What is "cacamatzin"

Cacamatzin (or Cacama) (1483–1520) was the king of Texcoco, the second most important city of the Aztec Empire.

Cacamatzin was a son of the previous king Nezahualpilli by one of his mistresses. Traditionally, the Texcocan kings were elected by the nobility from the most able of the royal family. Cacamatzin's election to the throne in 1515 was said to have been made under considerable pressure from Moctezuma II, lord of Tenochtitlán. Moctezuma II wished to lessen Texcoco's power in favor of greater centralization in Tenochtitlán.

Moctezuma II, under orders from Cortes, had Cacamatzin arrested "in his own palace while discussing war-preparations". The Caciques of Coyoacan, Iztapalapa, and Tacuba were also arrested.

Cacamatzin died during the retreat of Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés, on the La Noche Triste.

Cacamatzin was a 15th-century Aztec noble — the eldest son of the cihuacoatl, Tlacaelel — and warrior who held the title of Tlacochcalcatl. His mother was princess Maquiztzin.

He had twelve children, only three of whom are known:

• A female (name unknown), who married Nezahualpilli, the tlatoani of Texcoco. The pair had a son, named Cacamatzin after his grandfather, who succeeded his father as ruler of Texcoco.
• Tlacaelel II, named after his grandfather, who also became cihuacoatl.
• Chicuey or Chicome Axochitzin, a warrior whose daughter became the mistress of Juan Rodríguez de Villafuerte, a Spanish conquistador.

Cacamatzin was killed by the Purépecha after being captured in battle.