Mexica: A History Podcast

Category: People

  • Aztec Rulers: Moctezuma, Fifth Tlatoani

    Formal Name: Moteuczomatzin
    Life: 1397/98-1469/1471
    Reign: 1440-1469/1471
    Name: Angry Like a Lord, fletcher of the sky
    Place of Birth: Tenochtitlan
    Died: Tenochtitlan, of illness.

    Moctezuma Ilhuicamina, or Moctezuma the Elder, and his brother Tlacaelel were at the heart of the Mexica nobility and served as young generals under the violent leadership of Itzcoatl. They were part of a militant political faction that had raised Itzcoatl to the throne and stood in opposition to their other brother, and former tlatoani Chimalpopoca. After Chimalpopoca‘s assassination Itzcoatl, Moctezuma, Tlacaelel and their group took power. Moctezuma and Tlacaelel had big ambitions for the growing Mexica people.

    Illustration of Moctezuma Ilhuicamina, Codex Tovar 1587 or 1588.
    Illustration of Moctezuma Ilhuicamina, Codex Tovar 1587 or 1588.
    (more…)

  • Aztec Rulers – Itzcoatl: Fourth Ruler of Tenochtitlan

    Formal Name: Itzcoatzin
    Life: 1380-1440
    Reign: 1425/28-1440
    Name: obsidian serpent
    Place of Birth: Tenochtitlan
    Died: Tenochtitlan, of illness.

    Itzcoatl was selected to lead Tenochtitlan following the death of his predecessor, Chimalpopoca, who was allegedly murdered by his uncle Maxtla, the Tepanec leader in Coyoacan. Maxtla felt his father’s loyalty to his Mexica grandson Chimlpopoca was a liability to the economic health of the Tepanecs. And so, it is accepted that Maxtla coordinated the death of the Mexica leader and his son. Additionally, the Tepanec king Tezozomoc was possibly killed later, ending the line completely. The brash assassinations seem to be entirely the work of Maxtla, however one man benefited greatly: Itzcoatl.

    Itzcoatl, fourth ruler of Tenochtitlan.

    Born around 1380, Itzcoatl was likely the son of Tlatoani Huitzilihuitl and his favorite slave girl, her name lost to history. Perhaps this forbidden mother, more alluring to the king than the Tepanec queen, was the root of Itzcoatl’s ferocity.

    (more…)

  • Aztec Rulers: Chimalpopoca, Third Tlatoani of Tenochtitlan

    Formal Name: Chimalpopocatzin
    Life: 13??/1407 (Duran)-1424/28
    Reign: 1417-1424/28
    Name: obsidian serpent
    Place of Birth: Tenochtitlan
    Died: Tenochtitlan, likely assassinated.

    While it’s commonly accepted Chimalpopoca is the son of Huitzilihuitl, and grandson of Acamapichtli, there are versions of history that say his father was Acamapichtli, the first ruler of Tenochtitlan. It does seem he was the favorite grandson of the ruler of Atzcapozalco, Tezozomoc, according to several sources. I’m going to go with the version where he is the grandson of Acamapichtli and Tezozomoc. Chimalpopoca’s name means smoking shield and his name glyph is shown as a shield, or chimalli in Nahuatl, with smoke rising off the top.

    Illustration of Chimalpopoca, Codex Tovar 1587 or 1588.
    Illustration of Chimalpopoca, Codex Tovar 1587 or 1588.
    (more…)

  • Aztec Rulers: Huitzilihuitl, Second Ruler of Tenochtitlan

    Formal Name: Huitzilihuitzin
    Life: Unknown-1416
    Reign: 1396-1416
    Name: hummingbird feather
    Place of Birth: likely Tenochtitlan
    Died: Likely in Tenochtitlan of natural causes.

    The second Tlatoani of Tenochtitlan, and the first that was born in the city, was Huitzilihuitl or formally known as Huitzilihuitzin. He was the son of the first tlatoani, Acampichtli, and a Mexica mother named Tezcatlan Miyahuatzin. His name translates to hummingbird feather, and his name glyph is shown as a green hummingbird head with feathers on the sides. The hummingbird was an important spiritual animal to the Mexica and their feathers were valued more than precious metals.

    Huitzilihuitl was born into a growing Mexica community still subject to the Tepanec people of Azcapotzalco and their king Tezozomoc. Before he died, Acampachtli established the calpultin, a council of the four districts, that would not only consider nobility, but ability of potential rulers. Huitzilihuitl was the first selected by this council for his kindness and peaceable manner, according to Duran. The Cronica Mexicayotl describes him as a “very beloved son.”

    Huitzilihuitl, second ruler of Tenochtitlan, depicted in the Codex Tovar.
    Illustration of Huitzilihuitl, Codex Tovar 1587 or 1588.
    (more…)

  • Aztec Rulers, The First: Acamapichtli

    Formal Name: Acamapichtzin
    Life: Unknown-1395/96
    Reign: 1376-1395/96
    Name: hummingbird feather
    Place of Birth: Possibly Texcoco or Culhuacan.
    Died: Likely in Tenochtitlan of illness.

    Acamapichtli was not born in Tenochtitlan, and was likely a native of Texcoco or Culhuacan. His name means “fistful of reeds,” and his name glyph used in the many historic codices is essentially that, a fist holding a bundle of reeds.

    The council of Mexica elders decided to select Acamapichtli because of his dual Mexica-Colhuacan lineage and so cemented the political place of the newly established island-city of Tenochtitlan. Acamapichtli was crowned and became the first Tlatoani of Tenochtitlan around 1382. His mother being from Culhuacan, the dominant city-state at the time, was a critical consideration in his election. The Mexica were then a minor newcomer in a place with thousands of years of history, they needed status.

    Illustration of Acamapichtli, Codex Tovar 1587 or 1588.
    Illustration of Acamapichtli, Codex Tovar 1587 or 1588.
    (more…)

  • The Rulers of Tlacopan (Tacuba)

    Glyph for the altepetl, or city, of Tlacopan.

    What is today known as the Aztec Empire could be variously described as a cultural group of Nahuatl-speaking people, or as the political entity that ruled the majority of Nahua people, called the Triple Alliance. The Triple Alliance, in 1519, was made up of three “altepetls,” or something like city-states.These were the island city of Tenochtitlan, led by the famous Moctezuma; Tlacopan and Texcoco. Together these three altepetls shared the burden and bounty of their efforts.

    Aculnahuacatl

    The First Ruler of Tlacopan (1400-1430)

    Installed as the ruler by his father Tezozomoc of Azcapotzalco, he is considered the first Tlatoani of Tlacopan, ruler of the Tepanec people. I only found one citation in Diego Duran, which describes his efforts in driving the Mexica tribe out of Tepanec lands to the West of Lake Texcoco. He is apparently the founder of the Tepanec nation centered in Tlacopan. Apparently the historian Chimalpahin lists his lineage and some other details.

    (more…)

  • Who was La Malinche, Malintzin, Marina?

    One of the most intriguing women in history is an indigenous woman who would become known as La Malinche. Her origins are clouded in a fog of varying details, but generally point to some ideas of who this woman was. Some folks report her birthplace as Olutla (Gomara), others as Tepeticpac (Florentine Codex), or maybe it was Huilotlan (Alva Ixtlilxochitl).

    Her actual name is believed to be Malintzin and she seems to be from a town near the coast south of San Juan de Ulua. Most of the tales about her indicate she was at least a noble, if not a full on princess, in a high ranking family in a small town near Cotaxtla. Some accounts say she was sold by her family to support their sagging stake in society. Other tales say she was kidnapped in a raid. By some means she was separated from her family and her town and ended up in a market where she was acquired by the Maya as a slave.

    Cortes and La Malinche
    An artist’s depiction of the meeting of Hernan Cortes and La Malinche with the Aztec emperor Montezuma II.
    (more…)