Cacamatzin

For the son of Tlacaelel, see Cacamatzin (tlacochcalcatl).

Cacamatzin (or Cacama) (1483–1520) was the king of Texcoco,[1]:217 the second most important city of the Aztec Empire.

Cacamatzin was a son of the previous king Nezahualpilli by one of his mistresses. Traditionally, the Texcocan kings were elected by the nobility from the most able of the royal family. Cacamatzin's election to the throne in 1515 was said to have been made under considerable pressure from Moctezuma II, lord of Tenochtitlán. Moctezuma II wished to lessen Texcoco's power in favor of greater centralization in Tenochtitlán.

Moctezuma II, under orders from Cortes, had Cacamatzin arrested "in his own palace while discussing war-preparations". The Caciques of Coyoacan, Iztapalapa, and Tacuba were also arrested.[1]:262-263

Cacamatzin died during the retreat of Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés, on the La Noche Triste.[1]:302[2]:90

Preceded by
Nezahualpilli		 Tlatoani of Texcoco
1515–1520 		Succeeded by
Coanacochtzin

Reference

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Diaz, B., 1963, The Conquest of New Spain, London: Penguin Books, ISBN 0140441239
  2. ↑ León-Portilla, M. 1992, 'The Broken Spears: The Aztec Accounts of the Conquest of Mexico. Boston: Beacon Press, ISBN 978-0807055014