Maxtla

Maxtla (Nahuatl pronunciation: MASH-LAH) was a Tepanec ruler (tlatoani) of Azcapotzalco from 1426 to his death in 1428.

Family

He was a son of the famous king Tezozomoc, who was a son of Acolnahuacatl and queen Cuetlaxochitzin.

His mother was queen Tzihuacxochitzin I, daughter of the noble dignitary Huitzilaztatzin.

He was a brother of the kings Aculnahuacatl Tzaqualcatl and Quaquapitzahuac and queens Xiuhcanahualtzin and Ayauhcihuatl. He was an uncle of Aztec emperor Chimalpopoca.

His elder half-brother was Tayatzin.

Biography

Maxtla was installed as a ruler of Coyoacán. Upon Tezozomoc's death in the year Twelve Rabbit (1426), Tayatzin became a king, but Maxtla seized power at Azcapotzalco, leaving the rulership of Coyoacán to his son Tecollotzin.

Emperor Chimalpopoca of Tenochtitlan allied with Tayatzin, and the two conspired to retake the throne and kill Maxtla. Friendly relations between Tenochtitlan and Azcapotzalco were thus replaced by insults and violent intrigue, apparently involving tit-for-tat assassination attempts. Maxtla sent Chimalpopoca a present of women's clothing.