Encyclopaedia Britannica, or, a Dictionary of arts, sciences, and miscellaneous literature : enlarged and improved. Illustrated with nearly six hundred engravings > Volume 13, MAT-MIC

Mexico.
M E X [ 75° ] M
_Tlll!,.P!e,Ce °f Orat,017 liad fllch an effeft upon the laft fail him, fued for peace
E X
Unfortu-
ziaie reign
of Techot-
lala’s fon.
24 he granted their requeit, and a Tepanecan
Marries a Princefs was conduced in great triumph to Mexico,
daughter of'where the marriage was folemnized with the utmoft
the Tcf. of Jov‘ this princefs brought, him a fon the
necans.1^ year of tllcJr marriage, the king, in order to
ftrengthen himfelf by frefh alliances, married alfo the
daughter of another prince, by whom he had Monte¬
zuma Uhuicamina, the moft celebrated of all the Mexi¬
can kings.
As the Mexicans advanced in wealtli and power,
fo did their rivals the inhabitants of Tlatelolco.
1 heir find king died in 1399, leaving his fubjefts
greatly improved in civilization, and the city much
enlarged and beautified. The rival (hip which fub-
hfted between the two cities had indeed greatly
contributed to the aggrandizement of both." The
Mexicans had formed fo many alliances by marriage
wish the neighbouring nations, had fo much improv¬
ed their agriculture and floating gardens on the
lake, and had built fo many more vefiels to fupply
their extended commerce and fifliing, that they were
enabled to celebrate their fecular year, anfwering to
A. D. 1402, with greater magnificence than they
had ever done fince they left their original country of
is Atztlan.
All this time Techotlala, the fon of Ouinatzin, con¬
tinued to reign in Acolhuaean, and for 30 years enjoy¬
ed uninterrupted tranquillity ; but being now very far
advanced in years, and finding his end approach, he
called to him his fon Ixtlilxochitl, and recommended
to him to beivare of the ambitious difpofition of the king
of Azcapozalco, as he was apprehenfive that he might
attempt fomething againfl the peace of the empire.
His fufpicions were verified ; for on the death of Te-
chotlala, which happened in 1406, the king of Azca¬
pozalco, without making the ufual fubmiflions to the
new king, to whom he was a feudatory, fet out for his
own territories, with a view to 11 ir up the other feu¬
datory princes to rebellion. Having called to him the
kings of Mexico and Tlatelolco, he told them, that
Techotlala, who had long tyrannized over that country,
being dead, he defigned to procure freedom to the
princes, fo that each might rule his own territory en¬
tirely independent of the king of Acolhuacan ; but for
this purpofe he needed their aflillance, and trufted to
their well known fpirit to take part with him in the
enterprife. He informed them likewife, that in order
to enfure fuccefs, he would find means to unite other
princes in the confederacy.
The new king of Acolhuacan, in the mean time,
was employed in fettling the affairs of his kingdom,
and endeavouring to gain the good will of his fubjefls.
The combination againft him was foon difeovered :
but though Ixtlilxochitl was defirous of heading his
army in perfi-n, he was diffuaded from fo doing by
his courtiers $ fo that the condudt of the war was
committed to his generals. To weaken the enemy,
they ravaged the territories of fix revolted dates : but,
rmtvvithflanding this, and the fuperior difeipline of
the royal army, the war was carried on by the rebels
with great obftinacy, their armies being conflantly re¬
cruited by frefh troops in proportion to their Ioffes.
At laft, after three years of a ruinous war, the . king
of Azcapozalco, finding that his refources would at
27
Diftrt i- and
. , x / but with a defign of ac- Mexic,
comphftung by treachery what he had not yet been v-*
able to do^ by force. His adverfary, equally reduced
witli himfelf, confented to a peace, though he knew
very well that the Tepanecan prince intended to ob-
ferve it no longer than fuited his purpofe.
fn the year 1409 died Huitzilihuitl king of Mexico, ChimL
wno like woe lett the right of elefting a fucceffor to thepoca third
nobility. They made choice of his brother Chimalpo-kii g of
Pocaj and from thence it became an eftabliflied lawMesice'
to choofe one of the brothers of the deceafed king, or,
il^ lie had no brothers, to eleft one of his grandfons.
While the new prince was endeavouring to fecure him¬
felf on the throne, the treacherous Tezozomoc ufed
all means in his power to ftrengthen the party he had
formed againit the king ot Acolhuacan. In this he
was attended with (uch fuccels, that the unfortunate
prince found himfelf reduced to the neceflity of wan¬
dering among the neighbouring mountains, at the head
of a (mall army, accofnpanied by the lords of Hucxotla
and Coatlichan, who remained always faithful to him.
The Tepanecans diftreffed him to fuch a degree, by
intercepting his provifions, that he was forced to beg
them of his enemies. One of his grandfons was
fent to Otompan, a rebel (late, to requeft them todea."hof
fupply their king with the provifions he ftood in need the king of
of, and to exhort them to abandon the caufe of the A(°hlua"
rebels, which they had efpoufed. No talk could becan-
more dangerous ; yet fuch was the magnanimity of
the young prince’s difpofition, that he readily fet out
on the journey ; nor was he deterred by the informa¬
tion he got that there were in the place certain Tepa¬
necans who had come on purpofe to publifh a proclama¬
tion from I ezozomoc. He went boldly to the moft
public place of the town, and in prefence of thofe who
publifhed the proclamation made known his requeft.
This heroifm, however, did not meet with the fuceefs
it deferved. His propofitions were derided from the
moment they Avere made ; but the people did not offer
any farther infult, until one of the meaner fort threAV a
ftone at him, exciting others of the fan e ftamp to put
him to death. The Tepanecans, Avho had hitherto
continued filent, perceiving their opportunity, joined
in the general cry to kill the prince, and began alfo to
throAv ftones. The prince attempted firft to defend
himfelf, and afterwards to efcape by flight 5 but, both
being equally impcflible, he fell under a ftiowcr of
ftones. The Tepanecans exulted in this ad! of treachery,
and foon after cut off Ixtlixochitl himfelf, after having
treacheroufly perfuaded him to a conference with two
of their captains. This perfidious adl was committed
in fight of the royal army, Avho Avere too weak to re¬
venge it ; the royal corpfe was faved Avith difficulty j
and Ne%ahualcojotl. heir apparent to the crown, Avas
obliged to (belter himfelf among the bullies from the
fury of his enemies. .
_ Tezozomoc having hoav in a great meafure gained AcoJhua-
his point, proceeded to pour down his troops up< ncancori*
thofe cities and diftricls which had remained faithful ff‘erec*
to the late unfortunate monarch. The people made * "<)Z0'
a moft defperate defence, and killed vail numbers of ‘ * ‘
their enemies *, but at laft being themfelves reduced by
the calamities of war, and in danger of total extermi¬
nation, they Avere obliged to quit their habitations and
fly to other countries. The tyrant, then, finding him¬
felf