HISTORY OF MEXICO, 



181 



cefs, fliould attempt any thing againfl: the empire. Nor 

 were the fears of Techotlala without foundation, as will 

 appear from the fequcl. He died, at lafl, in the year 

 14065 after a very long reign, though not quite fo long 

 as fome authors have imagined (t). 



After the funeral rites were performed with the ufu- 

 al folemnity, and the attendance of the princes and lords, 

 the feudatories of the crown, they proceeded to celebrate 

 the acceflion of Ixtlilxochitl. Among the princes was 

 the king of Azcapozalco ; who, by his condu61:, foon juf- 

 tified the fufpicions entertained of him by the deceafed 

 Techotlala ; as, without making the ufual fubmiflions to 

 the new king, he fet out for his own ftate with an inten- 

 tion to ftir up the other feudatories to rebellion againfl: 

 the empire. He called together the kings of Mexico 

 and Tlatelolco, and told them, that Techotlala, who had 

 fo long tyrannized over that country, being dead, his 

 purpofe was to procure freedom to the princes, fo that 

 each might rule his own fl:ate with entire independence 

 upon the king of Acolhuacan : but in order to obtain fo 

 glorious an obje^l:, he needed their affiftance ; and, upon 

 their fpirit, fo well known among all the nations, he re- 

 lied for their taking part with him in the great enter- 

 prife. He added, that in order to fl:rike their blow with 

 the greater fecurity, he would undertake to unite in their 

 confederacy fome other princes whom he knew to be 

 .animated with the fame defigns. The two kings, either 

 through fear of the great power of Tezozomoc, or to 



increafe 



(t) Torquemada and Betancourt give one hundred and four years to the 

 reign of Techotlala; and although it is not impoflible that a prince fhould reign 

 fo long, yet it is extremely improbable, and would require the ftrongeft evi- 

 dence to authenticate it; efpecially if we confider the general abfurdity of their 

 chronology. But fee our Dilfertations. 



