WHAT WAS THE FORM OF GOVERNMENT OF THE AZTECS? - HISTORY - 2025

The form of Government of the Aztecs was a theocracy, that is, a political system in which the maximum leader exercises power as a divine mandate.

The Aztecs organized themselves politically in order to ensure the stability and permanence in power of the emperor and to guarantee the subjection of the conquered peoples.

Representation of Huey Tlatoani

The triple alliance of the cities Tenochtitlán, Texcoco and Tlacopan was the initial design of the Aztec Empire, however, Tenochtitlán over time became the dominant partner of the alliance.

After the battles fought and the peoples conquered by the triple alliance, their power was established in a preeminent and indirect way.

They kept the rulers of these towns exercising their functions with the condition of paying tribute to the empire and providing military-type support when required by the emperor.

The structure and form of government of the Aztecs

The Aztec form of government was clearly effective and decentralized. He did not claim for the emperor the possession of lands or towns.

The subjection of the conquered peoples to the empire materialized in the tax contribution and in military support, with which public income increased.

This allowed the financing of war campaigns so that the domain extended and continued to prosper, increasing its wealth more and more.

The Huey Tlatoani - Emperor

The Aztec emperor and leader of the government was called Huey Tlatoani (representative of the gods).

The choice of the heir was in charge of a council made up of representatives of the 20 clans into which the society was divided.

It did not operate as a monarchy in which only the blood tie determined the successor, although it was common for them to appoint a relative of the late emperor.

In the Huey Tlatoani the broadest religious, political, commercial, military and social faculties of the empire were concentrated, he was in charge of deciding war or peace.

In exercise of his powers, he directed the Tlatocán supreme council, a board that concentrated the leaders of lower hierarchical rank that made up the government system.

The most famous Aztec emperors were Acamapichtli, Itzcoatl, Moctezuma I and Moctezuma II, they are credited with achieving the expansion of the Empire during their mandates.

The Cihuacóatl or Co-Emperor

He was the first advisor of the Huey Tlatoani, he replaced him in the direction of the Tlatocán supreme council and in the administration of the Empire in moments of absence (when he went to wars or in case of death).

In addition, he had responsibility for tax administration, religious affairs, and judicial appeals. In his charge were thousands of officials and servants who operated for the regular operation of the government.

The Tlatocán

It was the supreme advisory council of the Huey Tlatoani, made up of the noble representatives of the Aztec bureaucracy such as the chiefs of the cities, the eminent generals and the representatives of the calpullis.

The Tlatocán assisted in the deliberation of government issues and in the appointment of senior officials.

The Tlacochcálcatl and the Tlacatécatl

They were the heads of the army, the Aztec generals who had the mission of guiding the wars according to the mandate of the Tlatoani.

In this sense, they organized the army and drew up war strategies.

Having belonged to this line of government was an important preliminary step considered for the designation as Tlatoani.

The Huitzncahuatlailótlac and the Tizociahuácatl

They were the chief judges, a position of great power and meticulous selection by the emperor.

The Tlatoque

This is how the governors of the provinces or cities under the Empire were called.

The Tecuhtli

He was the Judge and supervisor of tribute payment by the conquered provinces and responsible for such tributes having been formally informed to the Empire.

The Calpullec

This is how the Chief of calpulli or community with kinship ties was called.

References

1. Aztec Civilization. (December 8, 2016). Retrieved from New World Encyclopedia: Newworldencyclopedia.org.
2. Aztec Government. (sf). Retrieved on October 6, 2017, from The Aztecs and Tenochtitlan: Aztecsandtenochtitlan.com.
3. Aztec Political Structure. (sf). Retrieved on October 6, 2017, from the Tartlon Law Library: Tarlton.law.utexas.edu.
4. González, Aníbal. (sf) Political Organization of the Aztecs. Retrieved on October 6, 2017, from Cultural History: Historiacultural.com.
5. Governance of the Aztec Empire. (sf). Retrieved on October 6, 2017, from History on the Net: Historyonthenet.com