The Aztec Tlatocan: Council of Four Who Ruled Tenochtitlan

Lucas and Luna delve into the inner workings of Aztec government, focusing on the tlatocan — the supreme council of four nobles who advised the tlatoani and ran the empire behind the throne. Exploring the roles of the cihuacoatl (female counterpart), the tlacochcalcatl (war chief), and the huitznahuatl (speaker for the people), they reveal how power was balanced between military, religious, and administrative factions. Drawing on the Florentine Codex and the Codex Mendoza, they discuss succession crises, the election of Moctezuma Xocoyotzin, and how the tlatocan's decisions shaped Aztec expansion and tribute collection. They also examine a controversial theory: did the council actually limit the tlatoani's power more than previously thought? This episode strips away the myth of absolute monarchy to show the messy, collective decision-making that held the Triple Alliance together — until the Spanish arrived. #Aztec #Tenochtitlan #Tlatocan #Cihuacoatl #Tlatoani #Moctezuma #FlorentineCodex #CodexMendoza #Tlacochcalcatl #Huitznahuatl #AztecGovernment #TripleAlliance #Mesoamerica #Nahuatl #AztecPolitics #CouncilOfFour #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo