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

M E X [ 751 ] M E X
Mexico, felf fuperior to all his adverfaries, gave Tezcuco in fief
'“■'-v—'”' to Chimalpopoca king of Mexico, Huexotla to 'ila-
cacotl king of Tlatelolco *, placing faithful governors
in other places, and appointing Azcapozalco, the capi¬
tal of his own territory, the royal refidence and capital
of Acolhuacan,
Prince Nezahualcojotl was prefent in difguife at this
difpofal of his dominions, along with feveral other per-
fons of diftinction who were enemies of the tyrant ;
and fo much was he tranfported with paffion, that it
was with difficulty he could be reftrained from killing
Tezozomoc on the fpot, though this would certainly
have been done at the expence of his own life. All
the reft of the Acolhuacan empire fubmitted 5 and
Nezahualcojotl faw himfelf for the prefent deprived of
all hopes of obtaining the crown.
H s tyvan- Tezozomoc had now attained the fummit of his am-
ny and bition : but inftead of conciliating the minds of his
death. new fubjedls, oppreffed them with new taxes 5 and be¬
ing confcious of the precarious fituation in which he
flood, and tormented with remorfe on account of his
crimes, fell into melancholy, and was conftantly haunted
with frightful dreams. He was now become fo old,
that his body no longer retained its natural heat.
He was therefore obliged to be covered up with cot¬
ton in a great cradle, not being able to fit eredt
in a chair. In this miferable condition, however, he
never forgot his tyranny or cruelty. From his cradle
he iffued oppreflive laws relating to the Acolhuacans 5
and almoft with his laft breath renewed his com¬
mands with regard to Nezahualcojotl. At laft he ex¬
pired in the year 1422, leaving the crown to his fon
Tajatzin.
The throne Tezozomoc was no fooner dead than Maxtlaton,
ufurned by without paying the leaft regard to his father’s will, be-
Maxtlaton. gan j.0 eXercife the fun ft ions of a fovereign. Though
it was the right of Taj at z in to invite to his father’s
funeral whom he pleafed, Maxtlaton took that upon
himfelf. Nezahualcojotl, though not invited, came
among the reft; but though Teuftzintli, brother to
Maxtlaton, infifted upon his being put to death, the
latter oppofed it, as it could not then be done private¬
ly, and he hoped to find another opportunity. No
fooner were the funeral ceremonies over, however,
than Maxtlaton behaved in fuch a manner to his bro¬
ther Tajatzin, that the prince thought proper to re¬
tire to Chimilpopoca king of Mexico, to whom he
had been particularly recommended by his father, in
order to have his advice. This monarch, agreeable to
the charafter of that age and people, advifed him to
invite his brother to an entertainment, and then mur¬
der him. Unluckily for them both, this difeourfe was
overheard by a fervant, who in expeftation of a reward
informed the tvrant of what he had heard : but in¬
ftead of this, Maxtlaton, pretending to difbelieve his
ftory, drove the informer from his prefence with igno¬
miny. Notwithftanding this pretence, the tyrant had
not the leaft doubt of the truth of what was told him ;
and therefore determined to rid himfelf of his brother
without delay. This he foon accomplifhed in the very
fame way that had been projefted againft himfelf.
Tajatzin, along with the kings of Mexico, Tlatelolco,
and feme other feudatory princes, were invited by
Maxtlaton to an entertainment. The king of Mexico
prudently excufed himfelf, but the unfufpefting Ta-
atzin fell into the fnare. He came to the place of Mexico,
entertainment, and was inftantiy put to death. 1 he
company were greatly alarmed ; but Maxtlaton, having 'j'ajat:zjI1
explained to them his reafons for fo doing, they not murdered,
only excufed him, but proclaimed him king ; to which
it is not to be doubted that their fears greatly contri¬
buted.
Though the king of Mexico efcaped a fudden death Miferable
by his abfence at this time, it was only to perifti in a fate of the
more flow and ignominious manner. The vengeanceft
of Maxtlaton firft appeared by fending him a woman’s 1 eXK0'
drefs in return to the prefent he fent him as a feuda¬
tory ; which being a refleftion upon his courage, was
the higheft affront that could be offered him. This
infult, however, was quickly followed by one of a
much higher nature. Having heard that one of the
Mexican prince’s wives was an extraordinary beauty,
he enjoined feme Tepanecan ladies, who were accu-
ftomed to vifit that princefs, to invite her to fpend
fome days tvilh them at Azcapozalco. This being
complied with, the tyrant eafily got an opportunity
of ravilhiug her, and then fent her back to her huf-
band. Chimilpopoca was fo much affefted by this
misfortune, that he refolved to offer himfelf up a fa-
crifice to his god. Maxtlaton, however, was refolved
that he fhould not have even this fatisfaftion. At
the very time of the ceremony, therefore, he fent a bo¬
dy of troops ; who entering Mexico without refiftance,
carried off the king alive, to the aftonifhment of the
multitude ; and who probably were fo much confounded
by this unexpefted adventure, that they did not think
of making any refiftance.
Chimilpopoca°t>eing carried prifoner to Azcapozal¬
co, was confined in a ftrong wooden cage, the com¬
mon prifon for criminals. Maxtlaton ftill was not fa-
tisfied : he wilhed to get into his hands Nezahual¬
cojotl ; and with this view fent a meffage to him, pre¬
tending that he was willing to come to an agreement
with him refpefting the kingdom of Acolhuacan.
Though the prince was well affured of the tyrant’s
treacherous intentions, he went boldly to his palace,
prefented himfelf before him, and told him that he
had heard of the imprifonment of the king of Mexico;
he had heard alfo that he Avithed to take away his
own life; he defired him to do fo, and to gratify his
malice. Maxtlaton was fo ftruck with this fpeech, pje
that he affured the prince he had not formed any de- ed in pri-
fign againft his life, and that he neither had put tofonbyNe«
death the king of Mexico, nor would do fo. He z bualco-
then gave orders for his being properly entertained,-*0
and even alloAved him to pay a vifit to the king of
Mexico in prifon. The unfortunate Chimilpopoca,
after reciting his misfortunes, requefted the prince not
to return to court, where they would certainly fall
upon fome projeft for taking atvay his life; and ha¬
ving pathetically recommended to him the care of his
fubjefts, made him a prefent of a gold pendant and
fome other jeAvels he Avore; after Avhich they took a
laft fareAA'ell.
In the mean time, the Mexicans raifed to the throne, itzcoatlrak
Itzcoatl, the fon of Acamapitzin by a flave, and who fed to the
Avas accounted the moft prudent, juft, and brave, of all hr°ae of
the Mexican nation. His eleftion Avas no lefs pleafingr lVl1exlc£.,n.
tvt 1 1 • 1 j 1 • 1 • 'n- ^ who alhtt*
to Nezahualcojotl and his party, than it Avas offenfive ]sfeza}iua^
to Maxtlaton. An alliance Avas quickly concluded cojotl.
between