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| Tenoch | |
|---|---|
 Depiction of Tenoch in theCodex Mendoza. | |
| Reign | c. 1325–1375 (?)[1] |
| Born | c. 1299 |
| Died | 1350, 1367 or 1375 |
| Father | Iztac-Mixcoatl[citation needed] |
| Mother | Ilancueye[2] |
Tenoch (orTenuch,modern Nahuatl pronunciationⓘ) was a ruler of theMexicas (Aztecas) during the fourteenth century during the Aztec travels fromAztlán toTenochtitlan. The Tenochtitlan people were originally referred to as Tenochca, then the Mexica.[3] He was a respected chief who was elected to power by the council of elders and died sometime between 1350 and 1375, depending on the source.
Tenoch was one of nine Mexica leaders who were told how Mexica could gain support from the forces of nature. After traveling southward for a span of 200 years, the Mexica found the sign. In honor of their leader, they named the small, reedy island inLake Texcoco, Tenochtitlan.[2] Tenochtitlan soon became the capital of theAztec Empire. TheNahuatl symbols of his name are found in theMexican flag:Tetl: "rock", andNochtli: "prickly pear cactus".
There is disagreement whether Tenoch is a mythological person or a real Mexica leader who was later mythologized. According to one source, Tenoch's father was Iztac Mixcoatl[citation needed], who had a total of seven sons with two wives, six of them giants:
Surrounded the Earth by the seas and submerged in them for a long time, the old frog, with a thousand jaws and bloody tongues, and the strange name it takes,Tlaltecuhtli; Iztac-Mixcoatl, the fierce white cloud serpent, who lives in Citlalco, joins her in sweet collusion. And six tlacame with love engender; the six brothers on earth dwell and are the trunk of various races: the first-born, the giantXelhua, of Itzocan and Epatlan, and Cuauquechollan, the cities he founded. Tenoch, the great Aztec claudillo, in Mexico stops the march of his people, and builds the greatTenochtitlan, a lake city. The strong Cuetlachoapan foundsUlmecatl, and gives its indolent people a seat. On the shores of the gulf,Xicalancatl, the braveMixtecatl takes refuge. Of Mixtecapan in the sour lands;Otomitl, the xocoyotl [younger son], always lives in mountains near Mexico, and there it thrives in rich populations such as Tollan, Xilotepec and Otompan[4]
— Gerónimo de Mendieta (1525–1604)
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