Formal name: Ahuitzotzin Life:14??-1502 Reign: 1486-1502, 1485-1502 (Tira de Tepechpan) Name: Water possum Place of Birth: Likely Tenochtitilan
Upon the death of Ahuitzotl’s brother, Tizoc, the lords met and powerful advisor Tlacaelel began to advocate for his young nephew, a child at the time according to Duran. Other sources say he was already an accomplished military leader and priest. A huge inaugural festival was thrown with allies and enemies invited.
One of his first efforts was to put down a rebellion in the north where the Huastec Nation. He joined the other Triple Alliance leaders, notably King Nezahualpilli of Texcoco, in wars of conquest across the empire.
Formal name: Tizocicatzin Life:1449-1486 Reign: 1481-1486, 1481-1485 (Tira de Tepechpan) Name: He who makes sacrifices, he who does penance Place of Birth: Likely Tenochtitlan
Upon the death of his brother, Axayacatl, the two remaining leaders of the Triple Alliance, Nezahualpilli of Texcoco and Chimalpopoca of Tlacopan, met and selected Tizoc to be the next tlatoani of Tenochtitlan. He was a grandson of former emperors Moctezuma I and Itzcoatl, and the middle brother of three who would follow, in order, as tlatoani.
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.
Life:1449-1481 Reign: 1469-1481 Name: Face of water The son of prince Tezozomoc, a grandson of tlatoque Moctezuma 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 Tlacaelel. He had served as Captain General and High Priest before ascending to the throne.
Painting of Axayacatl, from the Tovar Codex.
After the death of his grandfather, Moctezuma, Tlacaelel met with the other leaders of the Triple Alliance, Totoquihuatzli and Nezahualcoyotl and Axayacatl was chosen. The new tlatoani would be a lifelong friend of Nezahualcoyotl, attending his funeral in 1472. His rule was eventful. Following instigations from Moquihuix, ruler of Tlatelolco, Axayacatl attacked his Mexica neighbors in Tlatelolco starting a brief civil war, ending with the subjugation of the city and death of Moquihuix. He also expanded the empire west into the Toluca Valley. Beyond Toluca were the Tarascan people who handed Axayacatl a disastrous defeat in 1476, the only major defeat ever suffered by Tenochca armies, to that point. The defeat in Michoacan came to define his rule and he died five years later in 1481 of illness.
Forty years later Axayacatl’s palace would serve as living quarters, and fortress to Cortes and the Spanish-Tlaxcalan force. Perhaps a coincidence, but 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 effigies of the gods in the palace when they stayed there. Perhaps the ones built 40 years earlier in preparation of war.
Life: 1398-1469 Reign: 1440-1469 Name: Angry Like a Lord Moctezuma and his brother Tlacaelel were at the heart of the Mexica nobility and served as generals under Itzcoatl. They were part of a militant political faction that had raised Itzcoatl to the throne. They stood in opposition to their other brother and ruler Chimalpopoca. After Chimalpopoca’s assassination Moctezuma, Tlacaelel and their group took power for their faction, Moctezuma followed Itzcoatl as the next ruler. Moctezuma and Tlacaelel had big ambitions for the growing Mexica people.
Moctezuma depicted during his crowning in 1440, from the Tovar Codex.
In 1469 he died in Tenochtitlan, according to History of the Chihcimeca Nation. The Catholic writer Duran notes he became ill, worsening by the day. Just before his death, according to Duran, the famines ended and a military conquest had been completed. Duran also notes he was buried in the courtyard of his palace along with his treasure. Quickly after his death, the ruler of Texcoco, Nezahuacoyotl, sent for Axayacatl, grandson of Itzcoatl and Moctezuma, who would be the next ruler. If not overshadowed by Moctezuma II, the first Moctezuma would likely be better known as a great Aztec ruler.
Moctezuma’s Accomplishments
Solidified the Triple Alliance and Tenochtitlan’s status as the dominant group.
Built network of aquaducts to supply Tenochtitlan and Texcoco.
Was first “Hue Tlatoani” or Great Speaker, as speaking on behalf of Triple Alliance partners.
Expanded empire out of Valley of Mexico to Gulf Coast (Huastec and Totonac people)
Natural Disasters, Moctezuma was faced with a flood (1449), locusts (1446), drought and frost (1450-54). Notably the drought forced the empire to its knees.
Years of Peace 1440-1453
Codified the class system, real estate, clothing, etc.
Created legal and educational policies (part of class codification)
