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Nevertheless, Tenochtitlan was still a formidable opponent, so Tlatelolco's King Moquihuix sought assistance from other cities, including several subject to the Aztecs (Chalco, Xilotepec, Toltitlan, Tenanyocan, Mexicatzinco, Xochimilco, and Mizquic) as well as enemy cities (Cuachpanco and Matlatzinco). They promised assistance,
17 but Huexotzinco, Cholollan, Tlaxcallan, and Tliliuhqui-Tepec all refused,18 which is somewhat puzzling since this was an ideal opportunity to defeat the Aztecs decisively and remove them as a threat. There are, however, three plausible explanations for their failure to act. First, Tlaxcallan and its allies may still have regarded their conflict with Tenochtitlan as a flower war and not as a serious military threat. Therefore the potentially adverse consequences of attacking Tenochtitlan and converting their conflict to a war of conquest may have outweighed any beneficial results. But this alone seems unlikely, given Tlaxcallan's support for Cuetlachtlan's rebellion to the east. Second, these city-states still retained their independence and were apparently unlikely to lose it soon under prevailing conditions. Thus provoking the Aztecs may have seemed unwise when they contrasted their slight potential gains with their enormous potential losses. Third, and most likely given the distances involved, a military penetration so deep into Tenochtitlan's territory would have left the Tlaxcaltecs and Huexotzincas vulnerable to reprisals while they were far beyond their own domains. Thus the refusal to assist Tlatelolco may have stemmed from a recognition of the liabilities to Tlaxcallan and Huexotzinco, rather than from a disinclination to fight Tenochtitlan. |
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Despite Moquihuix's secrecy, Axayacatl learned of his plea for assistance and attacked before Tlatelolco's supporters could arrive. Axayacatl placed troops under his best leaders at each of the roads running into the city to prevent the Tlatelolcas from escaping and |
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