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| Alebrije (colored Mexican folk art sculptures) by Alejandro Zamudio R. (The Night of The Alebrijes exhibition) |
Tlacaelel I (1397 – 1487) was the principal
architect of the Aztec Triple Alliance and hence
the Mexica
(Aztec) empire. He was the son of Emperor Huitzilihuitl and
Queen Cacamacihuatl, nephew of Emperor Itzcoatl,
and brother of Emperors Chimalpopoca and Moctezuma I.
Tlacaelel recast or
strengthened the concept of the Aztecs as a chosen people,
elevated the tribal god/hero Huitzilopochtli to
top of the pantheon of gods, and increased militarism.
To strengthen the
Aztec nobility, he helped create and enforce sumptuary laws,
prohibiting commoners from wearing certain adornments such as lip plugs, gold
armbands, and cotton cloaks. He also instigated a policy of burning the
books of conquered peoples with the aim of erasing all memories
of a pre-Aztec past.
When he dedicated the seventh reconstruction of the Templo Mayor in Tenochtitlan,
Tlacaelel had brought his nation to the height of its power. The dedication
took place in 1484 and was celebrated with the sacrifice of many war captives.
After Tlacaelel's death in 1487, the Mexica Empire continued to expand north
into the Gran Chichimeca and south toward the Maya lands.
