Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Xochitl

XOCHITL (soh-cheetl'), queen of Tollan, lived in the 11th century. She was the daughter of Papantzin, one of the principal nobles of King Tepancaltzin's court. Reports differ as to whether the latter or his beautiful daughter, whose name signifies “the flower,” was the inventor of pulque, the Mexican fermented drink made from the juice of the aloe-plant. All authors agree that in 1049 her father sent her with a jar of the newly invented liquor to the palace, and the king was so pleased with the drink that he ordered her to bring it daily. Charmed by her beauty, he took her to his palace at Palpan, where she gave birth to a son, Topiltzin. When her father learned her situation, he upbraided the king, but was quieted by the promise that Xochitl should be acknowledged queen after the death of Tepancaltzin's legitimate consort, and that Topiltzin should be successor to the throne. This was done, but after the resignation of Tepancaltzin, in 1094, in his son's favor, the other Toltec princes rebelled, and in one of the battles both Xochitl and her husband were killed, and the Toltec monarchy was destroyed, as Topiltzin, with many of his followers, emigrated to the south, where, according to some historians, he settled in Yucatan; according to others, in Chiapas or Guatemala.