Place, as a sacrificial object, and the blood too, and the bloodiness. And when you have done this, I shall be there. Towards Tlaloc also, and then to all my friends, those gods known to you. And you shall eat the flesh unsalted. You may add to it only a little cooked maize, so that it might be eaten.”
~Huitzilopochtli’s instructions to the Mexica from Nahua texts. Cristobal de Castillo, Historia*
I
Four days after Tizoc’s cremation, the nation’s leaders were gathered in the royal palace to make their determination who would succeed him as Revered Speaker. A serious conference was in session: the situation was grave for them as five years of rule under Tizoc had left the realm unsettled, its policies in confusion, and its predisposition towards conquests ill-defined. In addition, whenever there occurred a change in Mexica leadership, many subjugated states experienced a restiveness and their natural proclivity for throwing off the conqueror’s yoke came to the forefront and manifested itself in numerous rebellions. With the death of Tizoc, this activity was heightened under a general perception that the power of the Mexica was entering a declining phase which would carry over to his successor. The occasion was a momentous one: they could not afford another mistaken choice as in the case of Tizoc.
The Tlatoani, speakers of the member clans, were represented, among them Nezahualpilli, Chimalpopoca, and Cihuacoatl, the presiding official. Even before the official proceedings had started, their council was already divided into two distinct camps with each one strongly opposed to the position of the other. There were those who favored having an older, wiser man appointed the Revered Speaker; Chimalpopoca sided with this group and became its chief spokesman. Against them stood those who held to the customary passing of the throne within family lines in order to secure the royal descendancy; for them there existed but one choice, Ahuitzotl, and Cihuacoatl advocated their cause. Nezahualpilli leaned toward Ahuitzotl, but was open to hearing the opposition, and with their demarcation thus drawn, the council began to hear the arguments presented by each proponent. Chimalpopoca spoke first.
“As we all know, we have endured a less than satisfactory five years which have created many problems for us, and the fault for this ought not be blamed entirely on Lord Tizoc, but rather should be placed on his youth and lack of experience in handling state affairs. He was simply not alert to the devious ways in which such affairs are conducted because he was too young to know. We therefore urge the council to consider someone who is older and more venerable who would be held in greater esteem by rival lords. Even great and revered Motecuhzoma Ilhuicamina was over forty when appointed Revered Speaker.”
“This is true,” Cihuacoatl said, “and we have never had so able a ruler. But we must accept that such a man is a rarity in any age and should ask ourselves if there is one here today who could serve us as well. I, for one, do not know of anyone. We should recognize that no matter who we appoint as ruler, we cannot expect the greatness that came from Motecuhzoma.”
“You enhance my cause,” Chimalpopoca told the minister. “If we cannot find a ruler like him, then at least we can name one who possesses similar qualities, one who has acquired the skills that age and experience provide and who has matured to the fullest. I am weary of being led by mere youths who make repeated mistakes and command no respect.”
Chimalpopoca’s supporters appreciated his comment and gave him a resounding approval, surprising Cihuacoatl by their numbers. He had no idea that so many backed the Tepanecan and feared he faced an uphill struggle to get Ahuitzotl selected.
“You look for an older man,” Nezahualpilli joined in, “yet one who will lead us to victories in numerous battles.”
“That can be delegated.” countered Chimalpopoca. “It is his will to wage them that counts. But if he is respected, there will be no need for frequent battles—only enough to meet our sacrificial requirements.”
Again there were voices of approval.
“You are wrong,” Nezahualpilli silenced the hall. “Quite the contrary, that will be the major task facing our Revered Speaker. With our affairs as muddled as they are—cities in rebellion, tributes denied to us, our merchants threatened—I say to you it will take more than mere respect to set things in order. It will require action! We need a dynamic ruler who has the ability and the energy to lead us on many campaigns so that the prestige of the domain established by the great Motecuhzoma is restored to us. Can an older man do these things?”
“Motecuhzoma did these things,” Chimalpopoca pointed out.
“But we have no Motecuhzoma to guide us now. It is useless to bring up the dead past in face of our present situation. Do you know of anyone who is able to do what will be required? An older man? If so, name him for us.”
Chimalpopoca hesitated. While no shortage of distinguished individuals existed to fill the post, there were no unique personalities with demonstrated drive which clearly set them apart from their contemporaries—none except Ahuitzotl. He sensed his position weakening.
“Why do we deceive ourselves?” continued Nezahualpilli. “Why must I inform you of what you all know? There is only one possible candidate. Our needs increasingly direct themselves to Lord Ahuitzotl as the proper choice.”
“It is said he is impetuous and hot-headed,” Chimalpopoca replied, resisting the suggestion. “Also fond of carousing and entertaining the women. Should this be the man to rule us?”
“True, he is all these things, but also a brilliant leader of men, an outstanding commander, and possessed of a natural talent for decisive action. While we may have regressed under Tizoc, can anyone here declare that Ahuitzotl has not effectively led our armies? Indeed, whatever modicum of prestige remains for our realm, we owe to him.”
There was no disputing this; everyone knew Ahuitzotl was the ablest of commanders, and to many the very embodiment of the warrior ideal—courageous, resolute, competent, and energetic, devoted to the mission of Huitzilopochtli. Chimalpopoca realized his cause was no longer tenable under this kind of barrage from his formidable Texcocan adversary.
“Who among us would fear going into battle with Ahuitzotl leading him?” Nezahualpilli added. “Why, then, should we fear to have him lead us as ruler? Why this ingratitude to him when his efforts kept us intact through our recent dark times?”
Once again it appeared that Nezahualpilli had carried the day as the speakers deliberated over his words and indicated a general concurrence.
“The council also believed this of Tizoc,” Chimalpopoca said. “A lesson should have been learned from this. We have no assurances of not undergoing a similar ordeal with Lord Ahuitzotl.”
“Nor do have you such assurances with anyone else we appoint.”
“There’s no basis for this unwarranted fear about the age of our ruler,” Cihuacoatl injected. “Axayacatl was but a boy of nineteen when we made him Revered Speaker. Was not his reign glorious? Not as great as Motecuhzoma’s to be sure, but most certainly there was cause to rejoice in it. We were in grief over his untimely death. If you will attribute Tizoc’s dismal rule to his youth, how do you explain Axayacatl’s? It’s not youth, but the man himself, wherein lies the fault.”
That determined the issue, and Chimalpopoca, already at a disadvantage, was not about to desecrate Axayacatl’s memory over an argument that was lost. “I concede the point,” he declared, “I was wrong to make an issue of age.”
“It is best that the ruler be retained in the royal lineage,” Cihuacoatl informed him. “They, by training and ability, are best fit to rule.”
With the debate concluded, Cihuacoatl and the four primary Tlatoani retired into a smaller adjacent chamber to discuss the matter further in private. Few doubts remained as to who they would select, but the occasion afforded deeper review of the arguments presented and lent an appropriate aura of mystery and sanctity to the proceedings, and there have actually been times when a consensus among the assembly was overturned. In this case, his pursuasive powers were not required: the decision was uncontested. Cihuacoatl issued the official proclamation.
“Let