Page:Historia Verdadera del Mexico profundo.djvu/179

 then gradually loses importance until being relegated by Iztapalapa.

The second was Acamapichtli, (1377 to 1395) the translated Nahuatl name means "the one who holds the cane stick"; although more appropriately is 'fist closed with canes' (āca-tl 'cane', māpīch-tli 'clenched fist, bunch of mā-pīqui 'tighten something by hand (mā)-').

During the 13th and early 14th centuries the mexitin were spreading along the western side of Texcoco Lake, the towns of Huixachtitlan, Azcapotzalco and Chapultepec were relevant. The mexicas received permission from the tepanec to settle north of an islet named Cuauhmixtitlan in 1274. In 1366 the tepaneca king Acolnahuacatl, in order to ensure aztecs loyalty, accepts Acamapichtli (culhua prince from Coatlinchan) on the Tenochtitlan throne, thus initiating a new lineage to the latter city, which simultaneously proclaimed heiress of the Toltec tradition and the right to rule as Hueyi tlahtohcayotl replacing Colhuacan, configuring the penultimate Triple Alliance.

Huitzilíhuitl, was the third Tlatoani or mexica governor. The name means "hummingbird feather", ruled from 1391 to 1417, was the fourth son of Acamapichtli, his predecessor on the throne; he was elected according to the chronicles because he was a young man of noble heart, peaceful and good morals.

Once he became Tenochtitlan tlatoani, his first political decision was of the utmost importance, he married the daughter of Tezozomoc, tlatoani of Azcapotzalco, thus managed to reduce taxes to mere symbolic delivery. In return Huitzilíhuitl provided a great service to his father-in-law: the Aztecs conquered several neighboring towns, such as Chalco and Cuautitlán, on behalf of the Azcapotzalco Tepanec, from who, in spite of the royal wedding, remained vassals.

Very brief seemed to the Aztecs the time Hutizilíhuitl ruled, continues the Chronicle, because he died at the age of 35. It is said that when he died he left his Kingdom in order and he issued several laws, formed an