Some reached such great proficiency that they may be compared to Apelles, or Michael Angelo and Berruguete.

In summary:
- Good looking, healthy.
- Meat-based diet.
- Second Amendment respecter.
- Nature appreciator.
- Fond of entertainment and relaxation.

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