Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Izcohuatl

IZCOHUATL, or IZIOCATL (iss-co-wat'tel), emperor of Mexico, b. about the end of the 14th century; d. in 1436. He was an illegitimate son of the emperor Acamapichill, and ascended the throne of Mexico in 1427. The Mexicans regarded him at first with contempt, because his mother was a slave, but they appreciated him at last, for he inherited the virtues, prudence, valor, and talent of his father. The tyrant Maxtla, after having put Izcohuatl's brother, Chimalpopoca, to death, continued to oppress the Mexican nation, and the monarch determined to shake off the yoke. At that time Maxtla had also usurped the kingdom of Texcoco, and the legitimate king, Netzahualcoyotl, was a fugitive in the mountains of Tlaxcala, and as the king of Tlaltelolco was also dissatisfied with the tyrannical rule of Maxtla, Izcohuatl formed a league with him, and visited Netzahualcoyotl to offer him an alliance against the common enemy. The war continued 114 days, during which time the allies defeated the enemy in several battles. Maxtla was taken prisoner in 1431, and put to death by the king of Texcoco. In five years, during which Izcohuatl reigned in peace, he distinguished himself by his activity, and by adopting all the rules of Netzahualcoyotl, the king of Texcoco. He added several principalities to his dominions, and was the first ruler of the Aztecs to adopt the title of emperor. He was also the first to connect the islands of the lake of Texcoco with the mainland by causeways.