10 Things to Know About the Early Leaders of the Aztecs

Behind the blood curdling stories of sacrifice by the Aztecs lies a story of beating the odds, a rags to riches story. Here are 10 things to know about the early leaders of the Aztecs who faced dangerous odds and built the foundation of a Mesoamerican Empire:

Eagle on top of a cactus, the famous sign
that marked the foundation of Tenochtitlan

1. They ruled over the Nahuatl Israelite

Just like Fr. Diego Duran likened the Aztecs to the Israelites, The Aztecs or the Mexica as they called themselves migrated from their original homeland of Aztlan to the swamps of Lake Texcoco. All under the guidance of their god Huitzilopochtli who have made them his chosen people. Their travel spanned for generations, establishing towns and villages, being embroiled in a divine family drama, and fighting hostile tribes. In 1325, toughen by long travels and tribulations, they established their new homeland called Tenochtitlan.

Huitzilopochtli in Tovar Codex

2. Early Tenochtitlan faced Food Shortage and War Threats

Unlike the land of milk and honey promised to the Israelites, the Mexicans settled for a swamp surrounded by more powerful tribes. Life, nevertheless, remained difficult with food and fresh water scarce. The threat of conflict with more powerful neighboring tribes, in particular, the Tepanecs of the city-state of Azcapotzalco and their leader Tezozomoc loomed over the residence of Tenochtitlan. If the Mexica did not perish through hunger and exposure, war threatened their existence. The problems led to division that led to the foundation of another Mexican city, Tlatelolco.

Tezozomoc in the Codex Xolotl

3. Tenochtitlan imported their First Tlatoani

The clan leaders of the Mexica then decided to elect a tlatoani or speaker, representative, and leader with connections, knowledge and sophistications. The council settled with Acamapichtli, born to a Mexican Opochtzin and a Culhuacan nobility. Acamapichtli then married a relative of the King of Culhuacan to cement the connection, but the marriage proved to be fruitless due to Culhuacan wife being barren.

Acamapichtli in the Aubin Codex

4. Acamapichtli practiced the Attendance to the Great

Sadae or Attendance to the great of the Koreans relation towards the Chinese became a similar policy of Acamapichtli. To secure peace, he showed pragmatism and accepted the suzerainty of Azcapotzalco and its leader Tezozomoc. Of course, heavy tribute payments by the Mexicans needed to prove their loyalty.

5. Acamapichtli Received Divine Help

The payment of heavy tribute placed greater strain on whatever little agriculture Tenochtitlan had. According to Fr. Duran, Huitzilopochtli showed his favor to Acamapichtli and the Mexicans by giving them a bountiful harvest. They only needed to expand their chinampa cultivation, a special Mesoamerican cultivation technique in lakes. Eventually, the harvest produced bountifully to the shock of Tezozomoc.

Acamapichtli in Codex Mendoza

6. A Dynasty Born

Acamapichtli ruled for about 2 decades and during that period he secured the existence of the Aztecs, and for that they respected him and his family. During his passing around 1380s or 1390s, the major clan leaders of Tenochtitlan elected his son Huitzilihuitl as the new Tlatoani. Later on, descendants of Acamapichtli continued to hold sway in power until the time of Spanish Conquest in 1521.

Huitzilihuitl in Codex Mendoza

7. Huitzilihuitl Made Strategic Marriages

Huitzilihuitl built up from the foundations his father laid, continuing to be pragmatic and strategic through the use of marriage. He then married the daughters of various leaders of neighboring city-states that brought tangible benefits to Tenochtitlan’s position. He became in-laws to the leaders of Tlacopan and Azcapotzalco, thus having Tezozomoc as his father-in-law, and later on Cuernavaca in a very interesting story.

8. Huitzilihuitl’s Marriage brought Political and Economic Benefits

In addition to beefing up his harem, Huitzilihuitl’s marriages brought significant tangible benefits to Tenochtitlan. His marriage to Tezozomoc brought the amount of tribute payments down and allowed Aztecs to gain a share and experience from Azcapotzalco’s wars. With Tlacopan he gained a key ally in the politics of Lake Texcoco, becoming later a part of the Aztec Triple Alliance. And finally his marriage to the prince of Cuernavaca gave Tenochtitlan access to cotton.

9. His Marriage to Tezozomoc's Daughter set the cross road for the Aztecs

Huitzilihuitl’s marriage to Tezozomoc’s daughter resulted in the birth of Chimalpopoca. Chimalpopoca became a cherished grandon of Tezozomoc. In 1415, this boy rose up to be the Tlatoani upon Huitzilihuitl’s passing. A decade later, in 1426, Tezozomoc also passed away which led to a civil war.

Chimalpopoca in Tovar Codex

10. Chimalpopoca’s fall led to the Aztec’s Rise

Around 1426 and 1427, Tezozomoc’s son Maxtla usurped the throne of Azcapotzalco. Wanting to secure his throne by eliminating possible challengers, he ordered the assassination of his relatives, which included Chimalpopoca. The death of Chimalpopoca, angered his successor, his uncle Itzcoatl, who joined hands with other city-states to overthrow Maxtla. The Triple Alliance between Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlacopan that defeated Azcapotzalco became the catalyst of the Aztec Empire.

See also:

Early Leaders of the Aztecs

History of the Aztecs