Triple Alliance + Internal&External

The Triple Alliance was a powerful political and military partnership established in 1428 within the Basin of Mexico. It was formed by three distinct city-states: Tenochtitlán, Texcoco, and Tlacopan.

1. The Context of Conflict

Before the alliance was created, the region was controlled by the Tepanecs of Azcapotzalco. Their ruler, Maxtla, maintained power through fear and assassination. His tyrannical rule eventually sparked a massive rebellion led by the Mexica people and their strategic allies, leading to the overthrow of Tepanec dominance.

2. The Three Partners

  • Tenochtitlán: The home of the Mexica people, this city provided the empire's primary military force and warriors.

  • Texcoco: The home of the Acolhua people, it served as the cultural, intellectual, and legal heart of the alliance.

  • Tlacopan: A smaller city that originally belonged to the Tepanecs but chose to break away and support the rebellion.

3. Power Sharing and Economics

The three cities agreed to share the riches and tribute collected from conquered territories. Tenochtitlán and Texcoco each received 2/5 of the total proceeds, while Tlacopan received 1/5. However, by the late 15^{th} century, Tenochtitlán's military success allowed it to become the dominant leader, eventually overshadowing its two partners.

4. Expansion and Legacy

Historians usually refer to this Triple Alliance as the "Aztec Empire." Through a combination of fierce military conquest and clever political marriages, the empire expanded across much of Mesoamerica. This expansion continued until the arrival of Spanish forces and the fall of the empire in 1521.

5. Internal Factors of Collapse

  • Tribute and Resentment: The empire forced conquered regions to pay heavy taxes and provide people for human sacrifice. This caused deep resentment and a desire for revenge among subject populations.

  • Political Instability: The empire was a loose collection of city-states rather than a unified nation. Many of these states felt no true loyalty to the Mexica leaders in Tenochtitlán.

  • Alliance Rivalries: The balance of power shifted too far toward Tenochtitlán, causing tension and mistrust between the original three partners, which weakened their military unity.

6. External Factors of Collapse

  • Spanish Technology: When Hernán Cortés arrived in 1519, his troops possessed steel swords, metal armor, and gunpowder—technologies that gave them a significant advantage over Aztec weaponry.

  • Native Alliances: The Spanish were not alone; they recruited thousands of indigenous warriors, such as the Tlaxcalans, who saw the Spanish as a way to destroy their Aztec oppressors.

  • Biological Warfare: European diseases, specifically smallpox, were the most devastating factor. These diseases killed nearly 40% of the population in the Valley of Mexico, wiping out soldiers, farmers, and political leaders alike.