Moctezuma I, the fifth Tlatoani of Tenochtitlan, ruled from 1440 to 1469, and he was one of the greatest rulers of Mexica history. Moctezuma I, whose name means “he who frowns like a lord” or “the angry lord,” was a brilliant administrator who consolidated the institutions of the new state, expanded the Templo Mayor in the sacred precinct of Tenochtitlan, and built the great dyke that separated the salty waters of Lake Texcoco from the freshwater lake to the west. Moctezuma was also a great military leader, and he expanded the empire into the rich agricultural regions of the south and the Gulf Coast.
The Early Life of Moctezuma I
Moctezuma I was the grandson of Itzcoatl, and he was a member of the Mexica royal family. He was chosen as Tlatoani in 1440, after the death of his predecessor, and he proved to be an unusually capable rulers in Mexica history. Moctezuma was a serious and thoughtful man, and he was deeply committed to the Mexica state and to the Mexica religion.
The Expansion of the Empire
Moctezuma I presided over a major expansion of the Mexica empire. He led successful military campaigns against the Huastec region to the north, the Mixtec region to the south, and the Gulf Coast lowlands to the east. These conquests brought the empire into contact with a wide range of peoples and cultures, and they required the development of new techniques of imperial administration.
The expansion of the empire under Moctezuma I was accompanied by a major reorganization of the tribute system. The Mexica dealt with the conquered peoples through a combination of force, diplomacy, and the imposition of tribute obligations. The conquered peoples were generally allowed to retain their local rulers and their local customs, and they were required only to pay tribute and to provide military service.
The Construction of the Templo Mayor
Moctezuma I is also famous for the major expansion of the Templo Mayor in the sacred precinct of Tenochtitlan. Moctezuma rebuilt and enlarged the temple, and he dedicated the new version in 1454. The expansion of the Templo Mayor was a major undertaking, and it required the labor of thousands of workers over many years. The new Templo Mayor was one of the largest and most impressive religious structures of pre-Columbian America.
The expansion of the Templo Mayor was accompanied by a major expansion of the religious establishment of the Mexica state. Moctezuma appointed new high priests to the major temples, and he reorganized the priesthood to be more responsive to the needs of the state. He also expanded the religious calendar, and he introduced new festivals to celebrate the victories of the Mexica army.
The Building of the Dyke
Moctezuma I is also famous for the construction of the great dyke, called the Dyke of Nezahualcoyotl, that separated the salty waters of Lake Texcoco from the freshwater lake to the west. The dyke was built of stone and earth, and it was several kilometers long. The dyke was designed to prevent the salty water from contaminating the freshwater that was used for drinking and for the irrigation of the chinampas.
The dyke was a remarkable engineering achievements of the Mexica, and it was central to the urban infrastructure of Tenochtitlan. The dyke allowed the Mexica to control the level of the lake and to prevent flooding, and it protected the chinampas from the salty water. The dyke shaped the Mexica system of water management, and it was essential for the survival of the city.
The Legacy of Moctezuma I
Moctezuma I is remembered as one of the great rulers of Mexica history, and he is celebrated for his many achievements. His decision to expand the empire, to build the Templo Mayor, and to construct the dyke was a major contribution to the development of the Mexica state, and it set the stage for the further expansion of the empire under his successors.
Moctezuma was succeeded by a series of rulers, including Axayacatl, Tizoc, and Ahuitzotl, who continued the work of expanding the empire. The line of Mexica rulers founded by Itzcoatl and consolidated by Moctezuma would last for nearly a century, and it would rule the Mexica state until the Spanish conquest of 1521.
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- Who was Ahuitzotl and how did he expand the empire? — his successor
- The Triple Alliance and Imperial Expansion — the alliance
- Aztec Empire and Political Structure — the broader context
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