Timeline: Aztec Timeline

Period: Jan 14, 1110 to Aug 7, 1325

Foundation Of The Empire

Mar 8, 1110

Mexica leave their homeland

The Mexica travel from their northern homeland of Aztlan. These early dates, and the existence and location of Aztlan are hotly debated.

Period: Apr 7, 1110 to Jan 22, 1248

Mexica travel throughout what is now Mexico, looking for a place to settle

Feb 7, 1248

The Mexica roam the area which is now Mexico, trying to find a location in which to settle

Jul 13, 1299

Mexica settle in Tizapan, by permission of the Culhuacan ruler Cocoxtli.

Jan 17, 1325

Mexica settle Tenochtitlan

Tenochtitlán is settled by the Mexica

Period: Jan 1, 1350 to Apr 21, 1454

Building an Empire

Mar 16, 1350

Building of causeways with canals

May 14, 1370

Death of Tenoch, religious ruler of the Mexica

Period: Apr 24, 1376 to Feb 27, 1417

An alliance with the Tepaneca is created

The first king* of Tenochtitlán, Acamapichitli, rules
Original construction of Templo Mayor beings in Tenochtitlán
The second king of Tenochtitlán, Huitzilihuitzli, rules. An alliance with the Tepaneca is created.

Feb 22, 1390

Original construction of Templo Mayor beings in Tenochtitlán

Period: Apr 16, 1417 to Feb 7, 1427

The third king, Chimalpopoca, has his relatively short reign. He is assasinated by the Tepaneca.

Period: Feb 12, 1427 to Nov 5, 1430

War with the Tepaneca

War with the Tepaneca. Up to this point the Tepaneca had been dominant in central Mexico, ruling from Azcapotzalco and taking tribute from the Mexica.

Period: Apr 21, 1427 to Feb 26, 1440

Tenochtitlán's fourth king, Itzcoatl, reigns

Jan 9, 1430

War with the Tepaneca

War with the Tepaneca. Up to this point the Tepaneca had been dominant in central Mexico, ruling from Azcapotzalco and taking tribute from the Mexica.
Azcapotzalco conquered

Sep 30, 1431

Some cities became the foundation of the empire.

Establishment of the Triple Alliance between the Mexica, the Acolhua in the city Texcoco and the Tepaneca of Tlacopan. These cities became the foundation of the empire.

Period: Mar 22, 1440 to Jan 13, 1469

Reign of the fifth king, Moctezuma I, who is also referred to as Montezuma I

Period: May 22, 1440 to Feb 18, 1510

Height of the Empire

Period: Apr 5, 1452 to May 9, 1454

Famine in Tenochtitlán

Period: Jun 11, 1469 to Jan 1, 1481

Tenochtitlán's sixth king, Azayactl, reigns

Period: Aug 11, 1481 to Mar 21, 1486

Reign of Tizoc, the seventh king of Tenochtitlán

Period: Jan 16, 1486 to Aug 25, 1502

Rule of Ahuitzotl, eighth king of the city

Apr 16, 1487

Dedication of Great Temple (Templo Mayor) at Tenochtitlán. This was the 6th version of the temple.

Jan 12, 1492

(Christopher Columbus's landing at Santa Domingo)

Period: Mar 30, 1502 to Sep 10, 1520

Reign of Moctezuma II, or Montezuma II, most famous of the Aztec kings and ninth king of Tenochtitlán

Feb 22, 1510

Severe floods in Tenochtitlán

Period: Apr 13, 1517 to Jul 29, 1525

The Fall of the Empire

Apr 24, 1517

The appearance of a comet, believed to signify impending doom

Mar 4, 1519

Landing of Hernan Cortes on the Yucatan penninsula

Nov 8, 1519

Cortes arrives in Tenochtitlán

Feb 10, 1520

Rule of Cuitahuac, tenth king of Tenochtitlán

Rule of Cuitahuac, tenth king of Tenochtitlán
Cuitahuac dies from the first smallpox epidemic to hit the empire. Rule of Cuauhetemoc, eleventh and last king of the city.

Jul 1, 1520

the Spanish forces were driven back.

Cortes allies with Tlaxcala, enemies of the Aztec, assault on the empire begins. On the 1st of July, the Spanish forces were driven back. The Spanish and their native allies suffered heavy losses. (This is known as la Noche Triste - The Sad Night)

May 17, 1521