{"id":2414,"date":"2018-08-20T00:39:03","date_gmt":"2018-08-20T00:39:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/?p=2414"},"modified":"2026-02-26T06:53:43","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T06:53:43","slug":"aztec-emperors-huey-tlatoani","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/aztec-emperors-huey-tlatoani\/","title":{"rendered":"Aztec Emperors (Huey Tlatoani): A Detailed Summary"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Aztec Emperors (Huey Tlatoani) were the main rulers of the Aztec Empire<\/a>. Also known as the ‘Great Speaker’, the emperor held absolute political, military, and religious control over Aztec society<\/a>. Chosen from the noble class by a council of elites, the huey tlatoani was believed to rule by divine right, acting as the representative of the Aztec gods<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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WHO WERE THE AZTEC?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The\u00a0Aztec Empire\u00a0was a civilization in central Mexico that thrived in the time before the arrival of European explorers during the\u00a0Age of Exploration<\/a>.\u00a0 Throughout its history as a civilization the Aztec Empire expanded<\/a> across much of central Mexico and other surrounding areas, to become the most dominant and powerful people in the region.\u00a0\u00a0Tenochtitlan<\/a>\u00a0was the center of this vast empire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Map
Map of the Aztec Empire and Aztec Triple Alliance by History Crunch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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AZTEC CITY-STATES – ALTEPETL<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Mesoamerican city-states or \u2018altepetl\u2019 (as they were referred to as in the\u00a0Aztec language<\/a> of Nahuatl) were the basic structure of the Aztec Empire.\u00a0 Following the Aztec\u2019s founding and construction of their capital city and altepetl of Tenochtitlan in the Valley of Mexico in 1325, they quickly established their authority<\/a> across the other societies in the valley.\u00a0 At the time the Valley of Mexico was populated by many different powerful civilizations and altepetl, including: Chalco, Tepanec, Tlacopan, Texcoco, Culhuacan, and Chichimec. Several of these civilizations were also on the shores of Lake Texcoco, including the Culhuacan, which were on the south shore.\u00a0 The spread of Aztec authority throughout the region meant that the Aztec Empire expanded and came to control, many of these different societies and their altepetl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Aztec
Aztec warriors in the Codex Mendoza.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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AZTEC EMPERORS – HUEY TLATOANI<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Each altepetl was ruled by a leader referred to as a \u2018tlatoani\u2019, which translates to as \u2018Speaker\u2019. The tlatoani was an important figure in Mesoamerica city-states because they essentially controlled and organized the government, military and economy of the altepetl.\u00a0 In general, each tlatoani were from the higher classes and had links to the royal families present in the society at that time. \u00a0As such, authority over an altepetl usually stayed within a single powerful family and passed down through hereditary lines.\u00a0 Also, tlatoani served in their position for life. The second in command of the altepetls was referred to as the cihuacoatl. This person also came from the higher classes and assisted the tlatoani by organizing different aspects of the altepetl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Tenochtitlan
Tenochtitlan (Templo Mayor can be seen in the center)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The leader of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan<\/a> and the one who ruled over all of the other altepetls in the Aztec Empire was called the \u2018huey tlatoani\u2019 or \u2018Great Speaker\u2019.\u00a0 The huey tlatoani played an important role in Aztec history and the expansion of the Aztec Empire.\u00a0 They primarily ruled over the Aztec Empire as a whole.\u00a0 For instance, the huey tlatoani oversaw the tribute system present in the Aztec Empire, the military<\/a> and any wars that were carried out, and the expansion of the empire to new regions.\u00a0 Since the huey tlatoani was concerned with the affairs of the overall empire, the cihuacoatl in Tenochtitlan carried out the administration of the city itself.\u00a0 Today, historians refer to the huey tlatoani as Emperors since they oversaw all aspects of the far-reaching Aztec Empire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u200bWhile the huey tlatoani had significant power in the government of the Aztec Empire<\/a> it\u2019s also important to recognize the role and power of the Aztec Council.\u00a0 The Council was made up of four members who advised the huey tlatoani on matters related to the military, economy<\/a> and tribute system.\u00a0 As well, the Council was generally made up of members of the nobility.\u00a0 As such, new huey tlatoani were usually previous members of the Council.\u00a0 The Council provided an important role for the wealthy classes to have control over different aspects of the society while also influencing the heuy tlatoani.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Moctezuma
Moctezuma II illustration from 1892.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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LIST OF AZTEC EMPERORS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As stated above, the Aztec civilization existed from 1325 when the city of Tenochtitlan was founded until 1521 when the Aztec were conquered by Spanish conquistadors under the leadership of\u00a0Hern\u00e1n Cortes<\/a>.\u00a0 During that period of time, the Aztec were ruled by 11 different huey tlatoani.\u00a0 These emperors are listed below.\u00a0 Click on the links to learn more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n