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man were sacked. But Tetzcoco was still too strong to attack directly, so Tetzotzomoc negotiated with Ixtlilxochitl's most important allies, the lords of Otompan and Chalco, to secure their neutrality in the war. Nevertheless, Ixtlilxochitl was able to gather support from many of his other subjects and allies, including Huexotla, Coatl-Ichan, Chiauhtla, Tepetlaoztoc, Tetzonyocan, Tepechpan, Chiucnauhtlan, Acolman, Ahuatepec, Tizayocan, Tlallanapan, Tepepolco, Cempohuallan, and Tollantzinco. With an army drawn from these cities and Tetzcoco, Ixtlilxochitl launched an attack against his former ally Otompan and against Tepanec subjects and allies in the northern part of the basin. He defeated Otompan, Xaltocan, Axapochco, Quemecan, Aztacan Quemecan, Temazcalapan, and Tollan, then Xilotepec and Citlaltepec, before turning south and conquering Tepotzotlan and Cuauhtitlan
40 (see map 3). Tetzotzomoc was not idle, however, and while the Tetzcoca army was attacking Cuauhtitlan, the Tepanec army struck back in the Acolhua area and sacked many of the undefended towns.41 |
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What happened then is unclear. By one account the Tepanecs were defeated at Teptepec, and, after four years, Tetzotzomoc agreed to peace with the Tetzcocas.42 By another, the Tepanec capital of Azcapotzalco was besieged until combat losses forced Tetzotzomoc to swear obedience to Ixtlilxochitl.43 It seems very unlikely that Azcapotzalco was actually conquered, because within a year of its ''defeat," Tetzotzomoc was able to gather enough support from among Tetzcoco's putative allies and subjects to threaten Tetzcoco once again. |
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With the help of Chalco, Otompan, Huexotla, Coatl-Ichan, Chimalhuacan, Coatepec, Itztapallocan, and Acolman, Tetzotzomoc attacked and defeated Tetzcoco. Disaffection with Ixtlilxochitl was high, and during this battle some of the people of Tetzcocothe Chimalpanecsturned on the king's supporters and killed them, forcing Ixtlilxochitl to flee to Tlaxcallan and Huexotzinco.44 Though many vanquished rulers retained their thrones if they pledged allegiance, Ixtlilxochitl was either unwilling to do this or was considered too great a threat, so Tetzotzomoc ordered him killed.45 But Ixtlilxochitl's son, Nezahualcoyotl, escaped to Tlaxcallan, where he remained for six years, returning only after the death of Tetzotzomoc in 1427.46 |
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All of the major cities that participated in the conquest of Tetzcoco shared in the spoils. The Aztecs were given Teopancalco, Aten- |
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