A Grandfather's Love and the Rise of the Aztecs

Messengers from a nascent city of Tenochtitlan arrived in the sumptuous palace of Tezozomoc in the city of Azcapotzalco, the great power that dominated the lands around Lake Texcoco, the area now known as Mexico City. The messenger brought a request from Tezozomoc’s favorite grandson, the leader of Tenochtitlan, the teenager Chimalpopoca, asking for his grandfather to allow his people to build an aqueduct. Tezozomoc agreed to his grandson’s request, an agreement and a relationship that changed a region’s political landscape.

Tyrant and Match-Maker for a Grandfather

A young Chimalpopoca enjoyed the affection of his grandfather Tezozomoc. A grandfather wielding enormous power over the lands around Lake Texcoco having most if not all city-states paying tribute to him in his capital of Azcapotzalco. Behind the front of a loving grandparent hid a ruthless and cunning warrior.

This brutal leader commanded the Tepanecs, one of many Nahuatl-speaking tribes inhabiting the western shores of Lake Texcoco. Through Tezozomoc, they subjugated neighbors and rivals, from the intellectual center of Texcoco in the eastern shores, to the sophisticated ancient capital of Culhuacan and to the bread-baskets of Xochimilco and Chalco in the south, and finally the barbaric upstarts of Tenochtitlan and Tlatelolco of the Mexica tribe, better known now as the Aztecs, in the center. By 1420’s the region bowed to the Tepanecs and their leader Tezozomoc.

Tezozomoc held carrots and sticks to maintain his Empire. Chimlapopoca’s granddad used his military to subjugate rebellions and intimidate city-states into accepting his rule and pay tributes. Alongside the military, he also used assassination to swiftly eliminate his opponents bringing a sense of fear.

Beyond violence, Tezozomoc used family ties as a peaceful and long term means of security and control. He appointed his sons to rule over some city-states and his daughters marry other leaders. In one case, he allowed his daughters to marry the leaders of Tlatelolco and Tenochtitlan that resulted in the birth of Chimalpopoca.

Map of Lake Texcoco in Aztec Warfare by Ross Hassig

Tezozomoc’s Grandson

On the other hand, Chimalpopoca, only 10 years old, assumed the position of Tlatoani, literally meaning speaker but otherwise known as leader, of one of the youngest states among the pack, Tenochtitlan of the Mexica tribe otherwise known as the Aztecs.  He led a tribe that boasted a story of hardship and earned notoriety for barbarity. Nevertheless, the tribe chose leaders, Chimapopoca’s ancestors, that displayed practicality and foresight.

Tenochtitlan, a city built in a swamp, Tenochtitlan served as the home of the Mexica right in the middle of Lake Texcoco. The Mexica before lived as wanderers, notorious for their bloody sacrifices, even for Mesoamerican standards, in honor of their war-god Huitzilipochtli. Eventually, this god gave them a difficult terrain where they built their new homeland of Tenochtitlan.

Unfortunately, the young Tenochtitlan rose in lands dominated by Tezozomoc of Azcapotzalco. During this time, Chimalpopoca’s grandfather, Acamapichtli, led the Mexica practically, accepting the suzerainty of the Tepanecs paying tribute in exchange for peace whilst building up their strength. Chimapopoca’s father, Huitzilihuitl, succeeded Acamapichtli around 1390’s and began to establish marriage alliances for peace, politics, and trade.

Acamapichtli himself came as a result of a marriage of a Mexica priest and a Culhuacan noblewoman and Huitzilihuitl married a lot of important women. Most significantly, he married Tezozomoc’s daughter Ayauhcihuatl, Chimalpopoca’s mother. Huitzilihuitl hoped for concessions and better treatment while Tezozomoc gladly thought of his blood ruling over his dominion ensuring absolute loyalty of Tenochtitlan as they say, blood is thicker than water.

Chimalpopoca

Road to War

With blood being thicker than water, Tezozomoc grew fond of his grandson Chimalpopoca. In his old age, he showered him with favor that extended to his people. Unfortunately, this only lasted for so long.

While Tezozomoc breathed, he turned soft to Tenochtitlan. During Chimalpopoca’s birth, Tezozomoc and other Tepanec lords graced Mexica city with their presence. Soon he gave favors to them, lowering tributes to a token and handing them a bigger share of conquest including lands and vassals of their own.

In 1416, Huitzilihuitl passed away and the election resulted in Chimalpopoca, only 10 years, winning the top job. Relations between Tepanecs and Aztecs grew closer especially with trade. One thorn, however, soon appeared and this according to Fray Diego Duran and his work, The New History of Indies of New Spain.

Aqueduct Controversy 

Tenochtitlan developed a water supply problem. The rise in population of the city increased the need for cleaner water. They saw a solution coming from across the lake and the hills of Chapultepec. One of Chimalpopoca’s counselor advised: 

Lord, we all have decided that since your grandfather Tezozomoc loves you well and will listen to you,and since we have become friends with the men under that king, we should ask him to give us some of the water of Chapultepec. We will use it for drinking and we will find a way of conveying it to the city. But we must ask for it first. Up to this time we have lived in huts and in wretched hovels and now we are beginning to build houses of stone and adobe. We are also beginning to dam up the lagoon and we possess canoes that go about the canals. But we still drink troubled, dirty water. That is why we beseech you to send your messengers to ask for this favor.

Messengers on behalf of Chimalpopoca pleaded Tezozomoc, who was a loving grandfather hearing his beloved grandson’s request, agreed. Indeed, a simple aqueduct then connected Chapultepec to Tenochtitlan bringing clean water. It only, however, lasted for a while as the flimsy construction led to its instant destruction at the hands of unpredictable currents of Lake Texcoco.

Advisers counseled Chimalpopoca to ask another favor to his grandfather and another envoy went to Azcapotzalco. They requested for “wooden stakes, stone and lime, and to order his vassals to help them construct a pipe of stone and lime so that the water would pass safely without seeping away.” The request pissed off Tezozomoc inside and more so his advisors.

The request defied the lord and vassal relationship between Azcapotzalco and Tenochtitlan. The powerful Tepanecs appeared to be the subjugated people being ordered around by the Mexica for manpower and construction materials rather than the other way around. The Mexica request riled up one of Tezozomoc’s advisers, saying: 

Lord, monarch, what is in the mind of your grandson and of his advisors? Do they think that we are to be their slaves? Is it not enough that we sheltered them and admitted them within our territory, that we permitted them to build their city? Have [they] not given them the water that they asked for? Now they demand, in a shameless manner, without respect for your dignity, that you and all of us build them a pipe for their water? We do not wish it; it is not our will. We would rather lose our lives! Even though King Chimalpopoca of Mexico be your descendant and friend of the Tepanec nation, we refuse to be commanded in this manner. He is only a child and what he has done has been provoked by his advisors. We would like to know where they have found such daring and insolence.

This triggered the souring of the relationship between the Tepanecs and Mexica. 

The already docile and aging Tezozomoc failed to pacify his people. The Tepanecs rallied around the Tlatoani of Coyoacan Maxtla, the Tlatoani of Tacuba Acolanhuacatl, and several nobles such as Tzacualcatl and Tlacahuitlahua who loudly air their disgust of the Mexica and propagating fear. They peddle the narrative that the Aztecs have grown bold and plan to topple the Tepanecs down and enslave them.

Sentiments turned to action as Tepanecs. They ceased trade with the Mexica, cutting off their supply of food and water and then blocked the causeways connecting Tlatelolco and Tenochtitlan to the mainland. Directions pointed towards conflict.

Maxtla in Codex Xolotl

Death of Tezozomoc

With anger and hostility brewing, Tezozomoc understood the sentiments and pleaded for the case of his grandson. From then on, his will witnessed only disappointments. Eventually, the worst happened.

As a warrior he understood the desire of his people for their honor, but as a grandfather he wanted to save the life of his favorite grandson. He pleaded to his council to kidnap Chimalpopoca to spare him from the impending chaos. Maxtla and Tlacahuiltahua refused, arguing Chimalpopoca as being more Mexica than Tepanec. From this, Duran described in his work Tezozomoc’s reaction: 

The King was so distressed when he heard this response, so saddened to see that he could not pacify his vassals, that he became sick with sorrow, and soon after died of his grief. He died a very old man.

With Tezozomoc’s passing, all hell broke loose just like King Viserys’ passing resulting in the Dance of the Dragons. But before breathing his last, he ensured the succession in Azcapotzalco. Unfortunately, even in this regard, it derailed and started the descent of the region to chaos.

Tezozomoc named Quetzalayatzin (Tayatzin in other sources) as his successor. Tezozomoc told his son, “If I should die, you would be my successor. You would be ruler here in Azcapotzalco” according to the Annals of Cuautitlán. Maxtla, however, begged to differ.

The leader of Coyoacan staked a claim to the throne of Azcapotzalco triggering a civil war. Eventually, Maxtla won and took control of the Tepanec Empire. His victory brought danger to the Mexica.

Death of Chimalpopoca

Maxtla despised the Mexica, being a loud fear monger among the Tepanecs, thus he set his sight against Tenochtitlan and its ruler. Upon his rise, the Tepanec usurper made his move against Chimalpopoca. According to the Aubin Codex, in 1429 Maxtla ordered Chimalpopoca kidnapped, brought to him, and executed. According to Diego Duran and the Annals of Cuautitlán, the Azcapotzalco ordered the elimination of Chimalpopoca and his son Tehuetlehuac.

Several versions of intent though existed in the act of assassination. First, it meant to consolidate his power by eliminating possible contenders from other city-states. However, this may not be possible.

Nahuatl culture did not follow the primogeniture line of succession, but rather an agnatic seniority succession, which meant brother-to-brother succession. In this case, Maxtla’s brothers who ruled as Tlatoani of other city-states posed greater threat than a young nephew. Yet, according to the Annals of Cuautitlán, these brothers continued to serve and only fell during the eventual war.

Another, according to the Annals of Cuautitlán, Maxtla heard the advice that Chimalpopoca said to deposed Tepanec leader Quetzalayatzin, saying: 

Friend, why has your older brother Maxtla taken your kingdom away from you? Really, you are the ruler. Your father put all of you in office before he died. So kill this older brother of yours, this Maxtla. He is ruling your kingdom. The way to kill him is to set up a pavilion and invite him to a feast. That’s where you will kill him.

For his bad intent and support for the defeated side, Maxtla had Chimalpopoca taken care of.

Finally, a suggestion of sinister plot within Tenochtitlan also existed being spearheaded by Chimalpopoca’s successor, his uncle, Itzcoatl. It had been suggested Itzcoatl instigated the Tepanecs to get rid of Chimalpopoca to bring about his election. Whatever the case, the death of Chimalpopoca triggered a war.

Because of Tezozomoc’s fondness of Chimalpopoca, a series of events brought the region to chaos. The act of love in favor of Mexica raised animosity of the Tepanecs. Tezozomoc’s passing by old age and sadness spared him from seeing the following demise of his favored relatives.

Itzcoatl

Rise of the Aztecs

With the slaying of their Tlatoani and the growing hostility on the other side of the lake, Tenochtitlan fret over their fate. Itzcoatl, Chimalpopoca’s uncle, ascended as the next Tlatoani, and with advice from his second-in-command Tlacaelel, they formed a coalition built upon Tepanec injustices. Ultimately, it altered the region’s political landscape.

Itzcoatl and Tlacaelel attempted for peace but to no avail. They then sought assistance from other tribes calling for freedom against the tyranny of Maxtla and Azcapotzalco. True enough, subjugated opponents of Tepanecs and even with their own ranks joined.

Exiled leaders, opposition against Maxtla’s usurpation, and outside powers formed the nexus against Azcapotzalco. Nezahuacoyotl, a prince of Texcoco, whose assassinated father was slain by the orders of Tezozomoc and he, himself, a target for elimination by Azcapotzalco rallied support within the lake and outside. Soon, the neighboring Tlaxcallans and Huexotzingcos pledged their support. Later on, within the tribe, Tepanecs of Tlacopan raised the banner of revolt.

In the end, Chimalpopoca’s relatives avenged his death. Azcapotzalco fell by 1430 or 1431 with Maxtla becoming a fugitive. Itzcoatl and Tlacaelel of Tenochtitlan, the Tepanec city-state of Tlacopan, and Nezahuacoyotl of Texcoco forged a Triple Alliance. This alliance dominated the region and later on became the embodiment of Aztec hegemony.

Summing Up

Tezozomoc’s fondness of his grandson began a series of events that led to the rise of the Aztec Empire. Unfortunately, Tezozomoc did not live as a simple grandfather, but rather a towering personality that commanded enormous power through might, fear and marriage throughout the lands surrounding Lake Texcoco. His favoritism simmered tensions and began to raise fears and hatred of the Aztecs, adding familial ties, based on some sources, culminated with the assassination of his scion Chimalpopoca. His sudden and violent demise triggered a war that created an alliance that initially meant to fight Tepanec hegemony and later evolved to the proxy for an Aztec Empire.

See also:

Early Leaders of the Aztecs 

History of the Aztecs

Bibliography:

Bierhorst, John (trans.). History and Mythology of Aztecs: The Codex Chimalpopoca. Tucson, Arizona: The University of Arizona Press, 1998.

Davies, Nigel. The Aztecs. New York, New York: Macmillan London, Ltd., 1973.

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.

"Codex Aubin." In From the Page. Accessed on September 8, 2024. URL: https://fromthepage.com/fordham/codex-aubin/codex-aubin/display/25000056