Who was the leader of the Aztecs at the time of the Spanish conquest?

The leader of the Aztecs at the time of the Spanish conquest was Moctezuma II. He reigned from 1502 until 1520 and was in power when Hernán Cortés and his forces arrived in the Aztec Empire. Moctezuma is often remembered for his initial diplomatic approach to the Spanish invaders, which ultimately led to the fall of Tenochtitlán and the collapse of Aztec civilization. His reign marked a period of significant expansion and consolidation of the empire, but also set the stage for its downfall.