"He-Smokes-Like-A-Shield"
1417-1427
Chimalpopoca, son of Huitzilihuitl, rose to power at the tender age of ten. He had, as one of his major advisors, his uncle Itzcoatl who was the Captain General of the army (Hassig 1988).
He inherited a fierce rival in Tetzcoco and they fought each other in many skirmishes over the first few years of his reign. After three years, the fighting was brought to a fever pitch and then it stopped. According to Hassig (1988), the result of the war is unclear. According to one account the Tepanecs were defeated. According to another, Azcapotzalco was besieged and conquered. Whatever the outcome, the two armies were fighting again within a year, and this time it ended with a Tepanec victory. The Tetzcoco king, Ixtlilxochitl was killed and his son, Nezahualcoyotl escaped to Tlaxcallan.
After the battle against Tetzcoco was won, the Aztecs had
gained enough political power in the region that they were free to
independently engage in warfare. They were also strong enough to be viewed as a
threat. It was at this time that divisions arose between
In 1427, the Tepanec ruler, Tetzotzomoc passed away. His sons fought over succession, leaving the city vulnerable
In that same year, Chimalpopoca and his son, Teuctl-Ehauc were murdered. It is unknown whether they were killed by the new Tepanec king, Maxlatl, or whether they were killed by Itzcoatl, waiting in the wings for power (Hassig 1988). Either way, the ascension of Itzcoatl to the throne, in this climate of military power and political unrest, set the stage for the burgeoning of one of the greatest empires in the world.