The second Tlatoani of Tenochtitlan, and the first that was born in the city, was Huitzilihuitl. He was the son of the first tlatoani, Acamapichtli, and a Mexica mother named Tezcatlan Miyahuatzin. He was born into a Mexica community still subject to the Tepanec people of Azcapotzalco. Before his death, Acamapichtli established the calpulli, a council of the four districts, that would not only consider the nobility, but ability of potential rulers. Huitzilihuitl was the first selected by this council.
He took the throne at about age 16, after the death of his father circa 1403, sources vary. Militarily, he aligned the Mexica with Azcapotzalco in their feud with Texcoco. During his reign he took several wives from other altepetls with an eye toward bolstering the Mexica nobility, including noblewomen from their Tepenec rulers in Tlacopan and Azcapotzalco. One of his wives was the daughter of the mighty Tezozomoc. Tenochtitlan profited greatly from these marriages, receiving gifts and reduced tribute levels. He died around 1417 with his son Chimalpopoca, succeeding him.
Huitzilihuitl pursued his father’s politics, building ties, slowly strengthening the city and army. His reign saw the spread of cotton weaving, elevating Mexica clothing from the courser maguey (agave) fabrics to the much softer cotton fabrics. His legacy would continue through his sons, including two future tlatoque, Chimalpopoca and Moctezuma Ilhuicamina, as well as the powerful advisor and shaper of Mexica politics and culture, Tlacaelel.
Florentine Codex: “Vitsivitl, fue el segundo senor de Tenochtitlan: el qual tuvo el senorio. Veynte e un anos: y el comenzo las guerras, y peleo con los de culhuacan.” English: Vitsivitl, was the second lord of Tenochtitlan: the one who had dominion. Twenty and one years: and he began the wars, and fought with those of Culhuacan.
Tlatoani Huitzilihuitl depicted in the Tovar Codex.
Name: His name translates to hummingbird feather. In both of the images a green hummingbird can be seen representing his name. Next to his symbol is his name spelled in Latin characters.
Huitzilihuitl, second ruler of Tenochtitlan, depicted in the Codex Mendoza.
The first Tlatoani of Tenochtitlan was a bit of a proto-Mexica, as the Mexica nation was just taking shape. After Tenoch had delivered the Mexica to the Valley of Mexico, they began the process of integrating with the other local polities of the Valley.
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.
The Mexica, and their sister community, Tlatelolco, quickly fell into subjugation by Tezozomoc and the Tepanec people. When Acamapichtli had become ruler he knew he was leading a subjugated people. The Mexica military served Tezozomoc, and helped to enforce his empire. Despite remaining a tributary to the Tepanecs, Acampichtli had set the new Mexica city up for success by expanding the island.
During his reign the city of Tenochtitlan expanded into the lake to the east, and districts were laid out to help plan the growing city. Despite the tribute due to Azcapotzalco the Mexica continued to thrive and grow. In one story from Duran, he tells how Tezozomoc demanded an extraordinary amount of tribute, including fully grown live trees, to be delivered. When the Mexica paid the tribute in full, on time, Tezozomoc was amazed – this story, whether true or some colonial myth – serves to illustrate the productivity of the Mexica people.
According to Duran, Acamapichtli’s queen, Ilancueitl, could not conceive a child and each of the lords, including the Aztlan-era founder Tenoch, gave him a daughter. Duran tells of a slave girl so beautiful that despite his queen and many concubines, this slave girl had stolen Acamapichtli’s heart. From her came a baby boy named Itzcoatl, who would become a consequential Tlatoani and one of Acamapichtli’s three descendants to rule. It would be Itzcoatl who would finally free the Mexica from their Tepanec rulers.
The Florentine Codex summarizes Acamapichtli’s reign like this: Acamapichtli was the first lord of Mexico of Tenochtitlan: who had dominion of Mexico, “twenty-one years, all was quiet in the land: and there were no wars in his time.” This is obviously a very over-simplified statement as the Mexica were essentially mercenaries for Tezozomoc. Additionally, the Anales de Tlatelolco indicate he led campaigns against communities on the southern Lake Xochimilco.
During his reign, Acmapichtli laid out the four main districts of Tenochtitlan, including Cuepopan and Moyotlan. Through his physical person and lineage he established the Mexica-Tenochtitlan monarchy, from which the subsequent eight tlatoque would issue. Before his death he also laid out the process on how the next tlatoani should be selected. A council of leaders from the four districts would elect the next ruler, rather than it flow from father to first-born son the council would consider the abilities and persona of the future king.
He seems to have died peacefully, perhaps from illness, around 1400, the date varies by source. According to Duran, Acamapichtli expressed regret that he could not free his people from Tepanec control. From one of his noble wives came a son named Huitzilihuitl, who the new council would select to succeed him. Acamapichtli was buried in a modest grave, it is said, without treasure or slaves as other rulers typically were, due to the humble status of the early Mexica people.
Acamapichtli’s Accomplishments:
• Built out the chinampa farming system
• Intermarried with numerous women from neighboring cultures to build family ties
• Created the four main neighborhoods of Tenochtitlan
• Great politician who established Tenochtitlan, politically, in the Valley
• Established a new royal line for Tenochtitlan with every subsequent ruler being a direct descendent until the Contact Period.
Below are lists and descriptions of the Great Treasure presented to Cortes in San Juan de Ulua. This is the legendary gift presented by Tendile and includes the much mentioned gold sun-disc and silver moon-disc. The descriptions of the treasure and the place vary by writer, but most place the exchange on either Cortes’s flagship or the beach where his men were setting up camp.
Florentine Codex – Moctezuma sends five leaders to greet Cortés, who he believes to be Quetzalcoatl and to take the gifts he had made when Grijalva was spotted off the coast. These things were carried from Tenochtitlan to the coast and presented to Cortés.
Turquoise Mask – snake design, inlaid turquoise with a crown of rich long plumes. It also had a crown and a chest piece attached that covered the chest and shoulders.
Shield – beaded and jewelled shield, round shape.
Anklet, strings of precious stones with Golden Bells
Scepter covered with turquoise snake design
Headpiece, shell shaped, of gold.
Accoutrements of Tezcatlipoca
Headpiece of rich plumes with golden stars
Gold ear plugs with attached sea shell chest plate
Corselet of white cloth, painted cloth with feather bands
Cloak, light blue, “tzitzilli”
Sandals of lords
Accoutrements of Tlalocan teuctli –
Mask with plumage and chest piece
Ear plugs
Coreselet of green cloth
Medallions
Staff
Anklets
Serpent staff of turquoise
Quetzalcoatl’s Belongings
Jaguar skin miter (headpiece) with pheasant feathers
Turquoise ear plugs
Gold necklace with medallion
Shield, round with gold plate in center, rich feathers on the edge
Cloak
Anklet bells
Staff encrusted with pearls
Sandals of the lords
Gold miter with rich plumes
Annal of Tlatelolco – Very basic narrative, tells that they met Cortes at Tecpantlayacac and gave him the listed gifts. Also that a sacrifice was performed and rebuked with punishment of death by Cortes.
Suns of yellow and of white (gold and silver)
Mirror
Golden helmet
Golden shell headcover
Head fan of plumes
Shield of shell
Annals of Quauhtitlan – Briefly describes the coastal contacts and mentions gifts sent to Moctezuma as well.
Green frock
Two capes,red and a black
“Two pairs footwear, shoes”
A knife
A hat; cap
A woolen cloth
A Cup
beads
Andres de Tapia – In his Relacion, deTapia mentions gifts of gold and silver including the discs. He then describes the robes, necklaces and beads Cortes sends to Moctezuma.
“present of gold and silver, and in it a wheel of gold and another of silver, each one as large as a cartwheel, though not very thick, which say they are made in the likeness of the sun and the moon.”
Diaz – San Juan de Ulua, (Diaz 93) – Gives a very brief description of the treasure presented initially by Tendille (meager gold and food). A week later he presents the grander treasure.
Gold Sun-disc, as big as a cartwheel, worth 10K pesos
Silver Moon-disc
Helmet full of gold granules (as requested by Cortes), worth more than 3K pesos
20 golden ducks and other golden animals
Bow and 12 arrows
Golden staffs (two)
Gold crests
Fans and plumes of green featherwork
Silver crest
30 loads of cotton, decorated with feathers.
Gomara – Camp at San Juan de Ulua (Gom 59) – Presented by Teudilli at the Ulua camp.
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.
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.
The facts we do have about her are mostly post-contact. The defeated Maya gave her to Cortes after his victory in the Battle of Cintla. As part of the tribute, Malintzin, along with 19 other girls and women, was handed over to the Spaniards. The conquistador Bernal Diaz remembers her as a handsome woman in his account, possessed of grace. It seems she was granted to one of Cortes’s captains as a bride.
An artist’s depiction of the meeting of Hernan Cortes and La Malinche with the Aztec emperor Montezuma II.
But hidden from Cortes was a skill she possessed that would soon reveal itself and become a key to Cortes’s success in Mexico. The expedition left Maya country and arrived in San Juan de Ulua. Cortes and the Spanish first encountered the locals on a beach. These locals spoke the Aztec language of Nahua. Cortes had a Maya translator in his shipwrecked comrade Aguilar, who spent eight years as a captive in the Yucatan. Cortes heard of him and sent a letter, which Aguilar got wind of. The Maya captive made his way to Cozumel and joined Cortes. In the early expedition Aguilar was indispensable translating with Maya nobles and captains in Tabasco. But in Aztec lands he wasn’t as handy.
At some point on that beach Malintzin was noticed, or allowed herself to be noticed, speaking Nahua. She was bilingual, and with Aguilar helped to open communication between Cortes and the Aztecs. When Cortes spoke Aguilar would translate to Maya, and Malintzin would then translate the Maya into Nahua.
As the expedition moved inland, Malintzin learned Spanish, too. Soon she was the only translator needed, and often found herself at the table with power. Every negotiation, every speech about King Charles of Castile, or Mary the Mother of God, every demand for food and treasure, went through Malintzin. It’s hard to imagine that she did not insert her own twists into the language of politics that may have shaped her fortune.
La Malinche from the Canal Once film Malinche.
When Cortes and his band of Spanish, Tlaxcala and Totonac warriors, entered Tenochtitlan, Malintzin was at the head of the procession with Cortes. She greeted Moctezuma on behalf of Cortes. This young woman from the coast was now negotiating with the most powerful men in the Empire.
As with most of the women in these tales, Malintzin was involved in relationships with several of the Conquistadors, including Cortes himself. She eventually gave birth to a son named Martin Cortes.
Malintzin was one of the first women in Mexico to be baptized. Shortly after she came into the possession of Cortes she was baptized and given the name Marina. She spent her life from then on, largely at his side, accompanying him to Honduras after the the Fall of Tenochtitlan. According to Diaz, her mother and half-brother were later baptized as Marta and Lazaro.
She is thought to have died around the age of 28, possibly in 1528 or early 1529, just a few years after the fall of Tenochtitlan. Her son, Martin, came to be known as “El Mestizo” and was symbolic of the union between Spain and the Aztec people. This Mestizo concept of shared indigenous and Spanish heritage would later come to be a defining concept for some modern Mexicans.
The legacy of La Malinche in modern Mexico is complicated. She is seen variously as a brave woman who acted with grace and intelligence. On the other hand she is also seen as a betrayer of the Indigenous people, serving the Conqueror Hernan Cortes. As with most powerful and controversial women she is often portrayed as a seductress, a harlot. As if her power came from her sexuality and not her bilingual ability and desire to seize the day.
My opinion is she was an opportunist caught in a very powerful situation and fate delivered her to the cruel, but victorious side. She did what she had to do to thrive. I’m sure she was intelligent, savvy and possibly superficially beautiful. In another sense she seems calculating and cruel but her situation probably demanded such traits. Like all good legends there is just enough to give her form, but enough vapor for the imagination to conjure what it wants.
