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The Aztecs' earliest actual conquests were undertaken in conjunction with Azcapotzalco, as part of the Tepanec expansion and consolidation of the southern, eastern, and western portions of the basin of Mexico. The Aztecs conquered a group of townsXochimilco, Mizquic, and Cuitlahuac (in that order)
11 and secured the southern lakes area adjacent to the Tepanec Empire on the western shore.12 They also participated in the conquest of Chimalhuacan on the eastern shore of Lake Tetzcoco13 around the same time, but as a separate campaign, and then conquered Cuauhhuacan (Cuahuacan), on the western slopes behind Azcapotzalco.14 There is also some evidence of conquests west beyond the basin of Mexico in the Matlatzinca area in the valley of Tolocan.15 |
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Cuauht-Inchan was also reported as a conquest at this time (and confirmed by records of the "conquered" peoples)16 (see map 3). However, this city is so far from the basin of Mexico across so much hostile territory that military conquest was probably not involved. Rather, because of the logistical constraints on projecting forces so far, and because the daughter of the "conquered" king was taken as a wife by the "conquering'' king, this "conquest" probably reflects the establishment of an alliance secured by marital ties rather than actual martial defeat. |
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Huitzilihhuitl "Hummingbird-Feather" (Ruled 13911417) |
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Huitzilihhuitl (see Fig. 18) became king on the death of his father, Acamapichtli, but since Tenochtitlan was merely one of many subordinate cities, the death of its king had relatively little consequence for the Tepanec Empire, which continued without disruption. The political relations of the Aztecs vis-à-vis their own subordinate towns also continued without significant disruption, because the ultimate guarantor of those relations was Azcapotzalco, not Tenochtitlan. |
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The Aztecs' relationship with the Tepanecs remained the same structurally, but Tenochtitlan rose in importance during Huitzilihhuitl's reign. The city continued to pay tribute to Azcapotzalco, but the amounts were reduced to a symbolic leveljust two ducks, some fish and frogs, and other small lake products.17 There were also significant changes in the Aztecs' military structure, status, and capability, and Huitzilihhuitl instituted the office of tlacochcalcatl (cap- |
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