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Tlacaellel and the role of the Cihuacoatl
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The role of the Cihuacoatl, or "Snake Woman" in Aztec government
The period around the conquest of Atzcapotzalco by the Mexica and Texcocans (AD 1428) saw a lot of internal upheavals in Tenochtitlan, which included the division of central authority between two men: the Tlatoani, who had hitherto been the supreme leader or 'king', and the Cihuacoatl or "Snake Woman", a role sometimes interpreted as 'prime minister; or 'deputy'.
Despite it being a female title, the Cihuacoatl was a position that was always held by a man. This division of authority was probably intended to reflect the Aztec religious conception that the universe had been created from a male and a female principle - the female title indicates that the Cihuacoatl was probably meant to represent the female principle, and the Tlatoani the male principle. Some researchers have suggested that the Cihuacoatl represented the internal affairs of the tribe, such as civil custom and religion, while the Tlatoani represented the tribe in its external affairs, such as war and alliances, and as such had the higher significance for Spanish observers who saw the Tlatoani as the real (or only) leader of the Mexica. The Chronicles relate that the Tlatoani took no decision without consulting the Cihuacoatl, and no decision was valid if Snake Woman had not given his consent. How long this division of power between the two roles lasted isn't certain, as only one man is known to have exercised real power as the Cihuacoatl. This was Tlacaellel (1398- 1496), who in his eighty-odd years was the power behind at least three Tlatoanis. Before his appearance, hardly anything is heard of the Snake Woman; after his death there was such a leader but he seems to have been only one amongst many. That the Tlatoani/Cihuacoatl division was intended to represent the male (external) and a female (internal) principles of the Aztec universe might seem the most logical explanantion, but it does appear an oversimplification of matters when it comes to Tlaecallel - during his period of office he was considered to be not only the chief political force but also the military general responsible for both the Triple Alliance's victory in the war against the Tepanec in 1429, and the expansion of the Aztec empire eastward to the Gulf and southward through Oaxaca to the Pacific. Although all the references to the position of Cihuacoatl I've found imply there were successive holders of the title, I've not been able to find any names or information on any other Cihuacocoah apart from Tlacaellel. It makes one wonder if it was he was the only one who ever carried real authority within the role? If so, his longevity may have had something to do with it - he was active well into his late 80's - but he also seems to have been a very able politician and remarkable character. Apart from being Cihuacoatl he was also a member of the royal house and considered at one time to sit on the throne. His contemptuous response to his rejection was apparently, "I am the ruler and you have regarded me as such. How can I be still more of a ruler?" It was likely that it was Tlacaellel who instigated Itzcoatl's burning of records to obliterate the Aztecs' humilating Tepanec history, and arranged the so-called Wars of Flowers which had the unstated purpose of maintaining Tenochtitlan's military domination over neighbouring states. After Tlacaellel died in 1496, the Aztec heyday was drawing to its end: the last three rulers lacked the caliber of their predecessors and the empire was already weakening even before Cortes set foot on shore. The fact the Spanish chroniclers understood the Huey Tlatoani to be the sole monarch suggests the role of the Cihuacoatl didn't seem to hold much, if any, authority by then. |
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