Tag: Tlatoani - Page 2 - Mexica: A History Podcast

Aztec Rulers – Itzcoatl: Fourth Ruler of Tenochtitlan

1380-1440 – Reign: 1427-1440
Name: Obsidian Serpent
Itzcoatl established the Triple Alliance, or what is casually referred to as the Aztec Empire. After his likely nephew Chimalpopoca was killed it freed the Mexica people from their loyalty to the Tepanec Empire. Itzcoatl, unencumbered by loyalty to his Tepanec ancestors, led a war against Maxtla, the ruler of the Tepanec capital in Azcapotzalco. The king of Texcoco, legendary cultural icon Nezahuacoyotl joined the Mexica ruler in this war. After the war was won a new alliance, which included the altepetl, or family-ruled city of Tlacopan, emerged. The three rulers, Itzcoatl, Nezahuacoyotl and Totoquihuatzli formed the Triple Alliance that would rule the Valley of Mexico until 1521.

After cementing the alliance and control of the northern valley and lakes, Itzcoatl moved south into lakes Xochimilco and Chalco. But first he took down the reigning altepetls of Culhuacan and Coyoacan. Then they moved on to chinampa towns of Cuitlahuac, Mixquic and others.

With the entire Valley in their control, the lords of the Triple Alliance established their titles and districts. Itzcoatl took the title of Lord of the Culhua, Totoquihuatzli of Tlacopan took on the Tepanec lands and people and Nezahuacoyotl remained as ruler the Acolhua people east of Texcoco. With their power consolidated the Triple Alliance took on the people of Cuahnahuac.

Itzcoatl depicted in the Tovar Codex, his name-glyph, an obsidian serpent, over his right shoulder.

Itzcoatl died in 1440 and was succeeded by his nephew Moctezuma I.

Itzcoatl’s Accomplishments

Established the Triple Alliance
Conquered Culuhua and Coyoacan
Overthrew Tepanec subjugation
Conquered Chinampa People of lakes Chalco and Xochimilco
Built a causeway
Expanded infrastructure and buildings of Tenochtitlan
Established new religious and political hierarchies

Chimalpopoca <<- Itzcoatl ->> Moctezuma

Aztec Rulers: Chimalpopoca, Third Tlatoani of Tenochtitlan

While it’s believed Chimalpopoca is the son of Huitzilihuitl, it’s possible his father was Acamapichtli, the first ruler of Tenochtitlan. His rule, from about 1417 to 1427, oversaw the building of a wooden aqueduct from Chapultepec into the city, as well as construction of a causeway to Tlacopan.

Militarily, Chimalpopoca kept the Mexica place as a vasal of the Tepanecs, whose ruler was Chimalpopoca’s maternal grandfather, Tezozomoc in the Tepanec capital of Azcapotzalco. After a war in 1418, the Mexica support of the Tepanecs was rewarded with the city of Texcoco. However, Chimalpopoca kindly allowed the ruler of Texcoco, the legendary Nezahualcoyotl, to live in Tenochtitlan rather than be exiled to the mountains.

His death is shrouded in intrigue as several narratives exist on the cause of his death. After fending off an attack by Coyoacan’s ruler, Maxtla, Chimalpopoca was taken hostage by the Tepanecs and taken to Azcapotzalco, where he died. Either by suicide, murdered by the Tepanecs or assassinated by his relative Itzcoatl, the next tlatoani. There seems to be some academic favor to the last option, given Chimalpopoca’s family tie to the Tepanecs. Although Itzcoatl was also the son of a different Tepanec woman, he did not have the loyalty of his half-brother/nephew to those people. Itzcoatl also had a much more grand vision for the Mexica.

Chimalpopoca dressed as the god Huitzilopochtli

Name: Chimalpopoca is a compound name of chimalli (shield) and poctli (smoke). His name is roughly smoking-shield.

Huitzilihuitl <<- Chimalpopca ->> Itzcoatl

Aztec Rulers: Huitzilihuitl, Second Ruler of Tenochtitlan

Huitzilihuitl – 2nd Ruler of the Mexica
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. He took the throne at about age 16, after the death of his father circa 1403.

Militarily, he aligned the Mexica with Azcapotzalco in their feud with Texcoco. Tenochtitlan profited greatly from the raids of cities to the south and east of Lake Texcoco during these wars. 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.

*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.

Acamapichtli <<- Huitzilihuitl ->> Chimalpopca

Aztec Rulers, The First: Acamapichtli

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.

Acampichtli was a native of Texcoco, his mother was Culhua roylaty, but his father was a Mexica noble. The council, or calpultin, decided to select a ruler with ties throughout the valley to cement the political place of the newly established Tenochtitlan. So Acamapichtli was chosen and became the first Tlatoani of Tenochtitlan around 1382. The Mexica were then a minor newcomer in a place with thousands of years of history.

As a minor city the Mexica, and their Tlatelolca Mexica neighbors, fell into subjugation by Azcapotzalco, capital of the Tepanec people. Acampichtli had set the new Mexica city up to break free from subjugation. His son, Huitzilitzin, would move the city forward.

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.

The Rulers of Tlacopan (Tacuba)

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.