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Though Tenochtitlan was rapidly emerging as the dominant power, it was not yet beyond challenge, and the Aztecs engaged in a series of conflicts to eliminate potential rivals. Shortly after the initial consolidation of their empire, the Aztecs of Tenochtitlan fought their sister city, Tlatelolco, as they would intermittently for decades.
28 The dispute arose during the succession period following the death of Tlatelolco's king, Tlacateotl, who had been killed by the Tepanecs.29 The defeat of Azcapotzalco had freed Tlatelolco from its subordinate political position, but it had also removed a political bulwark against Tenochtitlan's encroachment, and the loss of its own king made Tlatelolco particularly vulnerable at this time. Thus the conflict that broke out may have been an attempt by Tenochtitlan to dominate Tlatelolco or to prevent the rise of another, legitimate line of rulers that might pose a threat to Itzcoatl. But since Tlatelolco remained free of political obligations, it was probably an attempt by Tlacateotl's successor to preserve a favorable status vis-à-vis Tenochtitlan. |
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The Aztecs next helped secure the lands of their allies, the Acolhuas, on the eastern shore of the lake. Numerous Tepanec-dominated Acolhua towns had already been reconquered, and a joint Aztec-Acolhua army went to Chimalhuacan to negotiate with the remaining rebels. But despite the fledgling Triple Alliance's impressive victories against the Tepanec cities, the rebel towns refused to submit voluntarily. Consequently, the Triple Alliance armies fought and vanquished the main rebel city of Huexotla,30 following which the remaining cities submitted easily, including Acolman, Coatl-Ichan, Teotihuacan, Tecciztlan, and Tepechpan.31 |
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Aztec accounts attribute the next conquest to an affront: 32 asked by the Aztecs for stone to build a temple to Huitzilopochtli, the Xochimilcas refused. Acquiescence was an acknowledgement of vassalage, but refusal meant war. A further alleged provocation occurred when Aztec merchants and soldiers en route to Tenochtitlan with cotton were attacked and robbed by Xochimilca soldiers,33 and subsequent Aztec peace overtures were refused.34 But this version obscures the campaign's geopolitical purposes. |
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With both the eastern and western sides of the basin secured, the south was the next logical target.35 In addition to security considera- |
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