Juan Velázquez Tlacotzin

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Tlacotzin in the Aubin Codex

Juan Velázquez Tlacotzin was an

ruler of Tenochtitlan
from 1525 to 1526.

Biography

Aztec era

Tlacotzin was a Cihuacoatl (counselor) during the rule of Moctezuma II and of Cuauhtémoc.

Spanish era

Tlacotzin was captured and later tortured by Hernán Cortés, along with Cuauhtémoc, to reveal the location of Royal Treasures and gold of the Imperial Family.

After the execution of Emperor Cuauhtémoc he was chosen as Cuauhtemoc's successor by Hernán Cortés. Immediately after the execution of Cuauhtemoc, Cortés ordered Tlacotzin be dressed as a Spaniard, given a sword and a white horse as symbols of his new position as Aztec ruler. Tlacotzin was also baptized by the Spanish as don Juan Velásquez.

Although Tlacotzin was to govern like a tlatoani, his non-noble birth (and lack of connection to the previous royal dynasty) as well as him not going through the traditional investiture ceremony meant that he was regarded by the Nahua subjects as cuauhtlatoani ("eagle ruler"; a non-dynastic interim ruler) instead.[1]

He accompanied Cortés on his three-year expedition, but died in 1526 (8 Tochtli) while on it, of an unknown sickness in Nochixtlan. Cortés immediately chose Andrés de Tapia Motelchiuh as his successor.

See also

References

External links

Preceded by Cihuacoatl
1520–1525
Succeeded by
Office abolished
Preceded by
Cuauhtemoc

(as tlatoani)
Cuauhtlatoani of Tenochtitlan

1525–1526
Succeeded by