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Suffer and Endure: A tale of the life and trials of the Aztec Triple Alliance
Suffer and Endure: A tale of the life and trials of the Aztec Triple Alliance
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comagoosie said:I hear it is very hard being the Aztecs. I can't wait to see you play
Don't worry. If I get crushed, i'll try to make it entertaining.
Chapter 1 - "You are a Mexicatl"
Suffer and Endure: Aztec Triple Alliance AAR
Chapter 1: “You are a Mexicatl”
Mexico City, Mexico: 2008
The young boy gripped his grandfather’s hand tightly as they walked together through the bustling streets of the city. A thick heat hung over the plazas and the street corners; a constant and nagging reminder that summer was again in full swing. The sidewalks bustled with people; tourists dressed inappropriately for the weather, wiping their brows or chattering noisily on cell phones or to one another, clergymen from the cathedral nearby striding silently together, impervious to the outside noise, policemen walking their routes, and local children whose playful laughter punctuated the air. It was an unusually pleasant day; The thick cloud of pollution that often smothered the city was graciously absent. The sky was clear and blue, with hardly a cloud to be seen.
The young boy loved spending time with his grandfather. His parents were strict and orderly. They always favored studying or chores over playtime. His grandfather was just the opposite. He was laid back and casual. He could always cheer him up or make him laugh. And he always told him that there was more to life than school and mundane household activities. This naturally brought his grandfather into conflict with his parents, and as a result, the young boy was allowed to spend time with his grandfather only when the situation made it unavoidable. For the next week, however, his parents were away on a business trip, so his parents reluctantly allowed him to stay with his true idol.
The boy and his grandfather found a small quaint park, and they sat together on a wooden bench shaded under a tree which towered over it.
The grandfather looked sideways at his grandson and his wrinkled, sun darkened face creased into a smile.
“You’re growing up very well, my boy.” He said. “Tell me, what do you want to do when you grow up? Do you want to stay in this country?”
“My parents want me to go to Europe.” , the boy replied. “They say that there is nothing for me in this country, and that I should go abroad to make my fortune.”
The Grandfather’s smile faded. “What do YOU want, son?”
“I like it here. But maybe my parents are right. Our country is poor, and Europe seems like a wonderful place. They have so much more than we do.”
“We have our past.” The grandfather replied quietly.
“What do you mean, grandfather?”
“Tell me boy, what do you know about the ‘Aztecs’?”
“All I’ve learned is that they were cruel and barbaric. They didn’t know anything about civilization or God or-“
“I want to tell you a story.” The grandfather interjected.
The boy loved his grandfather’s stories. He was intrigued.
“What about, grandfather?”
“About the true history of our people. You aren’t a European my son. You never will be. But you’re something much more special. You’re a Mexicatl. You have a lot to be proud of.”
“What’s a Mexicatl, grandfather?”
“That is the true name of your people. I’m going to tell you all about the Mexicatl, my boy. They knew many lessons about life that you would do well to know.”
The boy nodded, gazed respectfully at his grandfather, and listened intently….
Suffer and Endure: Aztec Triple Alliance AAR
Chapter 1: “You are a Mexicatl”
Mexico City, Mexico: 2008
The young boy gripped his grandfather’s hand tightly as they walked together through the bustling streets of the city. A thick heat hung over the plazas and the street corners; a constant and nagging reminder that summer was again in full swing. The sidewalks bustled with people; tourists dressed inappropriately for the weather, wiping their brows or chattering noisily on cell phones or to one another, clergymen from the cathedral nearby striding silently together, impervious to the outside noise, policemen walking their routes, and local children whose playful laughter punctuated the air. It was an unusually pleasant day; The thick cloud of pollution that often smothered the city was graciously absent. The sky was clear and blue, with hardly a cloud to be seen.
The young boy loved spending time with his grandfather. His parents were strict and orderly. They always favored studying or chores over playtime. His grandfather was just the opposite. He was laid back and casual. He could always cheer him up or make him laugh. And he always told him that there was more to life than school and mundane household activities. This naturally brought his grandfather into conflict with his parents, and as a result, the young boy was allowed to spend time with his grandfather only when the situation made it unavoidable. For the next week, however, his parents were away on a business trip, so his parents reluctantly allowed him to stay with his true idol.
The boy and his grandfather found a small quaint park, and they sat together on a wooden bench shaded under a tree which towered over it.
The grandfather looked sideways at his grandson and his wrinkled, sun darkened face creased into a smile.
“You’re growing up very well, my boy.” He said. “Tell me, what do you want to do when you grow up? Do you want to stay in this country?”
“My parents want me to go to Europe.” , the boy replied. “They say that there is nothing for me in this country, and that I should go abroad to make my fortune.”
The Grandfather’s smile faded. “What do YOU want, son?”
“I like it here. But maybe my parents are right. Our country is poor, and Europe seems like a wonderful place. They have so much more than we do.”
“We have our past.” The grandfather replied quietly.
“What do you mean, grandfather?”
“Tell me boy, what do you know about the ‘Aztecs’?”
“All I’ve learned is that they were cruel and barbaric. They didn’t know anything about civilization or God or-“
“I want to tell you a story.” The grandfather interjected.
The boy loved his grandfather’s stories. He was intrigued.
“What about, grandfather?”
“About the true history of our people. You aren’t a European my son. You never will be. But you’re something much more special. You’re a Mexicatl. You have a lot to be proud of.”
“What’s a Mexicatl, grandfather?”
“That is the true name of your people. I’m going to tell you all about the Mexicatl, my boy. They knew many lessons about life that you would do well to know.”
The boy nodded, gazed respectfully at his grandfather, and listened intently….
Ah yes, I have been to the Mexican Capital and your description is very accurate. I felt like I was there again!
And what would the world be without the stories of our grandfathers, eh?
I too will listen intently to his story!!!
And what would the world be without the stories of our grandfathers, eh?
I too will listen intently to his story!!!
Chapter 2 - The One World
Suffer and Endure: Aztec Triple Alliance AAR
Chapter 2 - The One World
Chapter 2: The One World
“To you, this city is the capital of Mexico. It is one city among many, many cities around the world. But to the Aztecs, this city we’re in right now was the very heart of the world – The One World, as the Aztecs called it. The One World extended from the great desert in the north and the Apachean tribes, to the dense jungles and the remnants of the mysterious Mayan people in the south. The Aztecs’ ancestors migrated south into this area over a long period of time in small groups. Being semi nomadic, these migrants were searching for a place to settle down. Unfortunately for them, the other groups living in the region didn’t receive them very well. They had a very limited area to make their home in, and most of that area consisted of musky swampland. They looked to their chief God, Huitzilopochtli, for guidance. One day, they came upon a lake, and indeed, Huitzilopochtli gave them their guidance.
In the middle of the lake, perched on a cactus, was an eagle holding a snake in its mouth. A great omen indeed! The Aztecs rejoiced; they knew that this would be the location for their splendid city. They would call the city Tenochtitlan.
Of course, building a city on a swampy lake proved challenging, but the Aztecs made do with what they had. In time, their modest city began to grow, and as other migrants arrived, the city grew larger. Other nations began to resent their growing power, and occasionally foreign rulers even tried to subjugate the Aztecs, with mixed success. However, by the onset of the 15th century, the Aztecs had secured their nation and their city. All the very local tribes were subdued, and the three Aztec factions: Tenochtitlan, Tezcuco, and the neighboring Tlacopan, banded together and formed the Aztec triple alliance. Tenochtitlan was easily the most powerful of the allies, and so the Tenochtitlan Revered Speaker – the title the Aztecs gave to their emperors – was the de facto leader of the empire. At this critical point, the founding of the triple alliance, I will truly begin my story.
The world in 1399:
The Aztecs were a sovereign people, for the moment. But they were wary of the threat on their borders; the large and powerful Zapoteca. The new Zapotec emperor, Zaachila II, was not particularly smart man, but he was ambitious, and he saw the existence of the Aztecs on his northern borders an unnecessary embarrassment. It was universally known that the Zapotec Emperor sought to destroy the Triple Alliance, and take Tenochtitlan for his own.
The Aztec Revered Speaker at the time was Huitzilihuitl, a relatively inexperienced and untested ruler. Huitzilihuitl understood how formidable this threat was, and so he set out to prepare for the conflict that was brewing. He sent diplomats on a daring diplomatic mission. They travelled through the zapoteca lands, evading capture by Zapotec forces, and arrived in the Mayan lands. The Maya, too, were wary of the threat the Zapoteca posed in the region. The Mayan city-states were banding together in preparation to confront the Zapoteca. They eagerly agreed to ally with the Aztecs to counter the threat.
To help seal Aztec-Mayan relations, Huitzilihuitl married one of his daughters to a Mayan nobleman.
With this important alliance secured, Emperor Huitzilihuitl set out to prepare his own nation for war. He strained the modest coffers of the empire to their limits in order to field an army capable of holding its own against the Zapoteca. He knew, however, that no matter how many troops he could raise, the Zapoteca still held the advantage in numbers, if war were to break out, it would have to be won through a coordinated strategic effort between him and the Mayan forces.
Then on that fateful day in the year 1400, a fire was lit on the temple to the sun God Huitzilopochtli, this was the formal symbol that the Aztec Empire was officially at war.
The Mayans honored the alliance Huitzilihuitl had forged
The warriors of Huitzilihuitl’s modest army kissed their families goodbye, and followed their emperor, who took personal command of the army, stalking
down into the jungle….”Chapter 2 - The One World
Chapter 2: The One World
“To you, this city is the capital of Mexico. It is one city among many, many cities around the world. But to the Aztecs, this city we’re in right now was the very heart of the world – The One World, as the Aztecs called it. The One World extended from the great desert in the north and the Apachean tribes, to the dense jungles and the remnants of the mysterious Mayan people in the south. The Aztecs’ ancestors migrated south into this area over a long period of time in small groups. Being semi nomadic, these migrants were searching for a place to settle down. Unfortunately for them, the other groups living in the region didn’t receive them very well. They had a very limited area to make their home in, and most of that area consisted of musky swampland. They looked to their chief God, Huitzilopochtli, for guidance. One day, they came upon a lake, and indeed, Huitzilopochtli gave them their guidance.
In the middle of the lake, perched on a cactus, was an eagle holding a snake in its mouth. A great omen indeed! The Aztecs rejoiced; they knew that this would be the location for their splendid city. They would call the city Tenochtitlan.
Of course, building a city on a swampy lake proved challenging, but the Aztecs made do with what they had. In time, their modest city began to grow, and as other migrants arrived, the city grew larger. Other nations began to resent their growing power, and occasionally foreign rulers even tried to subjugate the Aztecs, with mixed success. However, by the onset of the 15th century, the Aztecs had secured their nation and their city. All the very local tribes were subdued, and the three Aztec factions: Tenochtitlan, Tezcuco, and the neighboring Tlacopan, banded together and formed the Aztec triple alliance. Tenochtitlan was easily the most powerful of the allies, and so the Tenochtitlan Revered Speaker – the title the Aztecs gave to their emperors – was the de facto leader of the empire. At this critical point, the founding of the triple alliance, I will truly begin my story.
The world in 1399:
The Aztecs were a sovereign people, for the moment. But they were wary of the threat on their borders; the large and powerful Zapoteca. The new Zapotec emperor, Zaachila II, was not particularly smart man, but he was ambitious, and he saw the existence of the Aztecs on his northern borders an unnecessary embarrassment. It was universally known that the Zapotec Emperor sought to destroy the Triple Alliance, and take Tenochtitlan for his own.
The Aztec Revered Speaker at the time was Huitzilihuitl, a relatively inexperienced and untested ruler. Huitzilihuitl understood how formidable this threat was, and so he set out to prepare for the conflict that was brewing. He sent diplomats on a daring diplomatic mission. They travelled through the zapoteca lands, evading capture by Zapotec forces, and arrived in the Mayan lands. The Maya, too, were wary of the threat the Zapoteca posed in the region. The Mayan city-states were banding together in preparation to confront the Zapoteca. They eagerly agreed to ally with the Aztecs to counter the threat.
To help seal Aztec-Mayan relations, Huitzilihuitl married one of his daughters to a Mayan nobleman.
With this important alliance secured, Emperor Huitzilihuitl set out to prepare his own nation for war. He strained the modest coffers of the empire to their limits in order to field an army capable of holding its own against the Zapoteca. He knew, however, that no matter how many troops he could raise, the Zapoteca still held the advantage in numbers, if war were to break out, it would have to be won through a coordinated strategic effort between him and the Mayan forces.
Then on that fateful day in the year 1400, a fire was lit on the temple to the sun God Huitzilopochtli, this was the formal symbol that the Aztec Empire was officially at war.
The Mayans honored the alliance Huitzilihuitl had forged
The warriors of Huitzilihuitl’s modest army kissed their families goodbye, and followed their emperor, who took personal command of the army, stalking
I'd be interested to see what happens if/when you get rebels in later years. If it's anything like my attempted Chimu game, you won't be having much fun. Good luck!
Lets hope you can beat the Zapotec, but if you do crush them, what would you do about your allies the Mayans?
I loved the beginning it threw me for a loop and then you got right on track. And you declared war so soon, that could be a bit dangerous.
You really know about Aztec history, I like that! Now that the war has started, let's hope this is the beggining of the Aztec Empire.
Great stuff. I loved the beginning in particular, you had me right from the start.
I just hope you'll be ready when the europeans come knocking.
I loved the beginning in particular, you had me right from the start.I just hope you'll be ready when the europeans come knocking.
Chapter 3
Chapter 3 - Zaachila and Huitzilihuitl
“Huitzilihuitl was wary of facing the Zapoteca in open battle. Commanding the primary Zapotec army was a fearsome champion named Nguiiu Rire Binech. BInech was physically very large and imposing, and he had previously been tasked in exacting tributes from Zapotec tribes through force, earning him a reputation for harshness and brutality. He sought glory and victory, regardless of who had to suffer along the way.
Huitzilihuitl and his army moved south. His men were lightly equipped, wearing little more than their mantles and armed with obsidian spears and javelins.
The army arrived in the Tlapanec province and seized it. Wars were fought differently in those days. The people of the one world didn’t adhere to the European tradition of occupying provinces, then negotiating complex peace agreements. If you were in an area and the enemy wasn’t, then the area was yours. Might was right. That is the nature of any conflict in which a people are fighting for their very survival, as the Aztecs were.
Unbeknownst to Huitzilihuitl, however, Binech lead his Zapoteca warriors north, maneuvering around the Aztec forces, and launched a surprise attack on Huastec. Zaachila, travelling with Binech’s army, ordered the province seized and declared it part of the Zapotec Empire.
When Huitzilihuitl received word that the Zapotecs had conquered Huastec and were headed for Tenochtitlan, he was dismayed. He prayed that the Sun God would spare his beloved city.
Once again, Huitzilopochtli answered his prayers.
Huitzilihuitl soon received word that the Mayan army was invading the Zapoteca from the east, and Binech was hurriedly heading east to defend his own country’s heartland.
Huitzilihuitl was now determined to confront the Zapotec army head on. If he could rout the Zapoteca in a real battle, Binech wouldn’t be strong enough to cut off the Mayan advance toward the Zapotec capital. The showdown would take place in Tlaxcala.
The battle of Tlaxcala was a long and bloody one. Many brave Aztecs fell, but many Zapoteca were also slain. Huitzilihuitl was slightly outnumbered, but his men wanted victory, and their morale was high.
After days of fighting, the Zapotec army was retreating. The Battle of Tlaxcala was won.
With the Aztecs in control of the north and the Mayans advancing west, the Zapoteca fled westward until at long last, their army was cornered.
Binech arrived in the province of Tarasco, where he knew he would have to make his last stand.
To the north was the great desert, where he and his men would surely perish should they try to flee north. The only way to go was back toward their homeland, and that was through the Aztec and Mayan forces. The Battle of Tarasco would be the decisive battle of the war.
Like a cornered animal, the Zapoteca fought ferociously, and the Aztecs took horrid casualties, but eventually Binech was defeated once and for all.
Tarasco was added to the Aztec Empire and the Mayans seized the province of Tlapanec, which the Zapoteca had reclaimed during their northwest retreat.
The Aztecs punished Zaachila II harshly for his arrogance. Since he had sought to make the Aztecs his slaves, the Aztecs in turn made what was left of the Zapoteca a vassal of the triple alliance.
Peace was secured for the moment, but the Aztec coffers were drained, and having the Mayans so close in Tlapanec concerned many Aztecs.
The Mayans ended their alliance with the Aztecs, but they also recognized that the Aztec Empire was sovereign and would remain so.
The Aztecs celebrated victory, but they knew troubling times were ahead…”
“Huitzilihuitl was wary of facing the Zapoteca in open battle. Commanding the primary Zapotec army was a fearsome champion named Nguiiu Rire Binech. BInech was physically very large and imposing, and he had previously been tasked in exacting tributes from Zapotec tribes through force, earning him a reputation for harshness and brutality. He sought glory and victory, regardless of who had to suffer along the way.
Huitzilihuitl and his army moved south. His men were lightly equipped, wearing little more than their mantles and armed with obsidian spears and javelins.
The army arrived in the Tlapanec province and seized it. Wars were fought differently in those days. The people of the one world didn’t adhere to the European tradition of occupying provinces, then negotiating complex peace agreements. If you were in an area and the enemy wasn’t, then the area was yours. Might was right. That is the nature of any conflict in which a people are fighting for their very survival, as the Aztecs were.
Unbeknownst to Huitzilihuitl, however, Binech lead his Zapoteca warriors north, maneuvering around the Aztec forces, and launched a surprise attack on Huastec. Zaachila, travelling with Binech’s army, ordered the province seized and declared it part of the Zapotec Empire.
When Huitzilihuitl received word that the Zapotecs had conquered Huastec and were headed for Tenochtitlan, he was dismayed. He prayed that the Sun God would spare his beloved city.
Once again, Huitzilopochtli answered his prayers.
Huitzilihuitl soon received word that the Mayan army was invading the Zapoteca from the east, and Binech was hurriedly heading east to defend his own country’s heartland.
Huitzilihuitl was now determined to confront the Zapotec army head on. If he could rout the Zapoteca in a real battle, Binech wouldn’t be strong enough to cut off the Mayan advance toward the Zapotec capital. The showdown would take place in Tlaxcala.
The battle of Tlaxcala was a long and bloody one. Many brave Aztecs fell, but many Zapoteca were also slain. Huitzilihuitl was slightly outnumbered, but his men wanted victory, and their morale was high.
After days of fighting, the Zapotec army was retreating. The Battle of Tlaxcala was won.
With the Aztecs in control of the north and the Mayans advancing west, the Zapoteca fled westward until at long last, their army was cornered.
Binech arrived in the province of Tarasco, where he knew he would have to make his last stand.
To the north was the great desert, where he and his men would surely perish should they try to flee north. The only way to go was back toward their homeland, and that was through the Aztec and Mayan forces. The Battle of Tarasco would be the decisive battle of the war.
Like a cornered animal, the Zapoteca fought ferociously, and the Aztecs took horrid casualties, but eventually Binech was defeated once and for all.
Tarasco was added to the Aztec Empire and the Mayans seized the province of Tlapanec, which the Zapoteca had reclaimed during their northwest retreat.
The Aztecs punished Zaachila II harshly for his arrogance. Since he had sought to make the Aztecs his slaves, the Aztecs in turn made what was left of the Zapoteca a vassal of the triple alliance.
Peace was secured for the moment, but the Aztec coffers were drained, and having the Mayans so close in Tlapanec concerned many Aztecs.
The Mayans ended their alliance with the Aztecs, but they also recognized that the Aztec Empire was sovereign and would remain so.
The Aztecs celebrated victory, but they knew troubling times were ahead…”
Well done against the Zapotecs! Now you've earned new provinces and a vassal, let's just hope the Mayans aren't planning anything treacherous
