Behind the mask of last emperor of the Aztecs

He is known in the West as a tragic ruler who lost his vast empire to the Spanish conquistadors.

But an exhibition will show that Moctezuma II, the last elected emperor of the Aztecs, was also a cunning and successful warrior.

The fourth in the British Museum's series on great rulers will use the latest archaeological findings to explain the 16th century Mexican.

It will include some of the biggest masterpieces of his culture, most never before seen in Britain.

These include a massive stone monument or throne, the Teocalli of Sacred Warfare, and other works Moctezuma commissioned.

There will be examples of highly developed Aztec craftsmanship, such as a rare turquoise mask, and oil paintings on wooden panels known as "enconchados".

To contrast with indigenous depictions of Moctezuma, the show will include idealised European portraits as well as the invaders' colonial codices or books. Colin McEwan, the curator, said it was pertinent to put on the exhibition now as scholarship was advancing quickly. "The process of recovering the Aztec past and understanding it is ongoing," he said.

The foundations of Moctezuma's palace were discovered only last year in Mexico City.

Moctezuma, also known as Montezuma, ruled from 1502 to 1520 in a society where poetry and song were highly valued yet humans could be ritually sacrificed.

He was described by Spanish conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo as "of good height, well-proportioned, spare and slight" with two legitimate wives and many mistresses.

When the Spanish arrived in 1519, Moctezuma seems to have welcomed their leader Hernan Cortes. This may have been because politeness was seen as a sign of power.

But Moctezuma was made prisoner in his own house and was killed. There is a debate whether he was murdered by his own people for welcoming the Spanish, or by Cortes's men for failing to persuade his citizens not to fight the invaders.

The Aztec Empire ruled most of modern Mexico from 1428 until 1521. The Aztecs followed a sun-worshipping religion. They were known for their city-building, education system and advanced artwork.

Neil MacGregor, the museum's director, said the artistic achievements of the Aztecs astonished the Spanish and continued to influence Mexican art. He added: "Moctezuma presents perhaps one of the most fascinating examples of implosion of power."

Booking opens today for the ArcelorMittal-sponsored show, which runs from 24 September to 24 January.

What the Aztecs did for us

Chocolate - For the Aztecs and other Central American people like the Mayans and Incas, chocolate was invented as a celebratory drink. It was an important commodity and even a form of currency before the Europeans arrived. The Spanish brought cacao to Europe in the 16th century but added sugar as they found it too bitter.

Gardening - The Aztecs are credited with developing mound gardens, also called floating gardens - a raised bed used to overcome the problems of growing in wetland. The technique is still used and has been resurrected in Mexico City.

Astrology - Ancient Aztec astrologers studied the influence of the stars on life on earth. Their system is still used today and subscribers say it has "an amazing ability to describe your true personality".

Popcorn - The Aztecs introduced it to the world through the Spanish invader Hernan Cortes. The Spanish noted the Aztecs had a kind of corn that "burst when parched".

Education - The empire was one of the first places in the world to have mandatory education for all regardless of gender or rank, although the training for girls was still primarily a preparation for marriage.