Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/573

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NOTES OF THE MEXICAN WAR.
567

fourth king. He was a great warrior, and being with Prince Mexi in conquering the revolutionists, raised a large and well disciplined army, armed with bows, arrows, spears, lances, etc., made a fierce war against the Tepejancan, Tlascallians, conquered them and made them submit to his own form of government. After a reign of thirteen years, he died in 1436, when his son Montezuma, first of that name, was chosen the fifth king. He was the first king that was mantled in tiger's skin.

In 1446 a powerful and heavy rain fell upon the valley of Mexico with such fury that nearly one-half of the city of Mexico was destroyed, and the streets flooded that the people were obliged to make their escape in boats, canoes, etc. Montezuma and his tribe, soon after it was dried up, went to work to build up that which was destroyed, and threw up big ditches. After having reigned twenty-eight years, he died in 1464.

Tizoc, or Tiocick, Montezuma's eldest son, was then chosen the sixth king. He, however, was unfortunate in all his designs and engagements with his enemies, lost more of his people in battle in battle than he took prisoners, and the result was the Tlascallians gained their independence from the Mexican rule. Being accused by his tribe of oppression and tyranny, of cowardice and of being incompetent, he was poisoned in the fourth year of his reign, 1468. Acayuca, or Acayacolt, Tiocick's brother, was then chosen the seventh king. He was generous, liberal, magnanimous and good to the poor. He built the first great temple or palace in the city of Mexico. He lived, in prosperity and peace with all the tribes in Mexico, to a good old age. After ruling over seventeen years, he departed this life, to the great sorrow of the whole Mexican Empire, in 1485.

After his death, Ahintzol, or Axayacolt, was chosen the eighth king. He was also a man of great magnanimity, and very popular among his tribes as a ruler and as a great leader of his soldiers. He succeeded in conquering all his enemies, and made himself glorious by his numerous victories. After