Tezozomoctli (Cuauhtitlan)

Tezozomoctli was a tlatoani (ruler) of the altepetl (city-state) of Cuauhtitlan in the pre-Columbian Basin of Mexico. He reigned sometime in the late 14th century or early 15th century, although the exact dates are debated and vary significantly between historical sources. He is principally known for his conflict with the rising power of the Triple Alliance, particularly Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlacopan.

While sources disagree on the specific details and chronology of events, Tezozomoctli of Cuauhtitlan is generally depicted as a powerful and expansionist ruler who initially posed a significant threat to the Triple Alliance. Some accounts suggest he was a contemporary, and perhaps an opponent, of the more famous Tezozomoctli of Azcapotzalco, a Tepanec city-state that dominated the region before the rise of the Triple Alliance. This potential conflict and the overlapping names can lead to confusion in historical accounts.

His reign likely involved territorial disputes and possibly military engagements with neighboring altepetl, including those that would later form the Triple Alliance. However, unlike the more thoroughly documented Tezozomoctli of Azcapotzalco, relatively little is definitively known about the specific policies and actions of Tezozomoctli of Cuauhtitlan. Information about him is often intertwined with the broader narratives surrounding the rise of the Aztec Empire and the political landscape of the Basin of Mexico prior to the Spanish conquest. His story is fragmented and requires careful analysis of various, sometimes contradictory, historical sources.