Map showing territorial expansions of the Aztec Empire under each of the Aztec rulers. Expansions during the reign of Axayacatl are indicated in blue.[2]
During his youth, his military prowess gained him the favor influential figures such as Nezahualcoyotl and Tlacaelel I, and thus, upon the death of Moctezuma I in 1469, he was chosen to ascend to the throne, much to the displeasure of his two older brothers, Tizoc and Ahuitzotl.
It is also important that the Great Sun Stone, also known as the Aztec Calendar, was carved under his leadership. An earthquake in Tenochtitlán occurred and destroyed many homes.[3]
Military actions and deathedit
Using as a pretext the insulting behavior of a few Tlatelolcan citizens, Axayacatl invaded his neighbor, killed its ruler, Moquihuix, and replaced him with a military governor. The Tlatelolcans lost any voice they had in forming Aztec policy.
Axayacatl largely dedicated his twelve-year reign to consolidating his militaristic repute: he led successful campaigns against the neighboring altepetl of Tlatelolco in 1473 (see Battle of Tlatelolco) and the Matlatzinca of the Toluca Valley in 1474, but was finally defeated by the Tarascans of Michoacán in 1476. Despite some subsequent minor triumphs, Axayacatl's defeat at the hands of the Tarascans irreversibly marred his image, as it constituted the only major defeat suffered by the Aztecs up to that moment. In spite of his young age, he fell gravely ill in 1480, passing away a mere year later, in 1481, whereupon he was succeeded by his brother Tizoc.
Axayacatl the poetedit
Axayacatl wrote two poems. The first, Ycuic Axayayatzin (English: "Song of Axayacatl") is a defense against his brothers and critics; the second, Huehue cuicatl (English: "Song of the Ancients") is a lament written after his defeat in Michoacan.[4]
In popular cultureedit
The Obsidian and Blood series by Aliette de Bodard are set in the last year of the reign of Axayacatl and the first years of the reign of Tizoc, with their youngest brother Ahuitzotl appearing as a primary character.
Notesedit
^Conrad, Geoffrey W.; Demarest, Arthur A. (1984-08-31). Religion and Empire: The Dynamics of Aztec and Inca Expansionism. Cambridge University Press. p. 45. ISBN978-0-521-31896-9.
^Evans, Susan Toby; Pillsbury, Joanne (1998). Palaces of the Ancient New World(PDF). Washington, D.C.: Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection. p. 16. ISBN0-88402-300-1. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-10-09.[permanent dead link]
^Miguel Leon-Portilla (1978). Trece Poetas del Mundo Azteca [Thirteen Poets of the Aztec World] (in Spanish) (2nd, 1972 ed.). Mexico City: Universidad Nacinal Autonoma de Mexico. pp. 133–153.
Davies, Nigel (1980). The Aztecs (2nd ed.). Norman: University of Oklahoma Press.
Davies, Nigel (1987). The Aztec Empire: The Toltec Resurgence. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press.
Hassig, Ross (1988). Aztec Warfare: Imperial Expansion and Political Control. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN0-8061-2121-1.
Townsend, Richard F. (2000). The Aztecs (revised ed.). London: Thames and Hudson. ISBN0-500-28132-7.
Weaver, Muriel Porter (1993). The Aztecs, Maya, and Their Predecessors: Archaeology of Mesoamerica (3rd ed.). San Diego: Academic Press. ISBN0-01-263999-0.
axayacatl, insect, insect, ɑː, classical, nahuatl, āxāyacatl, aːʃaːˈjákatɬ, spanish, axayácatl, axaˈʝakatɬ, meaning, face, water, 1449, 1481, sixth, tlatoani, altepetl, tenochtitlan, emperor, aztec, triple, alliance, depicted, codex, azcatitlantlatoani, tenoch. For the insect see Axayacatl insect Axayacatl ˌ ae ʃ e ˈ j ɑː k e t el Classical Nahuatl axayacatl aːʃaːˈjakatɬ Spanish Axayacatl axaˈʝakatɬ meaning face of water c 1449 1481 was the sixth tlatoani of the altepetl of Tenochtitlan and Emperor of the Aztec Triple Alliance AxayacatlAxayacatl as depicted in the Codex AzcatitlanTlatoani of TenochtitlanReign3 House 2 House 1469 1481 1 PredecessorAtotoztli IISuccessorTizocBornc 1449 1449 Died2 House1481 aged 31 32 SpouseXochicueyetlIssueMoctezuma II CuitlahuacFatherPrince TezozomocMotherPrincess Atotoztli II Map showing territorial expansions of the Aztec Empire under each of the Aztec rulers Expansions during the reign of Axayacatl are indicated in blue 2 Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early life and background 1 2 Rise to power 1 3 Military actions and death 1 4 Axayacatl the poet 2 In popular culture 3 Notes 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksBiography editEarly life and background edit Axayacatl was a son of the princess Atotoztli II and her cousin prince Tezozomoc He was a grandson of the Emperors Moctezuma I and Itzcoatl He was a descendant of the king Cuauhtototzin He was a successor of Moctezuma and his brothers were Emperors Tizoc and Ahuitzotl and his sister was the Queen Chalchiuhnenetzin He was an uncle of the Emperor Cuauhtemoc and father of Emperors Moctezuma II and Cuitlahuac Rise to power edit During his youth his military prowess gained him the favor influential figures such as Nezahualcoyotl and Tlacaelel I and thus upon the death of Moctezuma I in 1469 he was chosen to ascend to the throne much to the displeasure of his two older brothers Tizoc and Ahuitzotl It is also important that the Great Sun Stone also known as the Aztec Calendar was carved under his leadership An earthquake in Tenochtitlan occurred and destroyed many homes 3 Military actions and death edit Using as a pretext the insulting behavior of a few Tlatelolcan citizens Axayacatl invaded his neighbor killed its ruler Moquihuix and replaced him with a military governor The Tlatelolcans lost any voice they had in forming Aztec policy nbsp Moquihuix s death as depicted in the Codex Mendoza Axayacatl largely dedicated his twelve year reign to consolidating his militaristic repute he led successful campaigns against the neighboring altepetl of Tlatelolco in 1473 see Battle of Tlatelolco and the Matlatzinca of the Toluca Valley in 1474 but was finally defeated by the Tarascans of Michoacan in 1476 Despite some subsequent minor triumphs Axayacatl s defeat at the hands of the Tarascans irreversibly marred his image as it constituted the only major defeat suffered by the Aztecs up to that moment In spite of his young age he fell gravely ill in 1480 passing away a mere year later in 1481 whereupon he was succeeded by his brother Tizoc Axayacatl the poet edit Axayacatl wrote two poems The first Ycuic Axayayatzin English Song of Axayacatl is a defense against his brothers and critics the second Huehue cuicatl English Song of the Ancients is a lament written after his defeat in Michoacan 4 In popular culture editThe Obsidian and Blood series by Aliette de Bodard are set in the last year of the reign of Axayacatl and the first years of the reign of Tizoc with their youngest brother Ahuitzotl appearing as a primary character Notes edit Conrad Geoffrey W Demarest Arthur A 1984 08 31 Religion and Empire The Dynamics of Aztec and Inca Expansionism Cambridge University Press p 45 ISBN 978 0 521 31896 9 Map based on Hassig 1988 Evans Susan Toby Pillsbury Joanne 1998 Palaces of the Ancient New World PDF Washington D C Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection p 16 ISBN 0 88402 300 1 Archived PDF from the original on 2022 10 09 permanent dead link Miguel Leon Portilla 1978 Trece Poetas del Mundo Azteca Thirteen Poets of the Aztec World in Spanish 2nd 1972 ed Mexico City Universidad Nacinal Autonoma de Mexico pp 133 153 See also edit nbsp Mexico portal nbsp Biography portal List of Tenochtitlan rulersReferences editDavies Nigel 1980 The Aztecs 2nd ed Norman University of Oklahoma Press Davies Nigel 1987 The Aztec Empire The Toltec Resurgence Norman University of Oklahoma Press Hassig Ross 1988 Aztec Warfare Imperial Expansion and Political Control Norman University of Oklahoma Press ISBN 0 8061 2121 1 Townsend Richard F 2000 The Aztecs revised ed London Thames and Hudson ISBN 0 500 28132 7 Weaver Muriel Porter 1993 The Aztecs Maya and Their Predecessors Archaeology of Mesoamerica 3rd ed San Diego Academic Press ISBN 0 01 263999 0 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Axayacatl nbsp Texts on Wikisource Axayacatl Encyclopedia Americana 1920 Axayacatl New International Encyclopedia 1905 Axayacatl Appletons Cyclopaedia of American Biography 1900 Axayacatl The American Cyclopaedia 1879 Regnal titles Preceded byMoctezuma I Tlatoani of Tenochtitlan3 House 2 House 1469 1481 Succeeded byTizoc Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Axayacatl amp oldid 1200052017, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
