Politics and Power Structures in Tenochtitilan

who was the Chiatlatoque

female ruler

what is the debate surrounding the Tlatoani?

were they successors or elected?

what does the Florentine codex say about leaders?

• need to be successful warriors

• not drunkards

• emphasis on prudence

• they have different approaches

• seen as humans who can make mistakes

• not gods

who was the Cihuacoatl

• a man who dressed as a woman

• an omnipotent dyad as they completely controlled the city of Tenochtitlan

who was Tlaceaelel?

• figure behind the throne during the reign of Moctezuma I

• only person who did not have to take his shoes off in the presence of the Tlatoani

• offered position but declines it

how long was Tlaceaelel the Cihuacoatl for?

• 60 years

• unclear of the power was because of him or the post

what does the Codex Mendoza say about hierarchy and kingship?

• sources we are looking at are influenced by Spanish ideas about hierarchy

• assumptions are made about who are kings etc.

what was the Calpulli?

• don’t know to an extent what the were and how they worked

• every citizen was a member

• decline in importance over the period

• 20 of them by the time the Spanish arrived

what was the Huehuetlatolli

• translates the words of the elders

• serves to educate and guide people through traditional language

Hassig on Warfare

• aztec and western systems are similar in organisation and operational necessities

• social ranking was intimately tied to political offices

• war no doubt emphasised peoples agressive behaviour which the Spanish saw in the Aztecs