Axayacatl

Axayacatl
King of Tenochtitlan

Axayacatl as depicted in the Codex Azcatitlan
Reign 1469–1481
Died 1481 (1482)
Predecessor Moctezuma I
Successor Tizoc
Father Prince Tezozomoc
Mother Princess Atotoztli II
Children King Moctezuma II
King Cuitláhuac

Axayacatl ([aːʃaijakatɬ] (the name means "Water-mask" or "Water-face") was the sixth Aztec Emperor, a ruler (tlatoani) of the Postclassic Mesoamerican Aztec Empire and city of Tenochtitlan, who reigned from 1469 to 1481.

He is chiefly remembered for subjugating Tlatelolco, Tenochtitlan's sister city, in 1473.

Contents

Biography

Axayacatl was a son of the princess Atotoztli II and her cousin, prince Tezozomoc. He was a grandson of the Emperors Moctezuma I and Itzcoatl. He was a descendant of the king Cuauhtototzin.

He was a successor of Moctezuma and his brothers were Emperors Tizoc and Ahuitzotl and his sister was the Queen Chalchiuhnenetzin. He was an uncle of the Emperor Cuauhtémoc and father of Emperors Moctezuma II and Cuitláhuac.

Using as a pretext the insulting behavior of a few Tlatelolcan citizens, Axayacatl invaded his neighbor, killed its ruler, Moquihuix, and replaced him with a military governor. The Tlatelolcans lost any voice they had in forming Aztec policy. It is also important that the Great Sun Stone, also known as the Aztec Calendar, was carved under his leadership.

He was followed on the throne by his brother Tizoc in 1481.


Notes

  1. ^ Map based on Hassig (1988)

References

External links

Preceded by
Moctezuma I
Tlatoani of Tenochtitlan
1469–1481
Succeeded by
Tizoc