12 leaders of the Aztecs

12 Leaders of the Aztecs

Carolina Sánchez Esparza 3B Teacher: Prof.Jose Gabino Reza Quintana

Tenoch - Founder (1325-1363)

Born c. 1299 Died 1350, 1367 or 1375

• Tenoch was a ruler of the Mexicas (Aztecas) during the fourteenth century during the Aztec travels from Aztlán to Tenochtitlan. Tenoch's father was Iztac Mixcoatl, who had a total of seven sons with two wives. The Tenochtitlan people were originally referred to as Tenochca, then the Mexica.

He was a respected chief who was elected to power by the council of elders and died sometime between 1350 and 1375, depending on the source. There is disagreement whether Tenoch is a mythological person or a real Mexica leader who was later mythologized. Tenoch was one of nine Mexica leaders who were told how Mexica could gain support from the forces of nature.

(Detailedpedia,2022)

Acamapichtli - First tlatoani (1367-1387)

Named tlatoani by a people that every day was stronger and bigger, Acamapichtli challenged the power of Tezozómoc in the year 1375, when he began to rule. The high priest and warrior conquered Cuauhnáhuac, Xochimilco, Mixquic and Cuitláhuac apparently for the ruler of Azcapotzalco, but in reality he was only strengthening a territory that sought to free itself from the Tepanecas. Acamapichtli did not achieve the liberation of the Mexica, but he urbanized the territory, divided it into 4 calpullis, Moyotlan, to the southwest; Teopan, to the southeast; Cuepopan, to the northwest and Atzacoalco, to the northeast; and changed the name of Cuauhmixtitlán to Tenochtitlán to honor his predecessor.

(MxCity,2022)

Huitzilihuitl - Second tlatoani (1391-1415)

Huitzilíhuitl was elected by representatives of the 4 calpullis who looked for a wise ruler in addition to succession, it was thus how the fourth son of Acamapichtli began his government in the year 1396 with the right foot because as first political movement he married Miahuaxochitl, daughter of Tezozómoc, action that won him the favor of the tepaneca, reducing the tribute of the city to almost nothing. Huitzilíhuitl was a great warrior who won more towns to the empire of his father-in-law who in the future would ally with the Mexica. Meanwhile, Tenochtitlan lived a period of prosperity that allowed, among many improvements, the construction of many schools for the people and the nobility. He was the father of Chimalpopoca, his successor, Moctezuma Ilhuicamina, the fifth tlatoani, and Tlacaélel, the influential royal advisor.

(MxCity,2022)

Chimalpopoca - Third tlatoani(1415-1426)

Tlatoanis: The third ruler of Mexico-Tenochtitlan was Chimalpopoca (Smoking Shield) born in 1405, descendant of Huitzilíhuitl and the powerful lord Tezozómoc of Azcapotzalco. His reign would be proportional to his young age in which he assumed the supreme power of the city.

The Mexica wars diminished since the most important one was against Texcoco. After the death of the powerful lord Tezozómoc of Azcapotzalco in 1426, the Mexica tlatoani was involved in serious problems due to the dispute of two sons of his non-existent grandfather, Maxtla and Tayauh, the ruler of Tenochtitlan supported the latter but they failed. Because of what happened the Tlatoani Chimalpopoca and his son Teuctléhuac were assassinated in 1426.

(MxCity,2022)

Izcoatl - fourth tlatoani (1427-1440)

Born of Acamapichtli and a Tepanec woman, Itzcoatl began his rule in the year 1427, a place he apparently reached by ending the lives of his nephews, Huitzilíhuitl and Chimalpopoca. The Obsidian Serpent is considered the true founder of Tenochtitlan for having liberated the Mexica from the Tepanecas. Although Maxtla died at the hands of Nezahualcoyotl, ruler of Texcoco, it was Itzcoatl who created the strategy that would defeat Azcapotzalco in 1428 and after 114 days of battle accompanied by Totoquihuatzin, ruler of Tacuba and supported by Moctezuma Ilhuicamina and Tlacaélel.

(MxCity,2022)

Moctezuma Ilhuicamina- fifth tlatoani(1441-1468)

The powerful military son of Huitzilíhuitl was elected tlatoani in 1440, an event that started a tradition that would last until the conquest, a Florida War with Tlaxcala, Huejotzingo and Cholula. Known for being very rigorous, he was the tlatoani who lasted the longest on the throne for almost 30 years. It was he who consolidated Tenochtitlan as the great Mesoamerican empire that dominated beyond the Central Highlands, conquering the towns of Guerrero, Hidalgo, Puebla, Oaxaca and part of Veracruz, the war became so important that he built a tepochcalli in each calpulli to increase the number of warriors. From his two sons he had three ruling grandsons, Axayácatl, Tizoc and Ahuizotl.

(arqueologiamexicana,2020)

Axayácatl- sixth tlatoani (1469-1481)

Axayácatl continued the type of government of his grandfather in 1469, he became known at the age of 19 as an aggressive military chief, it is said that with his own hand he killed Moquihuixtli, lord of Tlatelolco in 1473, the year in which the Triple Alliance changed radically with the death of its leaders, a whole new order would come to the basin. Axayáyatl only had one great defeat and it was against the Purépechas who by then were also a very powerful lordship.

(MxCity,2022)

Tizoc- seventh tlatoani (1481-1486)

His name means "the one who makes sacrifice", although other alternatives would be "the one who does penance", "the one who bleeds". He is commonly represented with a leg showing scars, although he is also found as a stone pierced by a maguey spike or a bone. There is no certain date of birth. He was the grandson of Moctezuma Ilhuicamina -his mother was the daughter of this tlatoani- and his father, Tezozómoc, was the son of Itzcóatl, the fourth Mexica ruler. He was the brother of Axayácatl, his predecessor, and Ahuítzotl, who replaced him on the throne.

The Mexica tlaloque with fewer years in power began a much less warlike period perhaps because unlike his predecessors he did not possess military skills, however, during his government that began in 1481 he modified the rules to receive the recognition of warrior, from then on only those who captured a soldier of Huexotzingo (quite difficult task), the purpose was to reduce the number of people who rose in rank. It is said that due to lack of skills to rule he was poisoned.

(arqueologiamexicana,2020)

Ahuizotl- eighth tlatoani (1486-1502)

Its name means "el espinoso del agua" and alludes to a fantastic animal. It is also translated as "perro de agua", mainly because of the characteristics of its glyph formed by a mammal associated with a water current. There is no certain information about his date of birth, although it is known that he was younger than Tízoc. He was grandson of Moctezuma Ilhuicamina. His mother was the daughter of this tlatoani and his father, Tezozómoc, son of Itzcóatl, the fourth Mexica ruler. He was the brother of Axayácatl and Tízoc, his predecessors. Ahuítzotl was the father of Cuauhtémoc, the last tlatoani of Tenochtitlan.

As if retaliating the expansive pause during the government of his brother in 1486 Ahuízotl began once again with a period of wars, but this time more cruel.He managed to reach Comitán reaching the limits with Guatemala, the expansion of the empire was retributed with the strengthening of the economy, he built temples and palaces, Fray Diego Durán would later narrate that in a ceremony of dedication to the enlargement of the Templo Mayor, thousands of people were sacrificed. He was the father of Cuauhtémoc, the last tlatoani of Tenochtitlan.

(MxCity,2022)

Moctezuma Xocoyotzin- ninth tlatoani (1502-30/06/1520)

(c. 1466-29 de junio de 1520)

Moctezuma Xocoyotzin ascended to the throne in 1502, after the death of his uncle Ahuítzotl.Axayacatl was the father of Moctezuma Xocoyotzin.

Like his predecessors, he procured the growth of the empire, stopped rebellions and lived with great opulence, until Quetzalcoatl arrived to his shores, unknowingly he had welcomed the enemy. A year before his death, Hernán Cortés arrived at the great Tenochtitlán, beginning the beginning of the end, a series of events that initiated the conquest of Mexico led irremediably to the death of Moctezuma at the hands of the Spaniards.

(arqueologiamexicana,2022)

Cuitláhuac- tenth tlatoani (7/sept/25 Nov)

(1476-1520)

(Tenochtitlán, today Mexico City, around 1476 - id., 1520) Aztec sovereign. Son of Axayácatl, he succeeded his brother Moctezuma II in June 1520.

Opposed from the beginning to the Spanish, he organized the resistance and led the rebellion of the Aztecs of Tenochtitlán against the troops of Hernán Cortés, forcing them to retreat in the famous "Noche Triste" (Sad Night), on June 30, 1520.

He died of smallpox during the subsequent Spanish siege of Tenochtitlán and was succeeded by his nephew Cuauhtémoc, the last Aztec ruler.

(Britannica,2020)

Cuautémoc- eleventh tlatoani (25 Ene/13 Ago 1521)

(Nahuatl: Cuāuhtemoc 'the eagle perches'; Mexico-Tenochtitlan, 1496-Hibueras, 1525)

Cuauhtemoc, also known by spanish conquerers as Guatemozin, is known for being the last Tlatoani of Mexico Tenochtitlan, who ruled since the year 1520 to 1521.

He was the oldest son of the emperor Ahuízotl.

Cuauhtémoc was born on July 14, 1496, in Tenochtitlan. Cortes ordered that he be hanged for plotting against him and other Spaniards. He was executed on February 28, 1525 in Hibueras. He was the last Mexica tlatoani of Mexico-Tenochtitlan.

He was the one who led the defense of Tenochtitlán in 1521, until the moment he was captured by the Spaniards.

(Buscabiografía, 2016)

References