Mexico Museum
1
British Museum
2
MEXICO
1. Colossal stone head of Coyolxauhqui
2. Stone figure of Chalchiuhtlicue
(Scale: 1, ¹⁄₂₅th; 2, ⅓rd)
With the advent to the throne of Montecuzoma, the first of that name, in 1440, the Aztec continued to extend their power beyond the valley. After a short campaign against the Chalca, in order to obtain prisoners to sacrifice at his coronation, this king proceeded to attack the region around Cuernavaca, subduing, among other towns, that of Tepoztlan, where a temple still remains inscribed with his name (S.S.W. of Cuernavaca), Yauhtepec and Tlaxco (Pl.[ XIV, 2]; p. 174). Further south, he conquered Coixtlahuaca in Mixtec territory, but his operations to the east were more extensive. In 1458 he sent an expedition into the Panuco valley, against the Huaxtec, and in 1461 he won Cotaxtla in the Totonac district, penetrating as far as Cozomaloapan and overrunning also the region of Tuxpan. His foreign conquests were not undisturbed by troubles in the valley, and the same must be understood of the later rulers also. Revolt was frequent, and encouraged rather than otherwise by the religious beliefs of the Mexicans, as will be explained later. In particular those cities which contained a large percentage of some formerly dominant people were perpetually seceding, and among them Chalco and Xochimilco were frequent offenders. To the east the population of Tlaxcala and Uexotzinco were a perpetual thorn in the side of the Aztec, and were never reduced to subjection. The Tlaxcalans in particular succeeded in holding their own, and their hostility to Tenochtitlan, of more than half a century’s duration, proved of inestimable value to the Spaniards. This people, who as we have seen were of “Chichimec” origin, had originally been settled on the east shore of the lake, but, owing to quarrels with their neighbours, decided to move their residence. A few went north and settled in Tulanzinco, but the majority migrated east through Cholula to the region of Mount Matlalcue, whence they drove the Olmec and Xicalanga. No doubt a certain amount of intermingling took place between the peoples, and it was partly the large infusion of Toltec blood which rendered them so implacably hostile to Aztec rule, and usually on such good terms with the Cholulans. With the Uexotzinca their relations were variable, but more often friendly than not. As has been related, they assisted in the overthrow of the Tepanec power, but the expansion of Mexico under Montecuzoma was by no means to their liking, and friction soon arose. With the Uexotzinca they assisted the northern Mixtec against Montecuzoma, and succeeded at first in checking the Aztec advance in this direction. However, in twenty-nine years Montecuzoma extended the influence of Tenochtitlan, on the east to the Mexican gulf, on the south-east and south to the northern portion of the Mixtec territory and the Cuernavaca region, while on the west and north-west he penetrated into the Toluca valley and the country of the Otomi. At home he built the great Uitznauac temple and, on the advice of Nezahualcoyotl, constructed the ten-mile causeway from Atzacoalco to Iztapalapa in order to guard against inundation, besides adding many buildings to the city and enlarging the code of laws. He died in 1469, preceded in 1464 by Quauhtlatoa the king of Tlaltelolco, who was succeeded by Moquiuix. Axayacatl now became lord of Tenochtitlan, and events moved fast in the valley. Totoquihuatzin, ruler of Tlacopan, died the next year, and was succeeded by Chimalpopoca,[2] while the long life of Nezahualcoyotl came to an end in 1472, and Nezahualpilli assumed the power in Tezcoco. The following year Moquiuix intrigued with the Chalca and others against Axayacatl, and the latter stormed Tlaltelolco and killed the traitor. From this time Tlaltelolco was definitely united to its neighbour, and placed under a governor, the kingship being abolished. This reign was signalized, as far as external affairs were concerned, by an expedition to the Zapotec territory, as far as and beyond Tehuantepec, and though no doubt the province cannot be said to have been absolutely conquered, yet it had the effect of opening up the road to the fertile district of Soconusco, rich in cacao, feathers and gems. Archæologically considered the Zapotec country constitutes an extremely interesting region, if only for the reason that they and the smaller tribes immediately in their neighbourhood possessed no legends hinting at immigration, but claimed that their ancestors issued from caves, rocks or trees in the locality. Similar myths were found among the Mixtec also, but immigration legends are not wanting. For instance, one story relates that the first lords entered the country from the north, after the Mexican migration, and settled between Achiutla and Tilantongo. The relationship which exists between the Mixtec and Zapotec languages suggests a strong common element, but it seems probable that the former people had received an element of some immigrant nationality, possibly akin to the Toltec or Chichimec. This element was not strong enough to influence the local dialects, but gave the Mixtec that superiority in arms which enabled them to encroach upon the Zapotec district. East of the Zapotec were the uncultured Mixe and Zoque, from whom the Zapotec in their turn had won territory, including Tehuantepec.