In the Churubusco neighborhood of Coyoacan there were a number of springs that watered the indigenous communities there. Tenochtitlan’s Tlatoani Ahuitzotl, in a desire to feed his growing city, asked to use the water from Coyoacan, and the Acuecuexco spring, among others. Tzutzuman, ruler of Coyoacan, advised against an aqueduct into the city, that it might cause a flood, according to Duran. Whether it was unwanted advice or just the refusal to grant permission to the water, it’s not totally clear, but it seems Ahuitzotl had Tzutzuman killed.
The spring is said to be the legendary hiding place of Moctezuma’s treasure and guarded by the ghost of La Malinche.
The aqueduct that fed Tlatelolco for hundreds of years originated at a mystical pool called Xancopinca, east of Atzcapozalco on the western shore of Lake Xochimilco. The aqueduct dates at least to the reign of Tezozomoc of Azcapotzalco, from 1370 to 1426.
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.
While researching for the podcast, I came across a lack of information on the rulers of Tlacopan. So I looked into it. What I’ve found so far is murky. I’m sure if I had the time and access to go through the many codices I could find more, but in my sources, here’s what I came up with (Mostly from Alva Ixtlilxochitl and Duran):
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.
Totoquihuatzli (Totoquihuatzin) – (1430-1469?)
Duran talks about him a lot and describes his presence at a planning meeting for the final version of the Templo Mayor, for which he obligated his people to build the backside. The seventh phase of the Templo Mayor was built in 1454. He was also known as a poet.
Chimalpopoca of Tlacopan – (1469-1489)
Not to be confused with the Mexica Tlatoani of the same name, he ruled from 1469 to 1489. I found lots of unsourced references to him, I did not find any actual references from sources.
Totoquihuaztin II (1489-1520)
Totquihuatzin II, tlatoani of Tlacopan at the time when the Spanish arrived in Mexico.
Most of the sources just name a Totoquihuatzli, so it’s possible there are multiple Totos. This would have been the ruler of Tlacopan when the Spanish arrived. There are a lot of conflicting dates and ambiguous use of names in the Tlacopan lineage. Duran lists a Totoquihuatzin as early as the renovation of the Templo Mayor, and as late as Moctezuma II’s coronation in 1502. One source (Duran) says he died shortly after Moctezuma II’s coronation.
Tetlepanquetzatzin (1520-1525)
He was the son of Totoquihuatzli II, and was baptized as Don Pedro Tetlepanquetzal. There seems to be the most certainty around Tetlepanquetzal. That’s because of his murder alongside the two other rulers of the Triple Alliance at the hands of Hernan Cortes. In 1521 he was captured while fleeing Tenochtitlan along with Tlatoani Chauahtemoc. They were tortured about the missing gold lost during the wars in Tenochtitlan. Tetlepanquetzal ruled Tlacopan from captivity and eventually was taken on an expedition with Cortes to Honduras. Cortes became paranoid of the rulers he had in tow and decided to have them killed. All three acting rulers of the Triple Alliance were hanged in 1525.
The Torture of Cuauhtémoc, a nineteenth-century painting by Leandro Izaguirre. Presumably it is Tetlepanquetzal on the right.
Don Antonio Cortes Totoquihuatzli (Colonial ruler)
He was the brother of Tetlepanquetzal and son of Totoquihuatzli II. He is best known for arguing for indigenous rights to the royal court of Charles.
I have compiled a very detailed map of locations and events related to the Conquest of Mexico. Each point is referenced in one of the major texts documenting the events of Hernan Cortes‘s invasion and destruction of the Aztec Empire.
Each layer of the map groups different events or places. I have tried my best to compare historical documents to archaeological research to get the best idea of how and where things happened.
Illustrated map of the route of Hernan Cortes.Graphic map of Lake Texcoco, including Tenochtitlan.Map of Tenochtitlan overlayed on modern map.
