Page:Historia Verdadera del Mexico profundo.djvu/178

 these, Tenoch, is considered by many a figure mythical, but is real and considered the founder and first ruler of Tenochtitlan proper, named as such in his recognition, the City of Tenoch.

It is interesting to note, that the Aztecs original title to their rulers was cuauhtlatoani (Nahuatl: who speaks like Eagle), this is considered equivalent to "head of arms" or "warlord".

Subsequently, their leaders were designated, simply as tlahtoāni, rulers of Tenochtitlan, Texcoco and Tlacopan, basically ruling over the Valley of Mexico. Later the prefix of huēyi was added to tlahtoāni, the word huēyi [we.ji] or [we.i] means 'large, long, high'.

The twelve Tlatoanis were as follows:

The first Tlatoani was Tenōch (1299-1363), (The Nahuatl name means 'Stone Tuna'), Aztec leader with whom begins the mexica Huey Tlatoanis (normally called "emperors").

Born in Cuauhmixtitlan in 1299, perhaps after the Chapultepec defeat. The historian Chimalpain also mentions that he shows up in 1285, but perhaps is a mistake, because his father Tlamacazqui is mentioned by Tezozomoc together with Cuauhtlequetzqui, Axolohua and Acocoltzin in 1286, when he was 17 years old, and he had to Tenoch at age 30.

His youth passes calmly, until the age of 19, when participates in the war against Azcapotzalco. When defeated their payable tribute increases; also they must actively cooperate the tepanec wars from 1318 wars to consolidate them as a Hueyi Tlahtocayotl. The Colhuacan kingdom was weakened political and militarily, at the time Acolnahuacatl from Azcapotzalco motivates and supports the mexicas to subdue them; through this political maneuver would control two triple alliance cities existing at that time and could extend to the south, to control the cotton route. Thus, in 1344 Colhuacan becomes the first mexica tributary village and