Acamapichtli
"Handful of Reeds"

Acamapichtli was the first tlatoani ("the One Who Speaks", or Aztec 'emperor') of Tenochtitlán, and was the founder of the powerful Aztec dynasty, ruling 1376 – 1395. Not a native of Tenochtitlán, he was specifically chosen as the tlatoani of the still- fledging city for his blood-ties to other powerful groups in the region. 

During his reign Tenochtitlán, which at that time was just one island in the middle of Lake Texcoco, paid tribute to the powerful Tepanec city of Azcapotzalco, for whom the Aztecs of Tenochtitlán took part in a series of military campaigns. Eventually being allowed to wage war on their own account, Tenochtitlán began forming its own centre of power. Acamapichtli further increased Tenochtitlán's influence by forging political alliances through strategic marriages.

Acamapichtli initiated many building projects in Tenochtitlán, including the enlargement of the island, the division of the city into four neighborhoods or calpullis, and the development of the chinampas ("floating" agricultural gardens) to solve the problem of limited farmland. He also made improvements to the city's architecture by replacing houses of cane and reeds with stone buildings and enlarging Tenochtitlán's main sanctuary, building two temple pyramids side by side. He passed laws and ordinances and instituted religious rituals and festival observances.

The glyph for his name is a forearm with the hand grasping a bundle of reeds or arrows.

Chimalpopoca
"Smoking Shield"

Chimalpopoca was the third tlatoani ("the One Who Speaks", or Aztec 'emperor'). He succeeded his father Huitzilíhuitl as ruler of Tenochtitlán in 1417 and ruled until his death in 1427.

During his reign Chimalpopoca undertook several construction projects in Tenochtitlán, including a causeway spanned by wooden bridges that connected the city to Tlacopan on the western shore of Lake Texcoco, and the construction of a new wooden aqueduct between Chapultepec and Tenochtitlán to supply the city with fresh water.

Until 1427, the Mexica of Tenochtitlán were subordinate to the Tepanec city of Azcapotzalco and paid tribute to its ruler Tezozomoc. Following Tezozomoc's death in 1427, his son, Maxtla, assumed the role of Tepanec leader after murdering his rival brother Tayatzin. In the ensuing intrigues and struggles, Chimalpopoca, who had allied with Tayatzin, was assassinated. There are various accounts as to exactly how he died - some say he was imprisoned in Azcapotzalco, where he hung himself, and others say he was strangled by his captors.

The glyph for his name is a round shield with curls of smoke. 

Image: Chimalpopoca, from the Codex Mendoza. This image is in the public domain.

Moteuczoma
"Angry Lord"
(more correctly spelt Motecuhzoma or Moctezuma, also seen as Montezuma)

There were two tlatoque ("the Ones Who Speaks", or Aztec 'emperors') of Tenochtitlán that bore this name: 
 - Motecuhzoma Ilhuicamina, or Moctezuma I, the fifth tlatoani who ruled from 1440 to 1469.
 - Motecuhzoma Xocoyotzin, or Motecuhzoma II, the ninth tlatoani who ruled from 1502 to 1520.

Motecuhzoma Ilhuicamina I was an able and energetic ruler, who succeeded to the throne with an established record of successful military campaigns. During his reign, he consolidated Aztec domination of the Valley of Mexico, and subjugated neighbouring Huastec, Totonac and Mixtec territories. By the time of his death, the boundaries of the Aztec empire extended from the valleys of Mexico and Oaxaca to the Gulf Coast. The most spectacular expansion of the Templo Mayor also took place during Motecuhzoma I's reign.

The glyph for his name is an arrow piercing layers of clouds (Ilhuicamina means "Archer of the Sky). 

Image: Motecuhzoma I, from the Codex Telleriano-Remensis. This image is in the public domain.

Motecuhzoma Xocoyotzin II ("The Younger") is famous for being the tlatoani of the Aztec empire at the start of the Spanish conquest of Mexico. The main sources about him are the chronicles compiled by Spanish conquistadors, whose accounts are contradictory and biased towards portraying him as a weak and harsh ruler who was superstitious and fearful of the Spanish invaders. Beneath the contradictions and historical bias, its hard to accurately ascertain anything definitive about him - even the true details of his death at the hands of the Spanish are unknown since different versions are given by different sources. However, pre-Conquest he was responsible for military campaigns that expanded the Aztec Empire to its widest extent and increased Tenochtitlán's domination of the Triple Alliance, revolutionized the tribute system, enhanced the Templo Mayor and undertook other building and religious projects in Tenochtitán - none of which is suggestive of the weak and indecisive ruler he has often been unfairly portrayed as. 

The glyph for his name is a royal headdress and a nose plug ornament.