Maxtla
Encyclopedia
Maxtla was a Tepanec
ruler (tlatoani
) of Azcapotzalco
from 1426 to his death in 1428. He succeeded his father Tezozomoc, possibly through assassination of his elder brother Tayauh. His reign saw a rapid decline in the fortunes of Azcapotzalco. Formerly friendly relations with the Mexica
of Tenochtitlan were replaced by a period of political struggle resulting in the assassination of Chimalpopoca
, the Aztec tlatoani and Tezozomoc's grandson in 1426.
When Maxtla laid siege to Tenochtitlan in 1428, Chimalpopoca's successor, Itzcoatl
, repelled his forces with the aid of an alliance of city states, including Texcoco under Nezahualcoyotl
and many former Tepanec allies, notably Tlacopan
. These allied forces sacked Azcapotzalco and Maxtla was personally sacrificed by Nezahualcoyotl. The victorious powers formalized their relationship in the Triple Alliance
of Tenochtitlan, Texcoco and Tlacopan, which would become the basis of the Aztec
Empire.
Tepanec
The Tepanecs or Tepaneca are a Mesoamerican people who arrived in the Valley of Mexico in the late 12th or early 13th centuries. The Tepanec were a sister culture of the Aztecs as well as the Acolhua and others—these tribes spoke the Nahuatl language and shared the same general pantheon, with...
ruler (tlatoani
Tlatoani
Tlatoani is the Nahuatl term for the ruler of an altepetl, a pre-Hispanic state. The word literally means "speaker", but may be translated into English as "king". A is a female ruler, or queen regnant....
) of Azcapotzalco
Azcapotzalco (altepetl)
Azcapotzalco was a pre-Columbian Nahua altepetl , capital of the Tepanec empire, in the Valley of Mexico, on the western shore of Lake Texcoco.The name Azcapotzalco means "at the anthill" in Nahuatl...
from 1426 to his death in 1428. He succeeded his father Tezozomoc, possibly through assassination of his elder brother Tayauh. His reign saw a rapid decline in the fortunes of Azcapotzalco. Formerly friendly relations with the Mexica
Mexica
The Mexica were a pre-Columbian people of central Mexico.Mexica may also refer to:*Mexica , a board game designed by Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling*Mexica , a 2005 novel by Norman Spinrad...
of Tenochtitlan were replaced by a period of political struggle resulting in the assassination of Chimalpopoca
Chimalpopoca
Chimalpopoca was the third king of Tenochtitlan .-Rule:On the day of Chimalpopoca's coronation in 1417 , his brother Tlacaelel I was named high priest...
, the Aztec tlatoani and Tezozomoc's grandson in 1426.
When Maxtla laid siege to Tenochtitlan in 1428, Chimalpopoca's successor, Itzcoatl
Itzcóatl
Itzcoatl was the fourth emperor of the Aztecs, ruling from 1427 to 1440, the period when the Mexica threw off the domination of the Tepanecs and laid the foundations for the eventual Aztec Empire.- Biography :...
, repelled his forces with the aid of an alliance of city states, including Texcoco under Nezahualcoyotl
Nezahualcoyotl
Nezahualcoyotl was a philosopher, warrior, architect, poet and ruler of the city-state of Texcoco in pre-Columbian Mexico...
and many former Tepanec allies, notably Tlacopan
Tlacopan
Tlacopan , also called Tacuba, was a Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican city-state situated on the western shore of Lake Texcoco.Founded by Tlacomatzin, Tlacopan was a Tepanec kingdom subordinate to nearby Azcapotzalco...
. These allied forces sacked Azcapotzalco and Maxtla was personally sacrificed by Nezahualcoyotl. The victorious powers formalized their relationship in the Triple Alliance
Aztec Triple Alliance
The Aztec Triple Alliance, or Aztec Empire began as an alliance of three Nahua city-states or "altepeme": Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlacopan...
of Tenochtitlan, Texcoco and Tlacopan, which would become the basis of the Aztec
Aztec
The Aztec people were certain ethnic groups of central Mexico, particularly those groups who spoke the Nahuatl language and who dominated large parts of Mesoamerica in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, a period referred to as the late post-classic period in Mesoamerican chronology.Aztec is the...
Empire.