Chimalpopoca ( for "smoking shield," ) or Chīmalpopōcatzin (1397–1427) was the third tlatoani of Tenochtitlan (1417–1427).
Biography
Chimalpopoca was born to the Emperor
Huitzilihuitl and Queen
Ayauhcihuatl.
Rule
Chimalpopoca was crowned in 1417 (some sources say 1416 or 1418), at approximately 20 years old. At that time, Tenochtitlan was a tributary of the
Tepanec city of Azcapotzalco, which was ruled by his grandfather Tezozomoc. This alliance, and the Mexicas' position within it, was strengthened by Tenochtitlan's loyalty during Tezozomoc's 1418 war with
Ixtlilxochitl I of Texcoco. The conquered city was granted to Tenochtitlan as a tributary.
.]]Nezahualcoyotl, displaced prince of Texcoco, was living in the mountains. Chimalpopoca interceded with Tezozomoc on his behalf, and Tezozomoc agreed to allow Netzahualcoyotl to live in Tenochtitlan under his protection.
In 1426 Tezozómoc assisted Chimalpopoca in the construction of a new aqueduct. This aqueduct was of wood, and ran from the elevated place of Chapultepec to Tenochtitlan.
Chimalpopoca also had a causeway constructed to Tlacopan. The causeway contained openings spanned by wooden bridges, which were removed at night.
Also during his reign he dedicated a stone for sacrifices in the Tlacocomoco section of Tenochtitlan. The conquest of Tequizquiac is also attributed to him.
Family
Chimalpopoca was the son of
Huitzilihuitl, the previous ruler,
[Durán's Historia de las Indias de Nueva España, Chimalpahin's third and seventh Relaciones, the Crónica Mexicayotl, the Leyenda de los Soles, Ixtlilxochitl's Relaciones and his Historia Chichimeca, the Codex Xolotl and the Crónica Mexicana.] but there are some sources
[Mendieta's Historia eclesiástica indiana, Motolinia's Memoriales, the Origen de los Mexicanos, the Relación de la Genealogía, and the Historia de los Mexicanos por sus pinturas.] that say he was a son of
Acamapichtli, the first ruler of Tenochtitlan, making him
Huitzilihuitl's brother. Gerónimo de Mendieta, in his
Historia eclesiástica indiana, notes the discrepancy and concludes that Huitzilihuitl, Chimalpopoca and
Itzcoatl (Chimalpopoca's successor) must have been brothers, based on his understanding of the Aztec system of succession.
[Gillespie (1989: pp. 12–14)]
He had many wives and children. One of the wives was his cousin Matlalatzin. His son was Tezozomoc, king of Ecatepec.
Three versions of the family tree of the first Aztec rulers:
Chimalpopoca was a grandson of Acamapichtli and Tezozomoc and half-brother of Moctezuma I.
Death
When Tezozomoc died in 1426 after a long reign, he was succeeded by his son Tayauh (also known as
Tayatzin). However
Maxtla, ruler of
Coyoacan and brother of Tayauh, usurped the throne. Chimalpopoca allied with Tayauh, and so Maxtla had Chimalpopoca killed, though the details remain unclear. Maxtla also raised the tribute required from Tenochtitlan as further punishment for Chimalpopoca's actions.
Maxtla subsequently named their brother, Itzcoatl, the tlatoani of the region. However, Itzcoatl quickly allied himself with Nezahualcoyotl of Texcoco and Totoquihuaztli I of Tlacopan, and they collectively took down Maxtla, who had remained the Tepanec king.
See also
-
List of Tenochtitlan rulers
Notes
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"Azcapotzalco", Enciclopedia de México, vol. 2. Mexico City: 1987.
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"Chimalpopoca", Enciclopedia de México, vol. 4. Mexico City: 1987.
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García Puron, Manuel, México y sus gobernantes, vol. 1. Mexico City: Joaquín Porrua, 1984.
-
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Orozco Linares, Fernando, Gobernantes de México. Mexico City: Panorama Editorial, 1985, .
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See cap. XIII: 373-402.
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