Traditionally the Culhua were said to have originated in a place called Tecolhuacan, beyond
Tollan, but migrated to Tollan and participated in the Toltec culture, where they worshipped
Huitzilopochtli and
Tezcatlipoca. Later, their patron deities were
Cinteotl and
Cihuacoatl. Culhuacan was perhaps the first of the
chinampa towns founded on the shores of
Lake Xochimilco, with chinampas dating to 1100 C.E. From written records there is evidence that Culhuacan survived the fall of Tollan and maintained its prestige until the mid-14th century. The Culhua subjugated a number of towns including
Ocuilan,
Malinalco,
Xochimilco and
Cuitlahuac, possibly allied with the Tepanec of Azcapotzalco and the Acolhua of Coatlinchan. According to the
Crónica Mexicayotl, transcribed in 1609, in 1299, Culhuacan's
tlatoani,
Coxcoxtli, helped the
Tepanecs of
Azcapotzalco, the Xochimilca and other cities expel the
Mexica from
Chapultepec. Coxcoxtli then gave the Mexica permission to settle in the barren land of Tizaapan, southwest of Chapultepec, and they became vassals of Culhuacan. The Mexica subsequently assimilated into Culhuacan's culture and their warriors provided mercenaries for its wars. The
Mexica tlatoani Acamapichtli was a grandson of Coxcoxtli. Nevertheless, in 1377
Azcapotzalco subdued Culhuacán in large part with Aztec troops, causing many of the Culhua to seek refuge in
Acolhuacan, Azcapotzalco, and
Cuauhtitlan. In 1428, the Mexica tlatoani
Itzcóatl helped to overthrow Azcapotzalco's hegemony, and accepted the title "Ruler of the Culhua". == Tlahtohqueh Cōlhuahcān (Colhuacan's rulers) ==