Causes of the Tepanec War

The Tepanec War transformed the Aztecs into a major player in the politics of Lake Texcoco then throughout Central America. The War brought together where various tribes and people united to topple down a tyrannical hegemony of the Tepanecs. But what were the causes and tyranny that brought the war in the first place?

Map of Lake Texcoco in Aztec Warfare by Ross Hassig

Geopolitics of Lake Texcoco 

Before the Spaniards turned Mexico City into their capital, a lake called Texcoco once existed and it became the main theater for the so-called Tepanec War. Several tribes and states occupied its surroundings, but in the early 15th century, one dominated others. The Tepanecs built an empire around Lake Texcoco.

Azcapotzalco and its ruler Tezozomoc ruled over the area by around the 1420s.It shone above its rival city-states or altepeme (altepetl in singular form), from the so-called “Athens of the Americas” called Texcoco established by the Acolhua tribe, the sophisticated city of Culhuacan of the Culhua tribe, the agriculturally rich cities of Xochimilco by the tribe of the same name as well as Chalco also of the same name, and finally the island city-states of Tlatelolco and Tenochtitlan of the so-called barbaric and once nomadic Mexica tribe, better known as the Aztecs. All bowed to Tezozomoc’s Azcapotzalco and his Tepanec Tribe.

Tezozomoc in the Codex Xolotl

The Tepanec or Azcapotzalco Empire, nonetheless, only controlled a hegemonic empire ruling through loyalty and fear. It meant it ruled in a loose manner through a relationship between an overlord and a vassal. For instance of Tenochtitlan, its rulers retained their control over their city having autonomy as long as they pledged their loyalty to their overlord, Azcapotazalco, and demonstrated it through obedience, contribution of troops, and payment of tributes. This made the empire easy to administer if all remained loyal, otherwise rebellion frequently occurred.

The Tepanecs held together a fragile Empire around Lake Texcoco. They all bowed towards Tezozomoc for various reasons. And Tezozomoc had numerous tools to keep his subjects in line, however, it also sowed the seeds of his Empire’s downfall.

Controlling an Empire?

Tezozomoc kept in his belt carrots and sticks to maintain his Empire. Through both he stayed in power, but it also brought discontent and resentment within his Empire. Ultimately, Tezozomoc’s personality preserved the Empire.

As all imperial power, Tezozomoc built and maintained an empire with a military force. He relied on Tepanecs, but also ordered city-states to send contingents to prove their loyalty and supplement his tribal army. As to whether the leaders of the city-state exercised command, little details remained.

The military provided the bulk of the strength of the empire, but Tezozomoc also exercised covert operations. Just like the CIA, KGB, and Mossad conducting assassinations to prevent prolonged and costly war, Tezozomoc authorized such means as well. The Annals of Cuautitlan listed his victims:

It was Tezozomoctli who, by his command, had killed the Colhuacan ruler Nauhyotzin.

And he had also killed the Tetzcoco ruler Ixtlilxochitzin the elder

And he had killed Pichacatzin Teuctli, ruler of Cuitlahuac Tizic.

And he had killed the ruler of Tlatilolco, Tlacateotzin

And he had killed the Cuauhtitlan ruler Xaltemoctzin the elder.

He ordered those who refused his desire to be eliminated such as the case of the Tlahtohqueh (Tlatoani in singular form, Tlahtohqueh in plural form) of Cuitlahuac and Cuauhtitlan. Tlatoani meant speaker, thus they stood as a city-state’s representative. Much of the Tlahtohqueh came to power through elections, thus eliminating them at a whim meant an attack on the pride of a people.

Such operations also brought a sense of fear to other Tlahtohqueh demonstrating the price of disobedience and resistance. Most notable example of a leader he eliminated through assassination was Ixtlilxochitl, the Tlatoani of Texcoco.

Ixtlilxochitl I in
Codex Ixtlilxochitl 

The rivalry and its conclusion gave birth to a personal crusade for revenge against the Tepanec Empire. Ixtlilxochitl of Texcoco and his Acolhua tribe once bowed to Tezozomoc during the 1390s and 1400s. However, Tezozomoc annoyed Ixtlilxochitl by sending him so much cotton. In view of the Texcoco leader, Tezozomoc degraded his people, famous for being intellectuals, into mere weavers. A long war erupted, Tezozomoc marched into the other side of the Lake and brought his army and that of the Tenochtitlan and Tlatelolco to subjugate the Acolhua.

Within the Acolhua, some also supported Tezozomoc. It took decades until it ended in 1419 after Tezozomoc ordered Ixtlilxochitl’s elimination. According to the Annals of Cuautitlan, Ixtlilxochitl’s son, Nezahualcoyotl witnessed the act and scared the boy. Later on, he played a key role in gathering support for the war against the Tepanecs.

Nezahualcoyotl
in Codex Ixtlilxochitl

Besides military might and assassinations, Tezozomoc controlled the empire by turning it into a family business where he played the role of the father of the empire. He involved his childrens, by appointing them as Tlatoani of captured city-states. Again, the Annal of Cuautitlan listed the names of his sons and their assignments.

• Quetzalmaquiztli for Coatlichan
• Cuauhpiyo for Huexotla
• Teyollocoa for Acolman
• Epcoatl for Toltitlan
• Quetzalcuixin for Mexicatzinco
• Maxtla for Coyohuacan
• Tepanquizui for Xochimilco
• Quaquapitzahuac for Tlatelolco

This established greater Tepanec control and authority, but also had a negative effect. Locals, especially the elite, viewed the policy as an erosion of their autonomy by being coerced to be ruled by an outsider.

Lastly, Tezozomoc used the age-old tactic of marriage as a political tool. While his son served as Tlahtohqueh, he may also send them as wives or husbands. He attempted to use such tactics to take control of Texcoco by marrying one of his sons to the daughter of then Texcoco tlatoani Coxcox. It went in vain with family drama destroying the relationship.

Consequently, he also applied the same tactic in controlling the nearby city state of Tenochtitlan. He had one of his daughters Ayauhcihuatl marry the Mexica Tlatoani Huitzilihuitl. The marriage, according to Duran, resulted in the birth of Chimalpopoca, who Tezozomoc favored so much, he even arrived in the nascent city during the delivery.

Huitzilihuitl

The Tepanec Empire retained its form through a strong military, ruthless assassinations, and family ties, in the form of assignments of sons as leaders of city-states or arrangement of marriage forming a familial bond. These tools of control brought obedience through fear and terror. However, these same tools of control hid a growing resentment within the empire.

From the relatives of the victims of his assassinations to the people who witnessed their chosen representatives to be eliminated according to Tezozomoc’s desire. Finally, the appointment of Tezozomoc’s children threatened the autonomy of the city-states. It created a tinder box waiting for just one spark to explode. That event came around 1426.

Effects 

Simmering discontent and some players harboring anger only needed the opportunity. This came with the end of the life of the cornerstone of the Empire’s unity. This created a domino effect that culminated in the Tepanec War.

In 1426, Tezozomoc passed away due to his old age. Fray Diego Duran gave the event, however, additional drama which involved a close relationship between him and his grandson Chimalpopoca of Tenochtitlan.Other sources, just simply said he passed away and much of the Empire celebrated as the Annals of Cuautitlan remarked, “When he finally died, many a sigh was heaved.”

It appeared Tezozomoc’s life kept the Empire intact because upon his passing, all hell broke loose. He left Azcapotzalco to his son Quetzalayatzin (Tayueh in some sources). His brother, however, the Tlatoani of Coyoacan, Maxtla begged to differ as Codex Chimalpahin wrote, “Maxtla promptly installed himself as ruler in Azcapotzalco as soon as he knew that his father Tezozomoc had died. And people had scarcely paid their respects to the dead when he immediately installed himself as ruler of Azcapotzalco.”

Maxtla in the Codex Xolotl

The usurpation weakened the hold of Azcapotzalco. It signaled instability as some Tepanecs, especially those of Tlacopan, began to have reservations on the authority of Maxtla.

Indeed, Maxtla continued the policy of assassination. Practically a purged, he had the Texcoco prince Nezahuacoyotl continue to be hunted down forcing him to escape to Huexotzingco. He then ordered the Tlatoani of Tenochtitlan, Chimalpopoca, eliminated for supporting the deposed Tayueh by advising the deposed Tepanec ruler:

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.

He also had the Tlatoani of Tlatelolco, Tlacateotl, taken care of.

But Maxtla was no Tezozomoc. The series of assassination alarmed many, and various players had converging interest in overthrowing the Tlatoani of Azcapotzalco. In Tenochtitlan, Itzcoatl and his adviser Tlacalel took power and prepared for war alongside their brothers in Tlatelolco. The Mexica then sent runners to gain support for justice against the tyranny of Maxtla.

Itzcoatl

Many showed hesitation at first, such as Culhuacan and Chalco, but runners reached Huexotzingco and there they found an ally on Nezahuacoyotl who began to rally support against the injustices of the Tepanecs. Soon, a coalition of city-states within Lake Texcoco formed. They then also received support from the outside of the region, primarily Huexotzingcos and Tlaxcallans, formed.

Just like how the Sixth Coalition liberated and deposed Napoleon’s brothers ruling as upstart monarchs, the allies liberated city-states ruled by Tezozomoc’s sons. First with Chalco, the Acolhua, before lifting the blockades on Mexica. By 1428, the coalition besieged Azcapotzalco for more than hundred days before it fell for pillaging. Maxtla escaped to Coyacan before fleeing ultimately as a fugitive. 

The alliance replaced Azcapotzalco as the power in the region. Eventually, it became the body which the Aztec hegemony possessed to form its Empire. Aztec hegemonic rule lasted until 1521.

Summing Up 

The causes of the Tepanec War that catapulted the Aztecs to power came as result by the same policies which meant to keep the Tepanec Empire secured. The policy of assassination, appointment of relatives to powerful positions that insulted the locals, simmered resentment. It only awaited an opportunity to boil and explode. 

It came in the form of the death of the mastermind of the Tepanec Empire, Tezozomoc. His successors failed to command the same fear and obedience as their father, resulting in formation of an alliance to end the “tyranny” of the Tepanecs. 

Ultimately, the Aztecs took note of these causes and they worked to avoid it befalling on their own Empire. Though completely successful, at least their Empire outlived several of their Tlahtohqueh.

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.

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.

Hassig, Ross. Aztec Warfare: Imperial Expansion and Political Control. n.a.,n.a.: University of Oklahoma Press, 1988.