Tezozomoc Yacateteltetl (also Tezozómoc, Tezozomoctli, Tezozomoctzin; c. 1320 – 1426), was a
Tepanec leader who ruled the ''
altepetl'' (ethnic state) of
Azcapotzalco
Azcapotzalco ( ; ; from ''wikt:azcapotzalli, āzcapōtzalli'' “anthill” + ''wikt:-co, -co'' “place”; literally, “In the place of the anthills”) is a Boroughs of Mexico City, borough (''demarcación territorial'') in Mexico City. Azcap ...
from the year 1353
or
Five Reed (1367) or
Eight Rabbit (1370) until his death in the year
Twelve Rabbit (1426). Histories written down in the early colonial period portray Tezozomoc as a military and political genius who oversaw an expansion of Tepanec influence, bringing about Azcapotzalco's dominance in the
Valley of Mexico
The Valley of Mexico (; ), sometimes also called Basin of Mexico, is a highlands plateau in central Mexico. Surrounded by mountains and volcanoes, the Valley of Mexico was a centre for several pre-Columbian civilizations including Teotihuacan, ...
and beyond.
Biography
Tezozomoc was a son of
Acolnahuacatzin and
Cuetlaxochitzin. He is described by
Fernando de Alva Cortés Ixtlilxochitl as a tyrant and: "the most cruel man who ever lived, proud, warlike and domineering. And he was so old, according to what appears in the histories, and to what elderly princes have told me, that they carried him about like a child swathed in feathers and soft skins; they always took him out into the sun to warm him up, and at night he slept between two great
brazier
A brazier () is a container used to burn charcoal or other solid fuel for cooking, heating or rituals. It often takes the form of a metal box or bowl with feet, but in some places it is made of terracotta. Its elevation helps circulate air, feed ...
s, and he never withdrew from their glow because he lacked natural heat. And he was very temperate in his eating and drinking and for this reason he lived so long."
He approved the choice of King
Huitzilihuitl in 1403 and gave him his daughter
Ayauhcihuatl in marriage, notwithstanding the opposition of his son Maxtla. He declared war against the king of
Texcoco,
Techotlalatzin, and being defeated sued for peace; but after the latter's death he continued the war against his successor,
Ixtlilxochitl I, whom he defeated and assassinated in 1419, usurping the crown of Texcoco.
Upon Tezozomoc's death in the year
Twelve Rabbit (1426), his son Tayatzin became a king, but
Maxtla seized power at Azcapotzalco, leaving the rulership of Coyoacán to his son
Tecollotzin.
Tezozomoc was a grandfather of
Tlacateotl,
Matlalatzin,
Huacaltzintli and
Chimalpopoca and great-grandfather of
Tezozomoc of Ecatepec.
Issue
His wives were
Chalchiuhcozcatzin and
Tzihuacxochitzin I.
According to the ''
Crónica mexicáyotl'', Tezozomoc had several sons, all of whom he made rulers.
With
Chalchiuhcozcatzin, he had:
*
Tayatzin, who initially ruled after Tezozomoc's death but was later usurped by Maxtla.
With
Tzihuacxochitzin I, he had:
* Epcoatzin
* Icel Azcatl
* Itzpapalocihuatl
*
Aculnahuacatl Tzaqualcatl, who was installed as ruler of
Tlacopan.
* Tlacochcuecihuatl
* Chichilocuili
*
Maxtla, who was installed as ruler of
Coyoacán
Coyoacán ( ; , Otomi: ) is a borough (''demarcación territorial'') in Mexico City. The former village is now the borough's "historic center". The name comes from Nahuatl and most likely means "place of coyotes", when the Aztecs named a pre- ...
.
[Chimalpahin (1997): pp. 126–129.]
* Xaltemoctzin
*
Xiuhcanahualtzin
Xiuhcanahualtzin was a Princess of Azcapotzalco and Queen regent, Queen of Tlatelolco (altepetl), Tlatelolco by marriage.
Family
She was a daughter of the king Tezozomoc (Azcapotzalco), Tezozomoc and Tzihuacxochitzin and sister of the king Quaquap ...
*
Quaquapitzahuac, who was installed as ruler of
Tlatelolco.
With other women, he had:
* Epcoatl, who was installed as ruler of
Atlacuihuayan.
*
Tzihuactlayahuallohuatzin, who was installed as ruler of
Tiliuhcan.
*
Ayauhcihuatl, married to
Huitzilihuitl and had
Chimalpopoca.
See also
*
List of Tenochtitlan rulers
This is a list of Mesoamerican rulers of the ''altepetl'' of Tenochtitlan (modern Mexico City) from its foundation in 1325 until the end of the line of indigenous rulers. From onwards, the rulers of Tenochtitlan were monarchs and used the title ' ...
Notes
References
*
Further reading
*The Aztecs, Nigel Davies.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tezozomoc
1320s births
1426 deaths
Longevity myths
Tlatoque of Azcapotzalco
14th-century monarchs in North America
15th-century monarchs in North America
14th-century indigenous people of the Americas
15th-century indigenous people of the Americas