Tliltototl

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**Tliltototl** ("Black Bird") is the *tlacateccatl*, Second Great General of Mexico-Tenochtitlan's army. He led the caravan in which Itzcacalotl traveled at the beginning of *Codex Black* and is one of Ahuizotl's most trusted officers.

Tliltototl was originally a commoner who rose through the military ranks thanks to his achievements. Once he got in the *cuachicqueh* military order, he was noticed by Ahuizotl and promoted to the rank of *tlacateccatl*. Due to this, he acquired a noble status and became *tecuhtli* ("lord", "dignitary") of the Aztacalco district at the southwestern edge of Tenochtitlan, where he is from.

## Name

**Tliltototl** is a Nahuatl name that means "Black Bird", from *tliltic*: "black", and *tototl*: "bird".

His calendar name is **Nahui Coatl** (4-Snake), in the *Tonalpohualli* sacred calendar. (This is fictional, as Tliltototl's true birth date is unknown).

## Historical mentions

Tliltototl is a historical character that did serve as Ahuizotl's general according to different sources, however, mentions of him are extremely scarce, so other than his name and rank his portrayal in *Codex Black* is almost entirely fictional.

He is mentioned twice by Francisco Javier Clavijero in his *Historia Antigua de Mexico*:

> "Shortly after, the Mexicans went out in the company of the Texcocans against the Huexotzincas, in which battle Tezcatzin, Moctezuma's brother, and a noble Mexican officer named Tliltototl, who later became a general of the army, distinguished themselves".
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> "Tliltototl, a Mexican general, after the conclusion of the Ixquixochitlan war, brought his victorious weapons to Guatemala, more than 300 leagues southeast of the court, in whose expedition he performed, according to historians, prodigies of courage".
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Manuel Martínez Gracida also adds a mention of Tliltototl in his historical and legendary epic about King Cosijoeza, in a passage that narrates the attempt by Ahuizotl to betray the Zapotec king and seize control over Zaachila:

> "Ahuitzotl, as soon as he received the notice from the Zapotec King, ordered the army to leave Mexico; half of it, under the command of Tliltototl, through Tuxtepec, Cosamaloapam and Coatzacoalco, until falling on Tehuantepec, where he would wait for orders; and the other half, under the command of Moctezuma, through the Cañada de Cuicatlan, who would attack Zaachila, until he had finished with all the soldiers of Cosijoeza, whom he assumed to be unprepared".
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Tliltototl is never mentioned as the *tlacateccatl* in historical sources, but his appearance beside Motecuhzoma, who is known to have been Ahuizotl's *tlacochcalcatl*, as well as his description as a "general officer" commanding half of the Mexica army, makes it possible to assume that he was indeed the *tlacateccatl* during Ahuizotl's reign.

## Trivia

* When *Codex Black*'s first chapter began, Tliltototl had a different attire, however, the author later realized that said outfit belonged to the *tlacochcalcatl*, the highest ranking general, which corresponded to Motecuhzoma, so these pages were later fixed to portray Tliltototl in the proper *tlacateccatl* uniform.
* Tliltototl is well known at the Mexica capital and most warriors look up to him. He is specially well liked for his affable nature and is greeted enthusiastically wherever he goes. This is the opposite case of Motecuhzoma, whose angry expression and uptight personality usually repels those who are afraid of getting on his bad side.

## Gallery

Tliltototl first appeared wearing a tlacochcalcatl's uniform, which was later fixed.A tlacateccatl in his everyday attire, as seen in Codex MendozaA tlacateccatl in his military uniform, as seen in Codex MendozaTliltototl in his daily-life outfitTliltototl is seen in the cover for Codex Black's Chapter 7.
1. ↑ Clavijero, Francisco Javier. *Historia Antigua de México*. Mexico: Porrua, 1964. p. 122 [Original in Spanish]
2. ↑ *Idem*, p. 124 [Original in Spanish]
3. ↑ Martínez Gracida, Manuel. *El Rey Cosijoeza y Su Familia: Reseña Histórica y Legendaria de los Últimos Soberanos de Zaachila*. Mexico: 1888. p. 40.