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Show 200 1300K IV. ~ Sa cT. XXII. Ahuit?.otl, eighth king of Mexico. S 1! To XXIII. Dedicatioo of the greater remplc of M~: xic:o. I I I S T 0 R y 0 F M E X I c· 0. he thoug 11 t . capab l e of pu tt'1 n g it in exe• cution• . He and• Maxtlaton lord of Tlachco, agreed upon the manner m whtch th~y.wel e to ~ccom- ph.l h t1 1 e da ngerous de e d· Hl. ufl .ori•a ns are not of one optmon on thls head.. S f them relate that they employ~d forcerelfes, who, by means of 1°~~ 0 ts tool< his life from him ; but this is evidently a popular fa-t 1eu ar , . 1 · Wh' h ble. Others affirm that they adminifl::ered potf~n to 1~rn.. lC. ever was ht.s mo de of de•a th , it is certain that theu· madunat1ons we1e fuccefsful. Tizoc died in the fifth year of his reign, ~her 482d of the 1 . . He was a perfon of a circumfpeCl:, fenous, character; vu gar eta. ' '{h' d r and rigorous, jike his predeceffi rs and fuccef1ors, in pum mg e m-quents. During his time the power and wealth of the crown had arrived to fuch a height, that he undertook to conil:ruCl: ~ temple to the tutelary god of the nation, which was to havt: furpaifed lll grandeur and magnificence, all the temples of that country; h ' had prepared a vaft quantity of materials for that purpofe, and had begun the ftructure when death interrupted his projeCl:s. The Mexicans, well knowing their king had not fallen b! any natu~ ral death, fought revenge before they proceeded to a new elechon. They were fo diligent in their inquiries and fearch, that they foon deteCted the perpetrators of the act, and cxecu t~d fe_ntence upon them in the greater public place of the city of Mextco~ 111 pref~~ce of the two allied kings, and of all the Tczcucan and Mextcan nob1h_ty. The eleCtors being afiembled to appoint a new king, they chofe Ahuttzotl, the brother of their two preceding kings, who was already general of .the army; for from the time of Chimalpopoca the cufiom had prevmled of exalt~ 1g no one to the throne who had not firfl: occupied that po~, it being judged highly requifite that he who was to become the chtef of fo warlike a nation, fhould firft give proofs of his bravery, and that while he commanded the army, he might learn the art of governing the kingdom. The firfi object to which the new king paid attention, was the fini( hing of that magnificent temple, which had been de:Ggned and begun by his predeceffor. It was refumed with the utmofi: fpi1·it and activity, an incredible number of workmen being affembled, and was .completed in four years. While the building was confi:ruCl:ing, the king went frequently to w.ar, and all the prifoners which were taken from . the H I S 't 0 R Y 0 F M E X I c o. the enemy, were referved for the feftival of its confecmtion. The wars o: thefe four years were carried on again{l: the Mazahuas, a few miles dtll:ant towards of the weft, who had rabelled againH the crown of Tucu ... ba; againil: the :lapotecas, three hundred miles diil:ant in the fouth . eaft. a~d a?ai?fl: icveral other nations. When the fabric was comple~ed, th; kmg mvlted the two allied kings, and all the nobility of both kingdoms to its dedication. The concourfe of people was by far the moft nume: rous ever feen i1.1 Mexlco (q) ; as this famous folemnity drew fpeCl:ators fi·om the moft dtftant places. The fefi:ival ]afi:ed four days,. during whi.cb the! facrificed, in the upper porch of the temple, all the prifoners whtch they had made in the four preceding years. Hifiorians are not agreed concernjng the number of the victims. Torquemada fays, that they amou.nted to feventy-two thoufand three hundred and forty-four. Others affirm they were fixty-four thoufand and fixty in number. To make the~e horri.ble facrifices with more fhew and parade, they ranged the _pnfoners m two files, each a mile and a half in length,. which began m the roads of Tacuba and Iztpalapan, and terminated at the temple (r), where, as foon as the victims arrived, they were facrificed. After the fefl:ival the king made prefents to all whom he had invited which muft certainly have been attended with an enormous expence: This event happened in 1486. In that fame year, Mozauhqui lord of Xalatlaucho in imitation of his .king to whom he bore much affection, dedicated 'another temple, wh1ch ha.d been built a little before, and facrificed likewife a great number of pnfoners. So much .flaughter and blood did the cruel and barbarous fuperfl:ition of thefe nations occafion. The year I 487 was no way memorable, except on account of a violent earthquake, and the death of Chimalpopoca king of Tacuba, who was fucceeded by Totoquihuatzin the Second. ('f) Some amho1·s affirm, thnt the n\lmbcr of perfons at this fellival amounted to lix millions. Although it appears cxngg-c rated, yet it doea not feem altogether improbable, confidering the populoufnefs of that country, the grandeur and novelty of the fellivnl, and the eafc with which.. rhofe people moved frorn pia e to place, being accufiomed to travel on foot without the hind,. ranee of baggage or cq ui page. (r J Tletan~out:t f.'lrs that the file of prifoners rangr.d on the road of r ztapalapan, hegan at the place wh1ch IS now called La Cmulelnria Makuitlapilco, nnd was give11 this n:tme on that a<:· cou.nt, as_ the w~rd Malcuitlnpilco lignifies the tail, point, or the extremity of the prifoncrs. ThiS COnJeCture u pretty probable; neither is it cafy to trace a better orig~n of the name. VoL. I. D d Ahuitzotl, 2~1 BOOK IV .. ~. |
