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turned home with the knowledge of Tenochtitlan's enormous power, an experience that both tied the local rulers more tightly to the Aztecs and reduced the Aztecs' need to expend their forces. |
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Following the campaign into the Huaxtec area, the Aztecs again turned toward the south, against Coaixtlahuacan
30 and Tepozcolollan.31 The region was ostensibly one of the easiest remaining targets and, unconquered, was an obstruction to further expansion. So the campaign was a logical expansion of the Aztecs'previous conquests. By one account the incident that gave rise to the war was Coaixtla-huacan's refusal to allow the Aztecs to pass through its territory.32 Another version holds that the lords of Coaixtlahuacan had 160 merchants massacred and their wares taken; only merchants from Toltitlan escaped to bring the news to Tenochtitlan.33 |
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To meet this challenge Moteuczomah Ilhuicamina summoned troops from Tetzcoco, Azcapotzalco, Tlacopan, Colhuacan, Coyohuacan, Tepeyacac (Tepeaca), Tolocan, Tollantzinco, Itzyocan, Acatzinco, and Cuauhtitlan, raising an army of 200,000 warriors, supported by 100,000 porters. The Coaixtlahuacas were aided by the Tlaxcaltecs and Huexotzincas,34 powerful city-states to the east of Tenochtitlan and potential rivals for power in central Mexico, but the Aztecs successfully attacked, entered the city, and burned the temple. The people fled to the hills and negotiated their surrender from there, agreeing to become tributaries (see map 8).35 |
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Several other nearby towns in this area were probably also conquered at this time, including Chinantla, Piaztlan, and Acatlan.36 Much of the route taken in this campaign is uncertain, but the Aztec army passed through the area, if not the town, of Itzyocan,37 so it probably left the basin of Mexico via Cuauhnahuac (since the Chalcas were still at war), passed through the previously conquered present-day Morelos area, by Itzyocan, and marched along accessible valleys almost directly southeast to the conquest area. The entire trek would have entailed a minimum march of 26 to 43 days (823 kilometers or 510 miles), exclusive of rest, combat, and regrouping |
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