TLATOANI: ORIGIN, FUNCTIONS, LIST OF MEXICAN TLATOANIS - HISTORY - 2025

Tlatoani was a term used by the indigenous people of the Nahuatl communities to refer to the rulers who led the Mesoamerican peoples. All the tlatoque were part of the same family, so a dynasty was formed.

It has already been accepted to speak of king when translating the term tlatoani. Even the structure of the tlatoque resembles that of the monarchies. In total there were 11 Mexican leaders. He was the most important figure at the political level in these communities.

Acamapichtli was the first tlatoani. Source: John Carter Brown Library, via Wikimedia Commons.

The government of the Tlatoque was characterized by having Cuauhtlatoas, who were also rulers but did not respond to any dynasty and were below the Tlatoani in hierarchy.

Origin

Before the Mexican rulers were called tlatoani, the leaders of the Aztec peoples were known by the name of cuauhtlahto, but these were more considered as a figure of a military nature.

The first Tlatoani figure was Acamapichtli in the late 14th century. It came to power when the Tlatelolca Mexica separated from the Tepanec culture, especially due to the death of Tezozomoc.

Acamapichtli was chosen for its link with the Tenochcas and then the following Tlatoque continued with the dynasty that allowed the creation of a very important empire. This first Tlatoani government was also important because it managed to expand to other areas.

Etymology

The word tlatoani derives from the Nahuatl language and was the way that Mesoamerican communities had to refer to their rulers. Tlatoani was used only to name a ruler, in the singular, to speak of several, tlatoque is used.

The translation of the word tlatoani as king or emperor has been accepted, but respecting its original meaning it means a person who speaks. It is made up of the union of the words tla and htoa.

Features

Undoubtedly the main function of the Tlatoque was to govern the Mexican communities of the time. They were part of a dynasty, which showed that the communities of that time were composed of very marked social levels.

It accumulated so much power that it even had an impact at the military level and on religious issues. Under his command there could be a single city or several, in the latter case they were called huey tlatoani.

List of tlatoanis mexicas

Historians have recognized 11 Tlatoani rulers prior to the Spanish conquest. In some cases, 12 are spoken of because Tenoch is named, although for many experts this was only a mythological figure and in other cases he is considered as the last king or ruler of the Cuautlahto.

Today, in addition to the 11 tlatoani, it is believed that a woman existed among the rulers of these Mexican societies. It was the case of Atotoztli, daughter of Moctezuma. If true, his government would have been the sixth of a tlatoani, before the government of his son Axayácatl in the 15th century.

With the colonization of the Spanish, the figure of the tlatoani came to an end. Even Hernán Cortés was in charge of executing the last known tlatoani in history, Cuauhtémoc.

Acamapichtli was the first tlatoani and then two of his sons, two grandsons, three great-great-grandsons and three choznos (who were relatives belonging to the fifth generation) ruled.

After Cuauhtémoc, the Mexican communities had more rulers, but since they were appointed by the Spanish and their religion was different from that of the indigenous people, they were not considered as Tlatoani.

Acamapichtli

Sketch of the First Huey Tlatoani of the Mexicas - Aztecs. Source: user Rogeliomagno CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) via Wikimedia Commons

The first tlatoani of the Mexica Empire was in command for 20 years until the end of the 14th century. He came to power in 1375 thanks to his links with the Toltec peoples of antiquity. All the tlatoque who ruled afterwards are his descendants.

The tlatoque practiced polygamy and in the case of Acamapichtli he married the daughters of the noble families of the time.

Huitzilíhuitl

Source: John Carter Brown Library. Public Domain File, Some historians consider him the main tlatoani and in some cases the first because thanks to his government the Mexica empire was greatly strengthened.

The key to his government was having created many coalitions thanks to the marriages he had. At the military level it was also key to conquering new towns. He was in power for 21 years.

Chimalpopoca

Source: John Carter Brown Library. Public Domain File, His government was characterized in the end by having achieved that the Mexica empire could be at the same level as the Tepaneca. His reign began in 1417 and nine years later he died violently. One of his main works was the elaboration of an aqueduct.

Izcoatl

Source: user Luisalvaz CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) via Wikimedia Commons

He ruled for 13 years. He has come to be considered as the true creator of the Mexica empire since during his reign all ties or dominance exercised by the Tepanecs were cut off.

Moctezuma Ilhuicamina

Source: Alfonso Caso (1958). «Fragment of genealogy of the Mexican princes». Journal of the Société des Américanistes. Public Domain File

He was the tlatoani who was in power the longest, since he ruled from 1440 to 1469, for 29 years. Before, he had already played a role at the military level. His contribution to the Mexican empire had a lot to do with the expansion of the Aztec kingdom. Under his mandate the tribute payments began.

Axayacatl

Source: John Carter Brown Library. Public Domain File

He was the youngest tlatoani of the Mexica empire since he began to rule with 20 years. During his reign, armed conflicts were a constant.

Tizoc

Source: John Carter Brown Library. Public Domain File

The government of this tlatoani is not considered one of the best, especially at the military level. Even his reign was not characterized by participating in many battles, he suffered some unforgivable defeats. That is why he was only in power for five years.

Ahuízotl

Source: John Carter Brown Library. Public Domain File

At the level of strategy and military performance, Ahuízotl was one of the most prominent tlatoanis because he had to redirect the empire after the bad government of Tízoc. He was the leader of the indigenous communities from 1486 to 1502.

Moctezuma Xocoyotzin

Source: Newberry Library: Vault Ayer MS 1168 Doc. 1 and 2. Public Domain File

He was 18 years in the position of tlatoani. The Spanish, under the leadership of Hernán Cortés, arrived during his government in Mexican lands. The empire was experiencing very prosperous times and that was something that greatly impressed the conquerors.

Cuitláhuac

Source: First Memorials of Bernardino de Sahagún. Public Domain File

He was the tlatoani with the shortest government. He assumed the reign in 1520 and only spent months in office. He managed to retain a little the conquest of the Spanish in the territory of Tenochtitlan. His short government was due to the fact that he died from the effects of smallpox.

Cuauhtémoc

Source: user El Comandante CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) via Wikimedia Commons

Throughout his reign, from 1520 to 1521, the Mexican peoples were battling against the Spanish. He was the last tlatoani of the empire. He is remembered for the way in which he faced the armies of the conquerors, although without being able to avoid the indigenous defeat.

References

1. Aguilar-Moreno, Manuel. Handbook To Life In The Aztec World. Facts On File, 2009.
2. Barboa Gómez, Martín. Itzcóatl. Plaza Y Valdés, 2004.
3. Blythin, Evan. Huei Tlatoani. University Press Of America, 1990.
4. Kirchhoff, Paul. Mesoamerica, Its Geographical Limits, Ethnic Composition, and Cultural Characters. National School of Anthropology and History, Alumni Society, 1967.
5. List Arzubide, Germán. Tlatoani, Life of the Great Lord Nezahualcóyotl. Librería De M. Porrúa, 1975.