A Hungry Coyote in the fall of Atzcapotzalco.

Author: Miguel Ángel Omaña Rojas
Thursday August 5th, 2004 02:59:56 p.m.

At the beginning of the 15th century, Atzcapotzalco was the most powerful nation in the known world of Ixachillan. Its ruler was Tezozomoc, a powerful man whose ambition led him to expand his dominion by conquering neighboring nations. The last existing Triple Alliance between Atzcapotzalco, Culhuacan and Coatlinchan was teared apart when Tezozomoc fractured the bond between allies, and began warfare with friends and foes. During his conquering campaigns, he used the Mexica and Tlatelolca armies as subordinates of the greater capital, Atzcapotzalco.

One by one each capital fell under Tezozomoc’s rulership. Atzcapotzalco began invading nations like Colhuacan, Xaltocan, Coatlinchan, and many minor states. Only one altepetl (capital city) was left in the vicinity of Atzcapotzalco, Tetzcoco, capital of Aculhuacan. Tezozomoc wanted to claim its power over the Aculhua, but he needed to debunk the Aculhua ruler Ixtlilxochitl Ome Tochtli, father of Acolmiztli Netzahualcoyotl.

Without any further waste of time, Tezozomoc mustered a huge army with its aim pointing to Tetzcoco. All provinces of Aculhuacan were taken easily by the Tecpanec army. Tezozomoc reached Tetzcoco and finally began a bloody siege to the Aculhua capital. When the majority of the city was taken after a fifty-day siege, Ixtlilxochitl retreated and fled to the woods of Cuauhyacac and Tzicanoztoc with his young son Acolmiztli Netzahualcoyotl and two of his generals. They were hiding of Tezozomoc’s soldiers who were on Ixtlilxochitl’s trail. Finally on September 28th, 1418, Ixtlilxochitl decided it was his time. He said goodbye to his son Netzahualcoyotl, and gave advise to hide on a tree-top where no enemy will reach. After this Netzahualcoyotl climbed the tree, when Tecpanec soldiers found the still ruler Ixtlilxochitl. The final combat between Ixtlilxochitl and his enemies was witnessed by his son. Hope faded when Ixtlilxochitl Ome Tochtli was finally killed in front of his own son Netzahualcoyotl.

Back in Tetzcoco when news arrived of the death of Ixtlilxochitl, Tezozomoc declared himself ruler and rightful heir to the government of Aculhuacan. Tezozomoc argued that his right was given de facto since he was grandson of great chichimeca tecuhtli (Chichimec ruler) Xolotl, conqueror of all central Anahuac.

Netzahualcoyotl became an orphan, wandering through woods and sleeping in desolated caves. He wasn’t anymore Acolmiztli but Netzahualcoyotl, which means Hungry Coyote. Always running, always escaping from the ever growing tyrannical hand of Tezozomoc. Tezozomoc invited people to bring forth Netzahualcoyotl, dead or alive.

Time passed and his Mexica relatives gave Netzahualcoyotl good protection from the Tecpanec scouts who were searching for him. During the years that Netzahualcoyotl lived in the Mexica capital, Tollan-Mexico-Tenochtitlan, he studied a wide variety of subjects. He reached a certain mature age when he left the Mexica and went from town to town. In part he left because there was an enormous pressure from Atzcapotzalco to give Netzahualcoyotl as Tezozomoc ordered. Netzahualcoyotl went to live for some time to the Confederation of Tlaxcallan, comprised of four capitals. There he gave and create many famous speeches and poems. He met with many rulers, poets, artists, philosophers, politicians and generals. It was said by the people of his time that Netzahualcoyotl went from town to town always followed with great and famous persons, that instead of being a fugitive to Atzcapotzalco Hungry Coyote resembled a great statesman doing diplomatic tours.

Such fame that Netzahualcoyotl acquired made legends and stories arise around his person. One told was the somehow Netzahualcoyotl was predestined to be the one to annihilate the powerful Atzapotzalco. Aside from stories, part of the truth of why Netzahualcoyotl was so wise and of good judgement relies on the fact that his teacher was Huitzilihuitzin a famous philosopher that still had great fame during the time of the Spanish Conquest.

After pleas from Mexica noble women, Tezozomoc let Netzahualcoyotl travel freely (at least he said that openly). But within his palace, Tezozomoc told his sons Quetzalayatzin, Maxtla and Tlatoca Tlizpaltzin that the one who gets to kill Netzahualcoyotl shall become the next ruler of Atzcapotzalco. This was in part because Tezozomoc had a misterious dream that according to the seers of destiny, this was a bad omen refering that Netzahualcoyotl might take revange of his father’s death by destroying Atzcapotzalco’s lineage.

Time passed in relative calm, when suddenly the great nation of Atzcapotzalco (Place of Ants) was shaken by the sudden natural death of its ruler Tezozomoc on March 24th, 1427. The Council of the Old Ones chose Quetzalayatzin to succeed according to the will estipulated by Tezozomoc before his departure to the Mictlan (Place of the dead).

Many dignataries assisted the funerary ceremonies and wake in honor to most respected Tezozomoc (Tezozomoctzin), including the ellusive Netzahualcoyotl. Amid the plans to kill Hungry Coyote, the Tecpaneca were still mourning their ruler’s death. But when gossip was heard that Maxtla was preparing his men to kill Netzahualcoyotl while he stayed in Atzcapotzalco, Mexica prince Motecuhzoma Ilhuicamina (Moctezuma I) warned Netzahualcoyotl to leave as soon as he could due to the plot. So was done by Netzahualcoyotl.

When Quetzalayatzin assumed the rulership of Atzcapotzalco, his brother Maxtla thought he was the rightful heir to the government of Atzcapotzalco. So Maxtla, lord of Coyoacan, mustered his armies and made a historical coup d’etat at Atzcapotzalco. He deprived his brother Quetzalayatzin of any power in Atzcapotzalco’s government, until he deprived him of life by killing him. Maxtla self proclaimed to be ruler of all Atzcapotzalco and its dominions.

Without hesitating, many cities became restless with Maxtla, since many began considering him a dictator.

Meanwhile Maxtla quickly took action with the Mexica and Tlatelolca, long-time enemies of the Tecpaneca. He sent military forces to seize Chimalpopoca, ruler of Mexico-Tenochtitlan, and Tlacateotzin, ruler of Mexico-Tlatelolco. Both were imprisoned at Atzcapotzalco. Netzahualcoyotl knew of the capture of his uncle Chimalpopoca, and went to Atzcapotzalco to ask the pardon and release to nothing else that Maxtla. Maxtla deny the release of Chimalpopoca, but again tried to kill Netzahualcoyotl. Hungry Coyote again escaped in an almost fantastic way from Atzcapotzalco. Maxtla felt furious with Netzahualcoyotl, and let his wrath realeased by killing both Chimalpopoca and Tlacateotzin. So was that Itzcoatl was named succesor at Tenochtitlan, and Cuauhtlatoatzin at Tlatelolco.

Maxtla didn’t stop there and went with his army to seige Tenochtitlan and Tlatelolco. No one could rescue the Mexica and Tlatelolca, not even Netzahualcoyotl, since his nation still couldn´t gain independence from Atzcapotzalco.

Netzahualcoyotl seeing all the turmoil happening in the known world knew it was time for his occupied nation of Aculhuacan to gain independence from the tecpaneca state of Atzcapotzalco. But to do so, he needed the support of inconditional friends from abroad. To the good fortune of Netzahualcoyotl, many of the independent strongholds out of Atzcapotzalco sphere of influence were Hungry Coyote’s allies and relatives.

Netzahualcoyotl sent emissaries to many nations in order to bring aid to the Aculhua cause. After many contactacts with generales and rulers of distant nations, in coordination with the general headquarters established at Calpolalpan the plan was fully made. This plan composed by Netzahualcoyotl consisted of merging the armies of the friendly nations to atack two Tecpance strongholds within Aculhuacan, Acolman and Coatlinchan, while Netzahualcoyotl with a minor force would help either one of the battle, and later will enter to the capital. The alliance of the Tlaxcalteca Confederation with the Huexotzinca Republic and Cholula attacked the city of Acolman. The Confederation of Chalco focused their armies at Coatlinchan. The rest of the allied states, Zacatlan, Totototepec, Tepeapulco, and Aculhua insurgents within occupied-Aculhuacan were under Netzahualcoyotl’s command. During the war, Netzahualcoyotl helped at Acolman and at Coatlichan, once they were defeated, he quickly turned and went to attack the occupied capital, Tetzcoco. Tetzcoco was taken by Netzahualcoyotl, he triumphantly made his entrance to the city at August 27, 1427. Once restored independence, he established the original borders.

Now Netzahualcoyotl had full power to help Tenochtitlan and Tlatelolco, now occupied by Atzcapotzalco’s forces. Hungry Coyote took this opportunity to unite all the world under the purpose of weakening the Tecpanec forces at the twin cities of Mexico, and keep advancing toward Atzcapotzalco in order to destroy it once and for all.

Again Netzahualcoyotl summoned the Tlaxcalteca, Huexotzinca and Cholulteca armies to be mustered and confront Maxtla at the Lake of Tetzcoco. The huge army crossed the lake and crashed with Maxtla’s army. The battle was rough and difficult, but soon Netzahualcoyotl kicked Atzcapotzalco’s presence out of the twin cities of Tenochitlan and Tlatelolco. Itzcoatl and Cuauhtlatoatzin realized this was the one opportunity to defeat Maxtla, and joined Hungry Coyote’s alliance.

The monstruous army divided into different sectors in order to surround Atzcapotzalco. At the same time, after diplomatic talks, the allies convinced tecpaneca province Tlacopan to unite with them. Totoquihuatzin, Tlacopan ruler, indeed accepted the alliance, but made his military movements in secret.

At last, the allied armies converged at Atzcapotzalco siege. After months of combat under the walls of Atzcapotzalco, the allies broke the tecpaneca defence and entered the city. Quickly Atzcapotzalco was sacked and burned. Everyone searched for Maxtla, but no one knew where he was. Netzahualcoyotl opened the door of a temazcalli (spa bath) and found hiding Maxtla inside. Netzahualcoyotl fought him, and beat him all over the palace until he took him outside in front of the city’s main square. Finally Netzahualcoyotl finished him by taking his heart out of Maxtla’s chest with his bare hands, this he said in honor of his father Ixtlilxochitl.

So was the end of the powerful nation of Atzcapotzalco, and the beginning of the glory of famous Netzahualcoyotl.

The result of the fall of Atzcapotzalco brought the re-birth of the Triple Alliance invented by the Tolteca, now conformed by the nations of Mexico-Tenochtitlan, Aculhuacan and Tlacopan. This to rule-out any possibility of having again a one-man government. An institution that survived until the holocaust of the Spanish Conquest... having to our days again the one-man rulership.

Remember Tenochtitlan!

Remember Tenochtitlan! As an echo to the glorious Texan motto, “Remember the Alamo”, our community has the need to connect with our common indigenous roots by remembering this Friday August 13th the 483rd anniversary of the fall of Mexíco-Tenochtitlan, capital of the Mexica (Aztec) people.
This necessity to link ourselves with our ancestors comes from the fact that we need to discover our prime roots from where we once stood into civilization, until the light of wisdom was darkened with the conquest and systematic cultural annihilation made by the Spaniards.
The fall and later occupation of Tenochtitlan was physical and cultural. The physical is represented by the men and women who stood up against invading forces. Weather they were civilians or warriors, all gave their best by gloriously protecting their families and cultural heritage. The cultural invasion was implemented when they buried our millennia-long knowledge.
Today we must “Remember Tenochtitlan” as proud descendants of those who once suffered under Cortez nightmarish attack, but with honor never surrendered as once did our beloved tlahtoani (ruler) Cuauhtemoc.
Learn the valor, courage, and intense determination our ancestors once had during times of horror and distress. Let the Mexica spirit make us triumph over adversity, as once the Alamo boosted Texan morale into all-out victory.