Colhuacan (altepetl) facts for kids

Culhuacan (pronounced: Kohl-WAH-kahn) was an important city-state in ancient Mexico. It was located in the Valley of Mexico. People who spoke the Nahuatl language lived there. According to old stories, the Toltec people founded Culhuacan. They said it was the very first Toltec city. The Nahuatl speakers believed that Culhuacan was the first city to call its rulers "speaker" (tlatoani).

A Look at Culhuacan's History

Culhuacan was likely one of the first cities built on the shores of Lake Xochimilco. It was known for its chinampas, which are floating gardens. These special gardens date back to about 1100 C.E.

Old written records show that Culhuacan remained a powerful city. It kept its importance even after the fall of another big city called Tollan. This lasted until the mid-1300s.

How Culhuacan Interacted with Other Cities

In 1299, the tlatoani (ruler) of Culhuacan, named Coxcoxtli, helped other groups. He helped the Tepanecs and the Xochimilca people. Together, they forced the Mexica people out of Chapultepec. After this, Coxcoxtli allowed the Mexica to settle in a dry area called Tizaapan. This area was southwest of Chapultepec. The Mexica then became loyal to Culhuacan. They learned Culhuacan's culture. Their warriors also fought as soldiers for Culhuacan in its wars.

Later, a famous ruler of Tenochtitlan, Acamapichtli, was a grandson of Coxcoxtli. However, in 1377, the city of Azcapotzalco took control of Culhuacan. They did this with a lot of help from Aztec soldiers. But in 1428, the Mexica ruler Itzcóatl helped to end Azcapotzalco's power. He then took the title "Ruler of the Culhua."

Who Ruled Culhuacan?

Culhuacan had many rulers throughout its long history. These rulers were called tlatoani. They led the city and its people for many years. Some of the early rulers were from the Toltec line. Later, a different group, the Chichimeca, also had rulers in Culhuacan.

See also

In Spanish: Colhuacan para niños