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.
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.
Formal Name: Axayacatzin Life: 1449-1481 Reign: 1469-1481 Name: Face of water Place of Birth:
A grandson of tlatoque Moctezuma I 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 Tlacalael. He had served as Captain General and High Priest of the Templo Mayor before ascending to the throne.
After the death of his grandfather, Tlacalael met with the other leaders of the Triple Alliance, Totoquihuatzli and Nezahualcoyotl. At first the nobles and elders pleaded with Tlacalael to be the next ruler, but he declined, telling them he already ruled and was respected and his decisions heard and that he was too old to rule. He suggested Axayacatl, who he would guide and mentor, and he was chosen to succeed. Axayacatl was crowned in 1469. The new tlatoani would be a good friend of Nezahualcoyotl until his death in 1472, when Axayacatl attended his funeral. The new king’s rule was eventful.
Painting of Axayacatl, Codex Tovar 1587 or 1588.
Tensions between their sister city, Tlatelolco, and the Tenochca Mexica began to simmer. Market disputes between women from the two communities were addressed by Axayacatl, but left lasting tensions. The appointment of a Tlatelolco king, Moquihuix, was seen as a threat. Accusations by the Tlatelolca that a canal they were digging had been filled in overnight caused a great uproar, according to Duran. The Cronica Mexica says some carnal relations between Tenochca men and Tlatelolco women, perhaps rape, had also added to the fury. Eventually the list of confrontations and instigations from Moquihuix, ruler of Tlatelolco, led to conflict.
According to Duran, a Tlatelolco ambush was found out and Axayacatl attacked his Mexica neighbors starting a brief civil war that ended with the subjugation of the city and death of Moquihuix. Tlatelolco would not be considered an autonomous city again, but separate cultures remained and to this day Tlatelolco has kept a distinct aura to itself.
The History of the Chichimeca Nation, written from a Texcoco perspective, claims Axayacatl spent most of his time in Texcoco because he found it enjoyable and healthful. This seems like self-flattery by Ixtlilxochitl, a Texcoco writer, but there was a bond between the leaders of the two cities.
Axayacatl was an eager military man who expanded the empire west into the Toluca Valley. As a young man in charge of the empire under the watchful eye of Tlacaelel, he was eager to prove himself in battle. According to the Cronica, in one battle he was stabbed in the leg, causing him a lifelong limp. He led the armies of the Triple Alliance into Matlatzinca and other towns, enforcing the power of the empire.
However, this desire to expand led to the Mexica’s most disastrous defeat ever. Beyond Toluca were the Tarascan people of Michoacan, centered in the city of Tzinztuntzan. In 1476, the Mexica armies were defeated in the only major defeat ever suffered by Tenochca armies, to that point. One report claims 20,000 Mexica soldiers died. Axayacatl retreated to Ecatepec, where the army regrouped and began mourning. The bodies that were retrieved were cremated, the families given clothes and food for their sacrifice. The defeat in Michoacan came to define his rule and he died five years later in 1481 of illness. He is credited with the carving of the famous Sun Stone, by Duran, but that claim isn’t clear as it has indications it was made after his reign.
Axayacatl died in 1481 at about the age of 31. Duran says he died after a flurry of sacrifices, overwhelmed by the smell of blood and filth and exhausted from taking so many lives, which seems suspect. The Cronica says he died of a similar illness as his friend Nezahuacoyotl, growing ill over days until he died. Several sources link his defeat in Michoacan as a driving source of his demise. His forces went on to several other victories, but his reign was stained by Michoacan.
Forty years later Axayacatl’s palace would serve as living quarters, and fortress to Cortes and the Spanish-Tlaxcalan force. 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 in their writing effigies of the gods in the palace when they stayed there. Perhaps the ones built 40 years earlier in preparation of war.
Axayacatl’s Accomplishments Sanctioned carving of the “Aztec Sunstone” Was a poet Expanded the empire north, west and east Loved the great ballgame, and played Was wounded in battle, left with lame leg
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.
