Below is a list of the Aztec emperors that ruled
Tenochtitlán, also called tlatoani, the aztec term for
Speaker.
Acamapichtli
Acamapichtli was the first Great Speaker (emperor) of the
Mexica or Aztecs and ruled during ca. 1376-1396. Other two emperos that
followed Acamapichtli are Huitzilihuitl (son of Acamapichtli) and
Chimalpopoca
Itzcoatl
Son of a slave woman and an Aztec noble, he rose by military
leadership to be king (1428 - 1440) of the Aztec tribe in the city of
Tenochtitlán in the middle of Lake Texcoco.
Montezuma I
Montezuma I, the fifth emperor of the Aztec Empire, ruled during ca. 1440-1469 and
represented the Mexica people's first real independence and power.
Axayacatl
Axayacatl was the sixth emperor, or tlatoani (speaker), of the Aztec Empire. He followed the
great Montezuma I, who had ruled for nearly 30 years and expanded the empire.
Tizoc
Tizoc was the seventh emperor of the Aztec Empire and served from 1481 to 1486. He is famous
for having the shortest and most unsuccessful reign of all the emperors in Aztec history.
Ahuitzotl
Ahuitzotl was the eighth emperor of the Aztec Empire. He succeeded his older brother Tizoc.
Despite other Aztec leaders' misgivings because of Ahuitzotl's age, he proved to be one of the most successful
emperors of the Aztecs.
Montezuma II
Montezuma II was the ninth emperor of the Aztec Empire,
reigning from 1502 to 1520. After earning a reputation for both cruelty and
reforms that favored the nobility, he met his match in 1519 when the
Spaniard Hernando Cortés used Machiavellian tactics to take Montezuma
hostage and begin the destruction of his once seemingly invincible
empire.
Cuitlahuac
Cuitláhuac was the 10th emperor of the Aztec Empire. A
council of noblemen chose him to be Great Speaker in 1520 after an angry
crowd of Aztecs killed the previous emperor for collaborating with the
Spaniards.
Cuauhtemoc
Cuauhtémoc was the last emperor of the Aztec Empire, reigning from 1520 until his capture by
the Spanish. He resisted Spanish conquerors from their first appearance, led Aztec warriors in their final
battle, and endured torture at the hands of Spaniards seeking treasure after his defeat.
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