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.
