Question

In the Bernal Diaz account what was Diaz’s impression of the ruler Montezuma?

Answer 1

It was actually pretty favorable. He described him as a healthy, friendly, fatherly-type of ruler that had the respect of the Spaniards even though they took him hostage. When he was killed by his own people by being stoned to death, the Spaniards "wept" as if they had lost someone close to them.

Also keep in mind that a number of other accounts contradict this. Everyone had their own recollections of the Aztec ruler. Diaz's, though, was extremely positive.