The Americas

Tlacopan / Tacuba

The Tepaneca tribe of Aztec / Nahua migrants arrived in Valley of Mexico in the thirteenth century, and took over cities such as Azcapotzalco from the native inhabitants. Becoming one of the most powerful cities under Tezozomoctli to the point that it dominated Tenochtitlan, the eventual seat of the Aztec emperors, the city set about creating new colonies or taking over existing cities throughout the region. Tlacopan was founded about 1400 by Tezozomoctli when he installed one of his sons as its ruler.

c.1400 - 1430

Totoquilhuaztli

Son of Tezozomoctli of Azcapotzalco.

1427

The kings of Tenochtitlan are crowned in accompaniment with the subjugated Tetzcoco and the ruler of Tlacopan, members of the Triple Alliance which forms the Aztec empire. In the late 1420s and 1430s, the Triple Alliance defeats many cities, including Tepanec (1428), and Culhuacan. Totoquilhuaztli takes the title Tepaneca tecuhtli, 'Lord of the Tepanecs', and twenty per cent of the territory captured by the alliance goes to Tlacopan.

The palace glyph for Tlacopan as displayed in the Codex Osuna

1430 - ?

Totoquilhuaztli

1503 - 1521

Totoquilhuaztli

Died 1525.

1520 - 1521

Tlacopan is conquered and is soon incorporated into the colonial administrative region of New Spain. Totoquilhuaztli is taken to Honduras by Hernan Cortes, the new ruler of Mexico City and is hanged there.

Over subsequent centuries, the city expands to encompass the former site of Tlacopan, which today lies in the Mexican borough of Miguel Hidalgo.