Why did Montezuma give gold to Cortes?

Montezuma II gave gold to Hernán Cortés as a gesture of goodwill and to appease the Spanish conquistador, whom he believed might be a representative of the god Quetzalcoatl, prophesied to return to reclaim the land. Additionally, Montezuma hoped to placate Cortés and avoid conflict, as he was concerned about the growing Spanish presence and its potential threat to the Aztec Empire. The gold was intended to demonstrate the wealth and power of the Aztecs while simultaneously preventing further aggression from the Spaniards.