Huitzilihuitl - the Second Tlatoani of the Aztecs

What do you search for a date in Tinder?

Is it the face, the body, or hobbies and interest. The 2nd leader of the Aztecs looked beyond this stuff and focused on the political value. Huitzilihuitl combined a heavy dose of marriage diplomacy with a dash of Zeus-like romance giving an entertaining story of skillful diplomacy and betterment of Aztec standard of living.

Early Years

Huitzilihuitl was the son of Acamapichtli, the recognized first Tlatoani of the Mexica people, otherwise known as the Aztecs. His mother Tezcatlan Miyahuatzin belonged to one of the clans that founded Tenochtitlan around 1325. On the other hand, he had Itzcoatl for a brother, a future Tlatoani himself. He thus belonged to a growing numbers of pipiltin or nobles belonging to Mexica ruling house.

Acamapichtli

Second Tlatoani

In 1396, Acamapichtli passed away vacating the position of Tlatoani. In this regard, the 4 major clans of Tenochtitlan gathered to vote for the successor. Eventually, Huitzilihuitl, the son of a competent and highly respected Acamapichtli got elected as the new Tlatoani.

Diplomacy dominated much of Huitzilihuitl’s rule building upon the legacy of his father. His decision dictated the betterment of the Tenochtitlan and its future.

Under Acamapichtli, Tenochtitlan pursued a practical diplomacy with its neighbors, especially the powerful Tepanec city-state of Azcapotzalco and its ruler Tezozomoc. The Mexica bowed to the Tepanecs for peace. Acamapichtli accepted the payment of burdensome tributes to Tezozomoc and joined his war of conquest. Learning from Tepanec military strategy, tactics, and organization became the silver lining of the subservient relation.

Huitzilihuitl then continued the policy of appeasement, practicality, and a principle similar to China’s Deng Xiaoping’s playbook. “Hide your strength and bide your time,” a principle that Deng Xiaoping promoted, Huitzihuitl practiced back in the early 15th century. Despite continuing to pledge loyalty to Tezozomoc, he built up the strength of Tenochtitlan through marriages.

Tezozomoc

Politically good or bad became the primary consideration for Huitzilihuitl's swipe of left or right in the vast array of available princesses in the region. First up, Miyahuaxochtzin, daughter of the Tlacopan leader Huehuetzin. Tlacopan stood as a major role in the politics of Lake Texcoco, hence marrying her meant having bigger clout and recognition.

Next stop, a tough cookie with Ayauhcihuatl, daughter of Azcapotzalco King and Tenochtitlan's overlord Tezozomoc. Luckily for Huitzilihuitl, Tezozomoc thought of marriage as a means to further cement his blood’s rule over Tenochtitlan. With the father's blessing, Huitzilihuitl added another wife in his relationships. The marriage resulted in several children with Chimalpopoca as the eldest son and later his successor.

The birth of Chimalpopoca delighted Tezozomoc so much so he lowered Tenochtitlan's tribute bill.

Chimalpopoca

A give and take marriage. Tezozomoc secured Huitzilihuitl’s allegiance. On the other hand, Huitzilihuitl secured a reduction in the size of tribute and even better rewards for contributing in Tezozomoc’s wars.

Huitzihuitl and his warriors joined Tezozomoc’s battles from 1396 to 1416. These wars pitted Azcapotzalco and Tenochtitlan as well as other allies against the city-states of Xochimilco and Culhuacan. Finally, the state of Quauhnahuac (otherwise known as Cuernavaca) too submitted.

Marrying the Cotton Princess

Huitzilihuitl then wished to marry Miyahuazxihuitl, daughter of Ocomatzhin, ruler of Cuernavaca, a major center of cotton in the region. His pursuit of the most sought after bachelorette inspired a romantic myth that made  and gave Tenochtitlan a boost in living standards.

Miyahuazxihutil beauty earned the adoration of many rulers in the region and sought her hand for marriage. Her father Ocomatzhin, however, then kept her daughter inside her palace, away from prying eyes of would-be suitors including Huitzilihuitl. Worse part, Huitzilihuitl topped Ocomatzhin's list of the most hated suitors. He said to Huizilihuitl's messenger:

What will he give my daughter there in the midst of the water? Perhaps he will clothe her with water [plant] thread, with marsh plants, as he clothes and provides himself with breechclouts of water [plant] thread and marsh plants? And what will he give her to eat? Is the place as it is here, [where] all the various foods have grown, the fruits, and the cotton that one requires to be clothed in? But [do] this: Go; tell your ruler Huitzilihuitl, tell him definitely that you are not to come here again.

In short, he told Huitzilihuitl to get lost because he and his people squatted on a swamp who lived on meager food and fashion faux pas. Then the story went interesting.

According to Codex Chimalpahin, Huitzilihuitl heard love advice from a yoalli, a night spirit. The Yoalli advised him to go just right outside the palace of Ocomatzhin and shoot a colorful dart into the courtyard of the palace where the princess stayed. The dart contained a marvelous green stone.

Huitzilihuitl followed the advice and fired the dart. Luckily for him, Miyahuazxihuitl found the dart and the brilliant green stone inside it. Enamored by the stone’s beauty, she, for whatever reason, consumed the stone. And just like Zeus who managed to impregnate his paramounts one way or the other, the swallowing of the stone resulted in the pregnancy of Miyahuazxihuitl. 

A colorful story that surely never happened, but Huitzilihuitl in the end married Miyahuazxihuitl. The marriage resulted in the birth of another future Tlatoani, Moteuczomatzin Ilhuicamina. Moreover, the marriage gave Tenochtitlan access to Cuernavaca’s cotton.

The Mexicas turned stylish. From donning simple maguey fiber made cloth, they moved to cotton. Fashion faux pas no more much to the credit of Huitzilihuitl.

Passing, Succession and Legacy

After ruling for about 2 decades, Huitzilihuitl passed away. He left Tenochtitlan in a much better position than he inherited it. He managed to reduce the tribute payment of the city which gave it more resources to invest in other needs. He allowed Tenochtitlan to learn more about diplomacy and military affairs from their Tepanec overlord. Finally, his marriage brought marked political and economic benefits.

By his passing, Huitzilihuitl left numerous children. Chimalpopoca rose to become his successor. His son Moctezuma also became a tlatoani. Finally, another son of his Tlacaeletzin (Tlacaelel) ruled in a capacity similar to a modern day Prime Minister and engineered the ascendancy of the Mexican people into an empire.

See also:

History of the Aztecs

Early Leaders of the Aztecs

Acamapichtli

Bibliography:

Chimalpahin Quauhtlehuanitzin, Domingo de San Anton Muñon. Translated by Arthur J.O. Anderson and Susan Schroeder. Codex Chimalpahin (v. 1). Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press, 1997.

Duran, Diego. Aztecs: The History of the Indies of New Spain. New York, New York: Orion Press, 1964.

Fehrenbach, T.R. Fire and Blood: A History of Mexico, A Bold and Definitive Modern Chronicle of Mexico. New York, New York: Collier Books, 1973.