The Aztecs

Begining of the Aztecs

Jan 1, 1325

The Aztecs recieved a message from their god, Quetzalcoatl, telling them to travel until they find an eagle on a cactus. It took the group of Aztces 100 years to find this eagle on a cactus and when they did they built Tenochtitlan.

Templo Mayor

Jan 1, 1325

The Temlpo Mayor was one of the main temples in Tenochtitlan. it was rebuilt (each layer over top of the last) six times and is 100 by 80 m (328 by 262 ft). It was deticated to two of their gods, Huitzilopochtli, god of war and Tlaloc, god of rain and agriculture. The top was flat where a shrine sat for each god and where sacrifices were preformed also a giant set of staircases lead from top to bottom. It was destroyed by Cortes in 1521 and now the ruins of it lay in Mexico City

Tenoch: ruler of the group of Aztecs that left their homeland to look for the eagle on the cactus

Period: Jan 1, 1325 to Jan 1, 1375

Acamapichtli: Founder of Tenochtitlan

Jan 1, 1376

He was the first offical emperor of the Aztecs. he was not originally from Tenochtitlan but from Texcoco, where he lived with his mother. When Tenoch died, the elders decided they needed and offical ruler. with Acamapichtli having so many ties to important people they elected him. While in power he took 4 wives in marriage, one from each section of the city which he divided. With Tenochtitlan on a lake, the people had little farm land. so Acamapichtli designed the chinampa.

Acamapichtli: passes away

Jan 1, 1395

His son from his wife Tezcatlan, becomes the new emperor
Acamapichrli's name means "handful of reeds"

Huitzilihuitl: Becomes New Ruler

Feb 2, 1396

Son of the previous emperor, only 16 when he was elected to rule the Aztecs. He continued his fathers work, uniting with neighbors.hew improved the weaving industry and he also wished to find a way to bring clean water into the city but never completely the task. He wed and had a son, Chimapopoca. After the death of his first wife he married three more times.

Huitzilihuitl: passes away

Feb 2, 1417

A war broke out, even after Huitzilihuitl married his daughter to their son, and he dieing during one of the battles. His son Chimalpopoca succeeded him.
Huitxilihuitl means "hummingbird feather"

Chimalpopoca: Becomes Emperor

Mar 3, 1417

The same day Chimalpopoca became emperor, his brother became high priest, they became very powerful officals. He became emperor at the age of 20 and as his time as ruler he built a causeway and aqueduct, both these greatly improved the city. A war broke out and for the next while they bickered back and forth with equal assaults on each other.

Aqueducts

Apr 9, 1417

The project was started under the tlatoani Chimalpopoca and modified by Moctezuma I. It consisted of a twin-pipe construction made of compacted earth and wood when one pipe needed maintenance, the water flowed through the other. Where it crossed Lake Texcoco, the aqueduct was raised above the water level to allow canoes to pass. This brought a forevering supply of fresh water striaght into Tenochtitlan

Chimalpopoca: dies

Mar 3, 1427

Chimalpopoca offered himself as a sacrifice at his fathers alter but was interupted ny their foes and he was captured and keep in prison, where committed suicide
His name means "smoking shield"
He was succeeded by his uncle, Itzoatl.
(I couldn't find an accurate picture and figured this would do)

Itzcoatl: Becomes Emperor

Apr 4, 1427

The fouth ruler of Tenochtitlan was Itzcoatl. His father was the first emperor Acamapichlti and mother was a commoner.he married Princess Huacaltzintli and had son, Tezozomoc. he was the uncle to Chimpalpopoca and Moctezuma I and grandfather of Axayacatl, Tizoc and Ahuitzotl. he was elected after his nephew was captured and killed. together with # other, smaller empires came together and defeated the tribe that captured Chimalpopoca. They succeeded and formed an alliance.

Itzcoalt: Passes away

Apr 4, 1440

in his life time, Itzoalt built a strong agricultural economy, temples, roads and a causeway. Along with a social hierarchy which was folowed for the rest of the empire.
His name means "obsiden serpent"
His successer was his nephew, Moctezuma I.

Moctezuma I: Started being Emperor

May 5, 1440

Moctezuma is knowen well for his construction of the double-aqueduct system that supplied the city with a never ending fresh water. He vastly extended the empires territory, gaining access to many, many goods. he also sent out expeditions and merchants.

Moctezuma I: His reign ends and he passes away

May 5, 1469

Moctezuma passed away of old age, peacefully and his borthers grandson claimed the throne.

Aaxyacatl: becomes emperor

Jun 6, 1469

The sixth emperor, Aaxyacatl was the successor of Moctezuma the first. He had no offical wife but tow sons, Moctezuma II and Cuitláhuac.. He lead a battle to conquer his neighbor and killed their leader. in his honour a stone was carved, which is the Aztec calendar.

Aaxyacatl: dies

Jun 6, 1481

His brother, Tizoc, became the new emperor.
Axayacatl's name means "water-mask" or "water-face".

Tizoc: becomes emperor

Jul 7, 1481

While in power his reign was short but well lived. He begon re-building a pyramid and 14 empires were conquered. These were Tonalimoquetzayan, Toxico, Ecatepec, Cillán, Tecaxic, Tolocan, Yancuitlan, Tlappan, Atezcahuacan, Mazatlán, Xochiyetla, Tamapachco, Ecatliquapechco and Miquetlan

Tizoc: dies

Jul 7, 1486

Some say that Tizoc was poisoned by his brother and sucessor, Ahuizotl or other members of the royale family.

Ahuizotl: becomes empeor

Aug 8, 1486

He was an amazing military leader. While he was in power he supressed a rebellion, doubled the empires size and supervised the building on a grander scale of Tenochtitlan and expansion of Templo Mayor.

Ahuizotl: passes away

Aug 8, 1502

His name means "water-dog"
In 2007 archaeologists discovered his tomb under a statue in Mexico City

Moctezuma II: Starts as Emperor

Sep 9, 1502

Moctezuma was the last ruler of the Aztecs until the Spanish arrived. He met with Cortes and Cortes captured him and forced him to control the people according to him. Over all Moctezuma was a good ruler and when Cotes arrived he miss took Cortes for the god Quetzalcoatl, who when lost a battle with the night god, swore he would return and bring the end of the Aztec Empire.

The Period of Time Where the Spanish were fighting the Aztecs for Mexico

Period: Jan 1, 1520 to Jan 1, 1526

The Spansih arrived in 1520, when Tenochtirtlan was under the rule of Moctezuma II and three rulers later, they finally conquered the Aztecs and gained complete control.

Cuitlahuac: starts as emperor

Jul 10, 1520

Cuitlahuac was only Emperor for 80days during the year 1520, After Moctezuma II, his older brother. He had been in prisoned by Cortes and when the people would not listen to Moctezuma no longer he offered Cortes release him to calm the people but instead he lead them against Cortes and drove him out of Tenochtitlan.

Moctezuma II: His reign ends and he psses away

Sep 9, 1520

He was killed by his own people when they rebelled, throwing rocks at him causing him to fall of the temple.

Cuilahuac: passes away

Oct 10, 1520

After driving the Conquistadors out of Tenochtitlan, Cuilahuac died of the newly introduced diease, smallpox.

Cuauhtemoc: becomes emperor

Nov 11, 1520

Asended to the throne at the age of 25 and fought against Cortes but not for a long period of time.

Cuauhtelmoc: passes away

Nov 11, 1521

His name means "one that has descended like an eagle",
Died when he and other nobles were captured by Cortes and hanged.

Juan Velaquez Tlacotzin: becomes new emperor

Dec 12, 1525

He was tortured by Cortes for the location of the family treasures. HE was chosen as Cuauhtémoc`s sucessor and then Cortes had him baptised under the name uan Velaquez and made a Conquistador. He traveled with Cotres for four years before dieing.

Juan Velaquez Tlacotzin: passes away

Apr 7, 1526

He died in 1526 of an unknown sickness in Nochixtlan, before returning to Tenochtitlan.

Aztec Empire falls to Spanish rulers.

Dec 12, 1526