Cuitláhuac was the Aztec ruler (Tlatoani) of the city of Tenochtitlán from June to October 1520.

He succeeded his brother Moctezuma II, who was, at the time, being held prisoner by Hernán Cortés' Spanish conquistadors. He oversaw the major Aztec victory of 1 July 1520, called by the Spaniards La Noche Triste ("Night of Sorrow"), in which 400 conquistadors and thousands of their Mesoamerican allies were killed.

Cuitláhuac died of smallpox during the siege of Tenochtitlan (October 1520) and was succeeded on the throne by Cuauhtémoc.

Cuitláhuac, Veracruz, is a municipality named for the Aztec ruler. Modern-day Mexico City's metro system also has a Cuitláhuac station named in his honour.