Tenoch is the person, whether real or mythological, for whom the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan is named. But who Tenoch was, is a bit of a mystery.
He appears frequently in many of the codices, or ancient documents, preserved from before and after the Conquest. Tenoch is recognizable by his name glyph, a rock with a cactus growing on it and he appears in Mendoza, Aubin and Azcatitlan codices. Tenoch is mentioned in several post-conquest written historic documents. He shares his name glyph with the city of Tenochtitlan.
Tenoch depicted in the Codex Azcatitlan, his name-glyph below him.
Life:1449-1481 Reign: 1469-1481 Name: Face of water The son of prince Tezozomoc, a grandson of tlatoque Moctezuma and Itzcoatl, Axayacatl was seemingly destined to become ruler of Tenochtitlan. But his military record helped him rise above his two older brothers, Tizoc and Ahuitzotl, to become favored by the elite decision makers, like Tlacaelel. He had served as Captain General and High Priest before ascending to the throne.
Painting of Axayacatl, from the Tovar Codex.
After the death of his grandfather, Moctezuma, Tlacaelel met with the other leaders of the Triple Alliance, Totoquihuatzli and Nezahualcoyotl and Axayacatl was chosen. The new tlatoani would be a lifelong friend of Nezahualcoyotl, attending his funeral in 1472. His rule was eventful. Following instigations from Moquihuix, ruler of Tlatelolco, Axayacatl attacked his Mexica neighbors in Tlatelolco starting a brief civil war, ending with the subjugation of the city and death of Moquihuix. He also expanded the empire west into the Toluca Valley. Beyond Toluca were the Tarascan people who handed Axayacatl a disastrous defeat in 1476, the only major defeat ever suffered by Tenochca armies, to that point. The defeat in Michoacan came to define his rule and he died five years later in 1481 of illness.
Forty years later Axayacatl’s palace would serve as living quarters, and fortress to Cortes and the Spanish-Tlaxcalan force. Perhaps a coincidence, but according to the History of the Chichimeca Nation, Axayacatl had temples to the gods built in his palace ahead of a war with Chalco. Cortes and his men described effigies of the gods in the palace when they stayed there. Perhaps the ones built 40 years earlier in preparation of war.
Life: 1398-1469 Reign: 1440-1469 Name: Angry Like a Lord Moctezuma and his brother Tlacaelel were at the heart of the Mexica nobility and served as generals under Itzcoatl. They were part of a militant political faction that had raised Itzcoatl to the throne. They stood in opposition to their other brother and ruler Chimalpopoca. After Chimalpopoca’s assassination Moctezuma, Tlacaelel and their group took power for their faction, Moctezuma followed Itzcoatl as the next ruler. Moctezuma and Tlacaelel had big ambitions for the growing Mexica people.
Moctezuma depicted during his crowning in 1440, from the Tovar Codex.
In 1469 he died in Tenochtitlan, according to History of the Chihcimeca Nation. The Catholic writer Duran notes he became ill, worsening by the day. Just before his death, according to Duran, the famines ended and a military conquest had been completed. Duran also notes he was buried in the courtyard of his palace along with his treasure. Quickly after his death, the ruler of Texcoco, Nezahuacoyotl, sent for Axayacatl, grandson of Itzcoatl and Moctezuma, who would be the next ruler. If not overshadowed by Moctezuma II, the first Moctezuma would likely be better known as a great Aztec ruler.
Moctezuma’s Accomplishments
Solidified the Triple Alliance and Tenochtitlan’s status as the dominant group.
Built network of aquaducts to supply Tenochtitlan and Texcoco.
Was first “Hue Tlatoani” or Great Speaker, as speaking on behalf of Triple Alliance partners.
Expanded empire out of Valley of Mexico to Gulf Coast (Huastec and Totonac people)
Natural Disasters, Moctezuma was faced with a flood (1449), locusts (1446), drought and frost (1450-54). Notably the drought forced the empire to its knees.
Years of Peace 1440-1453
Codified the class system, real estate, clothing, etc.
Created legal and educational policies (part of class codification)
1380-1440 – Reign: 1427-1440 Name: Obsidian Serpent Itzcoatl established the Triple Alliance, or what is casually referred to as the Aztec Empire. After his likely nephew Chimalpopoca was killed it freed the Mexica people from their loyalty to the Tepanec Empire. Itzcoatl, unencumbered by loyalty to his Tepanec ancestors, led a war against Maxtla, the ruler of the Tepanec capital in Azcapotzalco. The king of Texcoco, legendary cultural icon Nezahuacoyotl joined the Mexica ruler in this war. After the war was won a new alliance, which included the altepetl, or family-ruled city of Tlacopan, emerged. The three rulers, Itzcoatl, Nezahuacoyotl and Totoquihuatzli formed the Triple Alliance that would rule the Valley of Mexico until 1521.
After cementing the alliance and control of the northern valley and lakes, Itzcoatl moved south into lakes Xochimilco and Chalco. But first he took down the reigning altepetls of Culhuacan and Coyoacan. Then they moved on to chinampa towns of Cuitlahuac, Mixquic and others.
With the entire Valley in their control, the lords of the Triple Alliance established their titles and districts. Itzcoatl took the title of Lord of the Culhua, Totoquihuatzli of Tlacopan took on the Tepanec lands and people and Nezahuacoyotl remained as ruler the Acolhua people east of Texcoco. With their power consolidated the Triple Alliance took on the people of Cuahnahuac.
Itzcoatl depicted in the Tovar Codex, his name-glyph, an obsidian serpent, over his right shoulder.
Itzcoatl died in 1440 and was succeeded by his nephew Moctezuma I.
Itzcoatl’s Accomplishments
Established the Triple Alliance
Conquered Culuhua and Coyoacan
Overthrew Tepanec subjugation
Conquered Chinampa People of lakes Chalco and Xochimilco
Built a causeway
Expanded infrastructure and buildings of Tenochtitlan
Established new religious and political hierarchies
While it’s believed Chimalpopoca is the son of Huitzilihuitl, it’s possible his father was Acamapichtli, the first ruler of Tenochtitlan. His rule, from about 1417 to 1427, oversaw the building of a wooden aqueduct from Chapultepec into the city, as well as construction of a causeway to Tlacopan.
Militarily, Chimalpopoca kept the Mexica place as a vasal of the Tepanecs, whose ruler was Chimalpopoca’s maternal grandfather, Tezozomoc in the Tepanec capital of Azcapotzalco. After a war in 1418, the Mexica support of the Tepanecs was rewarded with the city of Texcoco. However, Chimalpopoca kindly allowed the ruler of Texcoco, the legendary Nezahualcoyotl, to live in Tenochtitlan rather than be exiled to the mountains.
His death is shrouded in intrigue as several narratives exist on the cause of his death. After fending off an attack by Coyoacan’s ruler, Maxtla, Chimalpopoca was taken hostage by the Tepanecs and taken to Azcapotzalco, where he died. Either by suicide, murdered by the Tepanecs or assassinated by his relative Itzcoatl, the next tlatoani. There seems to be some academic favor to the last option, given Chimalpopoca’s family tie to the Tepanecs. Although Itzcoatl was also the son of a different Tepanec woman, he did not have the loyalty of his half-brother/nephew to those people. Itzcoatl also had a much more grand vision for the Mexica.
Chimalpopoca dressed as the god Huitzilopochtli
Name: Chimalpopoca is a compound name of chimalli (shield) and poctli (smoke). His name is roughly smoking-shield.
