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Description

In 1428, the forces of the altepeme (city-states, in Nahuatl. Plural of "altepetl") Tenochtitlán, Texcoco and Tlacopan sacked the altepetl of Azcapotzalco , then the dominant political force in the central valley of Mexico, and captured its ruler, Maxtla.

11 years prior, the Tepaneca (a group of Nahua people) forces of Azcapotzalco, then led by Maxtla's father, the old Tezozomoc , had sacked the nearby city of Texcoco and killed their Tlatoani ("he who speaks" in Nahuatl, i.e. ruler), Ixtlilxochitl, leaving the 15 years old prince Nezahualcoyotl (then called Acolmiztli), an orphan, and forced into exile, first in Huexotzinco, and then in Tenochtitlán, where his aunts, who were Mexica (a Nahua group from Tenochtitlán - nowadays Mexico City), helped to raise him, as he changed his name to Nezahualcoyotl ("Coyote who fasts" or "Hungry Coyote").

Tezozomoc ruled Azcapotzalco in its apex, demanding tributes from nearby city-states, including Tenochtitlán and Texcoco. Years back, Ixtlilxochitl opposed him and tried to forge an alliance with Tenochtitlán, then ruled by Huitzilihuitl, but, as Huitzilihuitl was married to Ayauhcihuatl, a daughter of Tezozomoc, he refused, and Ixtlilxochitl's plans were discovered, and Tezozomoc had him killed and his city sacked & taken, reduced to a state of dependency to Tenochtitlán, then allied to Azcapotzalco.

Eventually, Tezozomoc passed of old age in 1426-7, and was succeeded by one of his sons, Tayatzin. But soon, one of Tayatzin's half-brothers, Maxtla, who was left with the rule of the smaller town of Coyoacán, seized power from Tayatzin and put his son Tecollotzin to rule Coyoacán, forcing Tayatzin into exile. Tayatzin sought help from the ruler of Tenochtitlán at the time, his nephew Chimalpopoca, to retake the throne, as the relations between the Mexica (from Tenochtitlán) and Tepaneca (from Azcapotzalco) started to sour. Eventually, Maxtla had Tayatzin and Chimalpopoca killed, and led a siege over Tenochtitlán, in 1428.

The siege was a failure, however, in a time Itzcoatl ("Obsidian Serpent") succeeded Chimalpopoca, his deceased nephew, as Tlatoani, and Tlacaelel, Chimalpopoca's brother, took the positions of Tlacochcalcatl ("man from the house of darts", i.e. high general) and Cihuacoatl ("Serpent Woman", i.e. high priest) in Tenochtitlán, and were able to repel Maxtla's forces, prolonging the conflict.

In the ensuing war, Itzcoatl employed help from Nahuas of Huexotzinco, Tlatelolco, Tlaxcala, Chalco, insurgents from Acolhuacan and rebel Tepanecs from Coyoacan. Nezahualcoyotl, while still hunted by Maxtla's agents, resurfaced and seized what he perceived as an opportunity to retake Texcoco, by joining with Itzcoatl. They were soon joined by Totoquihuatzin, a Tepaneca ruler from Tlacopan, who also used to pay tributes to Azcapotzalco, and in 1428, after a campaign, their forces sacked the city and captured Maxtla, who would then be sacrificed by Nezahualcoyotl, future ruler of Texcoco.

The alliance between Itzcoatl (Mexica ruler of Tenochtitlán), Nezahualcoyotl (Acolhua ruler of Texcoco) and Totoquihuatzin (Tepaneca ruler of Tlacopan) formed the In Excan Tlahtoloyan ("The three cities where decisions are made"), the Triple Alliance, a.k.a the "Aztec Empire", the new dominant force in the region which would expand from Central Mexico to other areas in the next century and a half.

Nezahualcoyotl, who lived many of his years in exile, had his revenge and restored his father's lineage in Texcoco. He was also a well known singer and poet among the Nahua, and some of his songs in Nahuatl survived the later Spanish invasion. He also employed a council of Tlamatinime ("sages") on his rule. His poetry and songs covered a variety of genres which reflected his experience, from festival songs celebrating the joy of living to sorrowful poems about the brevity of life and harshness of nature . A reminder that no life, political organization or civilization lasts forever.

"Zan noncuica nentlamai in tlalticpac. Aya! Ni cuicanitl, Ohuaye, tan iticpa quiza notlayocol - Aya! - Cuicatl - Aya! Quihuinti ye noyol xochintlalticpac on nequimilolo. Ye oncan yehyuaya. Aya!"

"When I, a singer, sing on earth, my inner sadness departs. They enrapture my heart. Let all be adorned in the flower world beyond".

- Excerpt from the Teponazcuicatl (Teponaztli drum song) attributed to Nezahualcoyotl.

Mixed media illustration (ink drawing + digital painting) made in July 2022.

Digital Collectible version minted (and sold) in the Tezos Blockchain

Description

In 1428, the forces of the altepeme (city-states, in Nahuatl. Plural of "altepetl") Tenochtitlán, Texcoco and Tlacopan sacked the altepetl of Azcapotzalco , then the dominant political force in the central valley of Mexico, and captured its ruler, Maxtla.

11 years prior, the Tepaneca (a group of Nahua people) forces of Azcapotzalco, then led by Maxtla's father, the old Tezozomoc , had sacked the nearby city of Texcoco and killed their Tlatoani ("he who speaks" in Nahuatl, i.e. ruler), Ixtlilxochitl, leaving the 15 years old prince Nezahualcoyotl (then called Acolmiztli), an orphan, and forced into exile, first in Huexotzinco, and then in Tenochtitlán, where his aunts, who were Mexica (a Nahua group from Tenochtitlán - nowadays Mexico City), helped to raise him, as he changed his name to Nezahualcoyotl ("Coyote who fasts" or "Hungry Coyote").

Tezozomoc ruled Azcapotzalco in its apex, demanding tributes from nearby city-states, including Tenochtitlán and Texcoco. Years back, Ixtlilxochitl opposed him and tried to forge an alliance with Tenochtitlán, then ruled by Huitzilihuitl, but, as Huitzilihuitl was married to Ayauhcihuatl, a daughter of Tezozomoc, he refused, and Ixtlilxochitl's plans were discovered, and Tezozomoc had him killed and his city sacked & taken, reduced to a state of dependency to Tenochtitlán, then allied to Azcapotzalco.

Eventually, Tezozomoc passed of old age in 1426-7, and was succeeded by one of his sons, Tayatzin. But soon, one of Tayatzin's half-brothers, Maxtla, who was left with the rule of the smaller town of Coyoacán, seized power from Tayatzin and put his son Tecollotzin to rule Coyoacán, forcing Tayatzin into exile. Tayatzin sought help from the ruler of Tenochtitlán at the time, his nephew Chimalpopoca, to retake the throne, as the relations between the Mexica (from Tenochtitlán) and Tepaneca (from Azcapotzalco) started to sour. Eventually, Maxtla had Tayatzin and Chimalpopoca killed, and led a siege over Tenochtitlán, in 1428.

The siege was a failure, however, in a time Itzcoatl ("Obsidian Serpent") succeeded Chimalpopoca, his deceased nephew, as Tlatoani, and Tlacaelel, Chimalpopoca's brother, took the positions of Tlacochcalcatl ("man from the house of darts", i.e. high general) and Cihuacoatl ("Serpent Woman", i.e. high priest) in Tenochtitlán, and were able to repel Maxtla's forces, prolonging the conflict.

In the ensuing war, Itzcoatl employed help from Nahuas of Huexotzinco, Tlatelolco, Tlaxcala, Chalco, insurgents from Acolhuacan and rebel Tepanecs from Coyoacan. Nezahualcoyotl, while still hunted by Maxtla's agents, resurfaced and seized what he perceived as an opportunity to retake Texcoco, by joining with Itzcoatl. They were soon joined by Totoquihuatzin, a Tepaneca ruler from Tlacopan, who also used to pay tributes to Azcapotzalco, and in 1428, after a campaign, their forces sacked the city and captured Maxtla, who would then be sacrificed by Nezahualcoyotl, future ruler of Texcoco.

The alliance between Itzcoatl (Mexica ruler of Tenochtitlán), Nezahualcoyotl (Acolhua ruler of Texcoco) and Totoquihuatzin (Tepaneca ruler of Tlacopan) formed the In Excan Tlahtoloyan ("The three cities where decisions are made"), the Triple Alliance, a.k.a the "Aztec Empire", the new dominant force in the region which would expand from Central Mexico to other areas in the next century and a half.

Nezahualcoyotl, who lived many of his years in exile, had his revenge and restored his father's lineage in Texcoco. He was also a well known singer and poet among the Nahua, and some of his songs in Nahuatl survived the later Spanish invasion. He also employed a council of Tlamatinime ("sages") on his rule. His poetry and songs covered a variety of genres which reflected his experience, from festival songs celebrating the joy of living to sorrowful poems about the brevity of life and harshness of nature . A reminder that no life, political organization or civilization lasts forever.

"Zan noncuica nentlamai in tlalticpac. Aya! Ni cuicanitl, Ohuaye, tan iticpa quiza notlayocol - Aya! - Cuicatl - Aya! Quihuinti ye noyol xochintlalticpac on nequimilolo. Ye oncan yehyuaya. Aya!"

"When I, a singer, sing on earth, my inner sadness departs. They enrapture my heart. Let all be adorned in the flower world beyond".

- Excerpt from the Teponazcuicatl (Teponaztli drum song) attributed to Nezahualcoyotl.

Mixed media illustration (ink drawing + digital painting) made in July 2022.

Digital Collectible version minted (and sold) in the Tezos Blockchain