AZTEC TIMELINE
Foundation Of The Empire
6th century First Nahuatl speaking peoples begin to settle in Mexico 1110 The Mexica travel from their northern homeland of Aztlan. These early dates, and the existence and location of Aztlan are hotly debated. 1110-1248 The Mexica roam the area which is now Mexico, trying to find a location in which to settle 1248 Mexica settle near Lake Texcoco, in Chapultepec, though they are soon expelled by the Tepanecs 1299 Mexica settle in Tizapan, by permission of the Culhuacan ruler Cocoxtli. 1325 Tenochtitlán is settled by the Mexica
Building an Empire
1350 Building of causeways with canals 1370 Death of Tenoch, religious ruler of the Mexica 1376-1395 The first king* of Tenochtitlán, Acamapichitli, rules 1390 Original construction of Templo Mayor beings in Tenochtitlán 1395-1417 The second king of Tenochtitlán, Huitzilihuitzli, rules. An alliance with the Tepaneca is created. 1417-1427 The third king, Chimalpopoca, has his relatively short reign. He is assasinated by the Tepaneca. 1427-1430 War with the Tepaneca. Up to this point the Tepaneca had been dominant in central Mexico, ruling from Azcapotzalco and taking tribute from the Mexica. 1430 Azcapotzalco conquered 1431 Establishment of the Triple Alliance between the Mexica, the Acolhua in the city Texcoco and the Tepaneca of Tlacopan. These cities became the foundation of the empire.
1427-1440 Tenochtitlán's fourth king, Itzcoatl, reigns 1452 Tenochtitlán severely damaged by flooding 1452-1454 Famine in Tenochtitlán
Height of the Empire
1440-1469 Reign of the fifth king, Moctezuma I, who is also referred to as Montezuma I 1469-1481 Tenochtitlán's sixth king, Azayactl, reigns 1481-1486 Reign of Tizoc, the seventh king of Tenochtitlán 1486-1502 Rule of Ahuitzotl, eighth king of the city 1487 Dedication of Great Temple (Templo Mayor) at Tenochtitlán. This was the 6th version of the temple. 1492 (Christopher Columbus's landing at Santa Domingo) 1502-1520 Reign of Moctezuma II, or Montezuma II, most famous of the Aztec kings and ninth king of Tenochtitlán 1510 Severe floods in Tenochtitlán
The Fall of the Empire 1517 The appearance of a comet, believed to signify impending doom 1519
4 March Landing of Hernan Cortes on the Yucatan penninsula 1519
8 Nov Cortes arrives in Tenochtitlán 1520 Cortes allies with Tlaxcala, enemies of the Aztec, assault on the empire begins. On the 1st of July, the Spanish forces were driven back. The Spanish and their native allies suffered heavy losses. (This is known as la Noche Triste - The Sad Night) 1520 Rule of Cuitahuac, tenth king of Tenochtitlán 1520 Cuitahuac dies from the first smallpox epidemic to hit the empire. Rule of Cuauhetemoc, eleventh and last king of the city. 1521
13 Aug Fall of Tenochtitlán. Cuauhetemoc surrenders to Cortes, destruction of the city 1522 Rebuilding of the city by the Spanish as Mexico City, capital of New Spain 1525 Cuauhetemoc is hung by the Spaniards
Foundation Of The Empire
6th century First Nahuatl speaking peoples begin to settle in Mexico 1110 The Mexica travel from their northern homeland of Aztlan. These early dates, and the existence and location of Aztlan are hotly debated. 1110-1248 The Mexica roam the area which is now Mexico, trying to find a location in which to settle 1248 Mexica settle near Lake Texcoco, in Chapultepec, though they are soon expelled by the Tepanecs 1299 Mexica settle in Tizapan, by permission of the Culhuacan ruler Cocoxtli. 1325 Tenochtitlán is settled by the Mexica
Building an Empire
1350 Building of causeways with canals 1370 Death of Tenoch, religious ruler of the Mexica 1376-1395 The first king* of Tenochtitlán, Acamapichitli, rules 1390 Original construction of Templo Mayor beings in Tenochtitlán 1395-1417 The second king of Tenochtitlán, Huitzilihuitzli, rules. An alliance with the Tepaneca is created. 1417-1427 The third king, Chimalpopoca, has his relatively short reign. He is assasinated by the Tepaneca. 1427-1430 War with the Tepaneca. Up to this point the Tepaneca had been dominant in central Mexico, ruling from Azcapotzalco and taking tribute from the Mexica. 1430 Azcapotzalco conquered 1431 Establishment of the Triple Alliance between the Mexica, the Acolhua in the city Texcoco and the Tepaneca of Tlacopan. These cities became the foundation of the empire.
1427-1440 Tenochtitlán's fourth king, Itzcoatl, reigns 1452 Tenochtitlán severely damaged by flooding 1452-1454 Famine in Tenochtitlán
Height of the Empire
1440-1469 Reign of the fifth king, Moctezuma I, who is also referred to as Montezuma I 1469-1481 Tenochtitlán's sixth king, Azayactl, reigns 1481-1486 Reign of Tizoc, the seventh king of Tenochtitlán 1486-1502 Rule of Ahuitzotl, eighth king of the city 1487 Dedication of Great Temple (Templo Mayor) at Tenochtitlán. This was the 6th version of the temple. 1492 (Christopher Columbus's landing at Santa Domingo) 1502-1520 Reign of Moctezuma II, or Montezuma II, most famous of the Aztec kings and ninth king of Tenochtitlán 1510 Severe floods in Tenochtitlán
The Fall of the Empire 1517 The appearance of a comet, believed to signify impending doom 1519
4 March Landing of Hernan Cortes on the Yucatan penninsula 1519
8 Nov Cortes arrives in Tenochtitlán 1520 Cortes allies with Tlaxcala, enemies of the Aztec, assault on the empire begins. On the 1st of July, the Spanish forces were driven back. The Spanish and their native allies suffered heavy losses. (This is known as la Noche Triste - The Sad Night) 1520 Rule of Cuitahuac, tenth king of Tenochtitlán 1520 Cuitahuac dies from the first smallpox epidemic to hit the empire. Rule of Cuauhetemoc, eleventh and last king of the city. 1521
13 Aug Fall of Tenochtitlán. Cuauhetemoc surrenders to Cortes, destruction of the city 1522 Rebuilding of the city by the Spanish as Mexico City, capital of New Spain 1525 Cuauhetemoc is hung by the Spaniards