Who was the Aztec leader at the time the Spanish arrived?

The Aztec leader at the time the Spanish arrived was Moctezuma II. He ruled from 1502 until 1520 and was the ninth emperor of the Aztec Empire. Moctezuma faced the Spanish conquistadors led by Hernán Cortés, leading to significant conflict and ultimately the fall of the Aztec Empire. His initial interactions with Cortés were marked by a mix of diplomacy and trepidation, as he believed the Spanish might be linked to an ancient prophecy.