Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Huehuetemixcatl

Huehuetemixcatl (way-way-tay-mix-cat'-tle), Toltec statesman, b. in the second quarter of the 11th century; d. in the beginning of the 12th century. He was educated by the Toltec king, Tecpantcalzin, and served under him in the army. This king died in 1071, and Topiltzin, the last of the Toltec kings, ascended the throne. The first year of his government was notable for a superabundance of rain, which destroyed the crop of grain, and in the following year plagues of grasshoppers and mice destroyed everything in the country. The superstition of the people interpreted these calamities as predicted by Huematzin, and considered that their last days had arrived. At this crisis the news arrived at Tula that the people of the south were in rebellion, and intended to attack Tula and destroy the city. The king tried to settle the matter in a peaceful manner, and sent an embassy to the rebels; but they answered that they were ready to go to Tula, and were not willing to accept a peace, but would subjugate the nation. When Topiltzin heard this answer, he communicated it to his people, and Huehuetemixcatl volunteered to go and punish the rebels. Accordingly he gathered a strong army, and began the campaign in 1099. The war lasted three years, in which time Huehuetemixcatl distinguished himself, preventing the rebels from advancing to the capital. But a revolution broke out in Tula itself, the capital was finally occupied by the rebels, and King Topiltzin was put to death. Huehuetemixcatl then surrendered, and went to Tula to preserve the historical paintings or sacred book, and to exert his influence among the conquerors to prevent the total ruin of his race and country. Seeing that it was impossible to live among the barbarians, he departed, accompanied by a few of his countrymen, and founded several of the cities in the valley of Mexico. The ruin of Tula took place in the year 1103. Some historians contend that this warrior and his sons were the founders of the celebrated nations of Yucatan, and others of those of Chiapas and Central America.