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Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Ixtlilxochitl I.

From Wikisource

Edition of 1900.

IXTLILXOCHITL I. (isst-leel-sot-cheetle'), Texcocan king, d. in 1419. He was the son of the celebrated King Techotlalatzin who ascended the throne in 1357, and his name means black flower's face. The king of Atzcapotzalco, Tezozomoc, was his enemy, and intended to dethrone him and occupy his place. With this intention he made an arrangement with the other kings of the valley of Mexico who were tributaries of the kingdom of Texcoco, and they proclaimed a rebellion. But Ixtlilxochitl was acknowledged by several of the chiefs assembled in the city of Huexutla, and Tezozomoc, gathering a strong army, marched against Texcoco, but was defeated, and Ixtlilxochitl granted him a generous pardon. The ambitious Tezozomoc was not grateful for this act of mercy, and when he returned to his kingdom occupied himself in preparing a new expedition against Texcoco. With a powerful army he entered the kingdom again, and though Ixtlilxochitl was prepared to resist him, he was surprised in a wood where he was hunting. Immediately he and those who accompanied him were put to death, the royal insignia were carried to Atzcapotzalco, and Tezozomoc was crowned king of Texcoco. Ixtlilxochitl's son witnessed from a tree the death of his father and swore to avenge it, as he did, killing in 1531 Tezozomoc's son and successor, Maxtla.