The Florentine Codex in its Book 8 titled Kings and Lords listed the names and a summary of events of the 11 rulers of the Aztecs. Below are the list and the paraphrased summary from the codex.
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| A European map of Tenochtitlan |
1. Acamapichtli
He was the first lord of Tenochtitlan. He held the lordship over Mexico during 21 years of peace and quiet, and he engaged in no wars during his time.
2. Huitzilihuitl 
He was the second lord of Tenochtitlan. He held the lordship for 21 years; and he started the wars and fought against the people of Culhuacan.
3. Chimalpopoca
He was the third lord of Tenochtitlan, and he was such for 10 years.
4. Itzcoatzin (Itzcoatl)
He was the fourth lord of Tenochtitlan, and he was such for fourteen years. He subjugated the people of Azcapotzalco and of Xochimilco in wars.
5. Huehue Moteuczoma I (Montezuma I)
He was the fifth lord of Tenochtitlan. He ruled the people of Mexico for 30 years. And he also waged war against the province of Chalco, against the people of Cuauhnahuac, against all the towns subject to this leading city, and against the people of Mazahuacan.
And during his time, there was a very great famine that lasted four years, which was called necetochuiloc, and because of this, the people from Mexico, Tepaneca, and Acolhoacan scattered to other places in order to make a living.
6. Axayacatl
He was the sixth lord of Mexico, and he was lord for 14 years. And during his time, there was war between the people of Tenochtitlan and Tlatelolco. And the people from Tlatelolco lost the lordship [of their rulers] because of the victory that the people from Tenochtitlan had over them. And this is why those from Tlatelolco did not have a lord for a period of forty-six years. And the one who was lord of Tlatelolco at that time was called Moquhiuixtli. And this Axayacatl won or conquered these towns or provinces: Tlacotepec, Cozcaquatenco, Calimaya, Metepec, Calixtlahuaca, Ecatepec, Teotenanco, Malinaltenanco, Tzinacantepec, Coatepec, Cuitlapilco, Teoxahualco, Tecualoya, Ocuillan.
7. Tizocicatzin (Tizoc)
He was the seventh lord of Tenochtitlan. And he was such for 4 years, and there was no war during his time.
8. Ahuitzotl
He was the eighth lord of Tenochtitlan for a period of eighteen years. And during his time, the city of Mexico was flooded because he ordered the opening of five springs that are on the borders of the towns of Coyohuacan and Huitzilopochco. And the springs have these names: Acuecuexatl, Tlilatl, Huitzilatl, Xochicaatl, Coatl. And this happened 4 years before the death of this Ahuitzotl and 22 years before the Spaniards’ arrival. And also during his time, a very great solar eclipse took place at noon, which lasted almost five hours. It was extremely dark, because [even] the stars appeared. And the people were very afraid and said that some monsters called tzitzimis would descend from the sky and devour both the men and the women. This Ahuitzotl conquered these provinces: Tziuhcoac, Molanco, Tlapan, Chiapan, Xaltepec, Izhuatlan, Xochtlan, Amaxtlan, Mapachtepec, Xoconochco, Ayotlan, Mazatlan, Coyohuacan.
9. Moteuczoma II (Montezuma II)
He ruled for nineteen years. And during his time, there was a very widespread famine. It did not rain for a period of three years, and because of this, the people of Mexico scattered to other lands. Also during his time, a great marvel took place in Mexico, in a large house where they used to gather to sing and dance: a large beam that spanned across the top of the walls sang this song like a person: “Hueya noqueztepole! Huel xomitotia, atlan tihuetztoce,” which means, “Woe to you, my rump! You better dance well, or you will be thrown in the water.” This took place when rumors about the Spaniards was already spreading in this land of Mexico.
During this same Moteuczoma’s time, the devil whose name was Cihuacoatl would go around at night crying through the streets of Mexico; and they could hear him saying, “Oh, my children, woe to me, for I am leaving you!” Another sign occurred during Moteuczoma’s time when a woman who lived in Mexico Tenochtitlan died of an illness and was buried in the patio; and they placed some stones over her tomb.
And she rose from the dead after four days, at night, causing great fear and fright to those who were present there, because the tomb opened wide and the stones were scattered far away. And this woman who rose [from the dead] went to Moteuczoma’s house and told him everything that she had seen, saying to him, “The reason why I have risen is to tell you that the lordship of Mexico will end in your time, and you are the last lord; for other people are coming, and they will take over the lordship of the land and settle in Mexico.” And this woman who had risen [from the dead] lived for another twenty-one years and gave birth to another son.
This Moteuczoma conquered these provinces: Icpatepec, Cuezcomaixtlahuacan, Cozollan, Tecomaixtlahuacan, Zacatepec, Tlachquiauhco, Yolloxonecuillan, Atepec, Mictlan, Tloapan, Nopallan, Iztectlalocan, Cuextlan, Quetzaltepec, Chichihualtatacallan.
Also during his time, 8 years before the Spaniards’ arrival, the people would see and be frightened by a great blaze that rose like a flame of fire and would last all night. And it would rise from the eastern region, only to disappear just as the sun was about to rise. This was seen for four years straight, always at night; and afterward, it disappeared, 4 years before the Spaniards’ arrival. And during this lord’s time, the Spaniards came to this land; and they conquered the city of Mexico, where they remain until today, as well as all of New Spain. And this conquest happened in the year 1519.
10. Cuitlahuac
The tenth lord, who was from Mexico and he held the lordship for 80 days, when the Spaniards were already in Mexico. And during his time, a loss of life or smallpox plague occurred all over the land—a disease that had never previously appeared in Mexico or in any other territory of this New Spain, according to what the elders say. And it disfigured everyone’s faces, for it bore many holes in them. And there were so many people who died of that disease that there was no one left to bury them; and that is why they would throw them into the canals in Mexico, because at the time there was a great abundance of water everywhere. And the stench that came out of the dead bodies was most dreadful.
11. Cuauhtemoc
The eleventh lord of Tenochtitlan and he governed the people of Mexico for four years. And during his time, the Spaniards conquered the city of Mexico and the entire region. And also during his time, the 12 friars of the Order of our lord Saint Francis who have converted the natives to the holy Catholic faith arrived and came to Mexico.
See also:
Source:
"Book 8: Kings and Lords." García Garagarza (trans.). Digital Florentine Codex. Accessed on June 17, 2024. URL: https://florentinecodex.getty.edu/book/8/folio/1v?spTexts=&nhTexts=
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