What does the word tlatoani mean?

one who speaks, ruler
Tlatoani (Classical Nahuatl: tlahtoāni pronounced [t͡ɬaʔtoˈaːni] ( listen), “one who speaks, ruler”; plural tlahtohqueh [t͡ɬaʔˈtoʔkeʔ] or tlatoque) is the Classical Nahuatl term for the ruler of an āltepētl, a pre-Hispanic state.

Who is Huey Tlatoani?

The tlatoani of the capital city of Tenochtitlan served as the Emperor (Huey Tlatoani) of the Aztec empire. The tlatoani was the ultimate owner of all land in his city-state, received tribute, oversaw markets and temples, led the military, and resolved judicial disputes.

How did the tlatoani get their position?

The Huey Tlatoani was the ultimate power in the land. They felt that he was appointed by the gods and had the divine right to rule. He decided when to go to war and what tribute the lands he ruled would pay the Aztecs. When an emperor died, the new emperor was chosen by a group of high ranking nobles.

What was the name of the deputy who ruled when the tlatoani was absent?

The tlatoani had a deputy who ruled the country when the ruler was absent. The deputy was the “Snake Woman”, even though the person who held this position was a man. They controlled the law courts and the wealth of the royal palace.

What happened about a year after La Noche Triste?

Since the victors write history, that night has been known as la noche triste, the sad night. They headed north, intending to skirt the lake and return to Tlaxcala, where they could recover….La Noche Triste – Conquest of Mexico.

Who was elected as the new Huey Tlatoani?

In 1376, the Mexicas elected their first Huey Tlatoani, Acamapichtli, who was living in Texcoco at the time. For the next 50 years, until 1427, the Mexica were a tributary of Azcapotzalco, which had become a regional power, perhaps the most powerful since the Toltecs, centuries earlier.

Did the Aztecs have slaves?

The Aztecs additionally had landless serfs and slaves. Serfs worked land that was owned by nobles and did not live in the calpulli. Individuals became slaves (tlacotin) as a form of punishment for certain crimes or for failure to pay tribute. Prisoners of war who were not used as human sacrifices became slaves.

How is the Altepetl important for the powerful Mexica?

Mesoamerican city-states or ‘altepetl’ (as they were referred to as in the Aztec language of Nahuatl) were the basic structure of the Aztec Empire. The tlatoani was an important figure in Mesoamerica city-states because they essentially controlled and organized the government, military and economy of the altepetl.

What were the 4 main social classes in Aztec society?

The Aztecs followed a strict social hierarchy in which individuals were identified as nobles (pipiltin), commoners (macehualtin), serfs, or slaves. The noble class consisted of government and military leaders, high level priests, and lords (tecuhtli).

How do you say King in Aztec?

The king was known as Tlahtoani which means ‘He who Speaks’ in Nahuatl, the language spoken by the Aztecs.

Why was La Noche Triste sad for the Spaniards?

For centuries, Mexicans called June 30, 1520 “La Noche Triste,” or the “Sad Night,” the name given to it by the eventually victorious Spaniards. That was because hundreds of Spaniards and their Indigenous allies died when Hernán Cortés and his troops fled the increasingly rebellious Aztec capital, now Mexico City.

Was Montezuma killed during the night of sorrows?

The Europeans brought Montezuma inside, but he had been mortally wounded. He died shortly thereafter, on June 29 or 30.