Family and childhood Huitzilíhuitl was born in Tenochtitlan, and was the son of
Acamapichtli, first
tlatoani of the
Mexica, and Queen
Tezcatlan Miyahuatzin, and had a half-brother
Itzcoatl. His maternal grandfather was
Acacitli. Only 16 years old when his father died, Huitzilihuitl was elected by the principal chiefs, warriors and priests of the city to replace him. At that time, the Mexica were tributaries of the
Tepanec city-state of
Azcapotzalco.
Reign Huitzilíhuitl, a good politician, continued the policies of his father, seeking alliances with his neighbors. He founded the Royal Council or
Tlatocan and established four permanent electors to advise the new king, in his inexperience, at the beginning of each reign. . He married
Ayauhcihuatl, daughter of
Tezozómoc, the powerful
tlatoani of Azcapotzalco, During his reign, the weaving industry grew. It provided cotton cloth not only for Tenochtitlan, but also for Azcapotzalco and
Cuauhnāhuac. The Mexicas no longer had to dress in coarse
ayates of
maguey fibers, but were able to change to soft, dyed cotton. Huitzilíhuitl also wanted to introduce potable water into the city, bringing it to the island from the mainland over the brackish water of the lake. But the nobles not approving the cost, he was unable to put his plan into operation. He constructed a fort on a rock on the island. He assisted in the conquest and sacking of the cities of
Tultitlan,
Cuauhtitlan,
Chalco,
Tollantzingo,
Xaltocan,
Otompa and
Acolman. Huitzilíhuitl profited from the booty of these conquests and also from the traffic of the canoes on the lakes surrounding Tenochtitlan.
Death Huitzilíhuitl died, probably in 1417, before the end of the war between Azcapotzalco and Texcoco. His successor, his son Chimalpopoca, continued to support Tezozómoc and Azcapotzalco. ==Personal life==