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.
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.