Nezahualcoyotl (tlatoani): Difference between revisions

The Nahuatl name Nezahualcoyotl is commonly translated as “hungry coyote” or “fasting coyote.” However, more accurately, it means "coyote with a fasting collar," from ''nezahualli'', a collar made out of bands of paper twisted together. It was worn by those fasting to show others that they shouldn’tshouldn't be offered food.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://davidbowles.medium.com/kings-and-queens-of-texcoco-64019ed1c72e |title=Kings and Queens of Texcoco |last=Bowles |first=David |date=August 12, 2019 |website=medium.com |publisher=Medium |access-date=January 27, 2021}}</ref>

As the ''[[tlatoani]]'' [[Itzcoatl]] of [[Tenochtitlan]] requested help from the Huexotzincans against the [[Tepanec]]s, Nezahualcoyotl envisioned a single military force in order to fight the mighty kingdom of [[Azcapotzalco (altepetl)|AtzcapotzalcoAzcapotzalco]]. After being offered support from insurgents inside [[Acolhuacan]] and rebel Tepanecs from [[Coyoacán#History|Coyohuacan]], Nezahualcoyotl joined the war. He called for a coalition consisting of many of the most important pre-Hispanic cities of the time: Tenochtitlan, [[Tlacopan]], [[Tlatelolco (altepetl)|Tlatelolco]], Huexotzingo, [[Tlaxcala]] and [[Chalco (altépetl)|Chalco]].

The war was declared a shared and single effort, and the coalition army of more than 100,000 men under the command of Nezahualcoyotl and other important ''[[tlatoque]]'' headed towards [[Azcapotzalco (altepetl)|AtzcapotzalcoAzcapotzalco]] from the city of [[Calpulalpan]]. This began the military offensive that would reconquer Acolhuacan in 1428.

In a tactical move, the three armies united again and then divided into two. One of them, under Nezahualcoyotl, headed towards [[Texcoco (altepetl)|Texcoco]], laying siege to Acolhuacan on its way, while the other attacked and destroyed [[Azcapotzalco (altepetl)|AtzcapotzalcoAzcapotzalco]]. At the time the armies met again, Nezahualcoyotl reclaimed [[Texcoco (altepetl)|Texcoco]] and decided to conquer Acolhuacan, entering from the north while the Tenochca and Tlacopan allies coming from Azcapotzalco attacked from the south. The two armies simultaneously attacked Acolhuacan from two directions until they controlled the city's main square.