Aztec Triple Alliance

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Page 34 of the Osuna Codex , showing the symbols for Texcoco, Tenochtitlan (Mexico), and Tlacopan.

The Aztec Triple Alliance was an alliance of the city-states Tenochtitlan , Texcoco and Tlacopan , which was formed in 1428 by Itzcóatl of Tenochtitlan, Nezahualcóyotl of Texcoco and Totoquilhuaztli , ruler of the smaller city-state of Tlacopan.

The reason for this three-way alliance was the increasingly expansionist efforts of the Tepaneks under their ruler - and presumed usurper  - Maxtla , who, among other things, had Chimalpopoca , the Tlatoani of Tenochtitlan, murdered and besieged the Aztec capital.

Tenochtitlan held the dominant position within the Triple Alliance. The subjugated provinces were ruled centrally from Tenochtitlan, the tribute payments were divided among Tenochtitlán, Texcoco and Tlacopan according to the key 5: 3: 1. The Aztec Triple Alliance formed the political basis of the later Aztec Empire .

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