Hello and welcome to a history of the United States.

Membership feed. Episode 4, War of Flowers.

Come with the hour, come with the man.

This was very much the case with Aztec expansion.

Following the death of its coattel in 1440,

it is hard to think of anyone who would be better suited to take

control of the Aztec state than Moktizuma. He came to the throne at the age of 42, in his prime.

His skills were tempered during the campaigns against the Tepaneca, and he emerged as a man with a great

reputation as both a soldier and a statesman. He was not to rule alone. His brother, Tlaqa Ellel,

would serve as a counsellor and as his best advisor. I'm sure it will not surprise you that it was customary

for a new Aztec ruler to begin their reign with a military campaign. It was a way of showing

that they were suitable for the task that they had been given. Moctezuma was to begin his reign

by waging war against Chalco. The Chalka was to begin his reign by waging war against Chalco.

The Chalka were one of the last of the Aztecs neighbours to be attacked.

They were a powerful confederacy, with at least 13 separate rulers.

Chalco being the capital.

The Chalka had not gotten involved with the Aztecs war on the Tepaneca, and the Aztecs had not been too keen on attacking them. This was not going to be a campaign

where the only thing they needed to do to win was show up. It would be tough.

We saw in our last episode the significance of estate asking for stone and wood to construct a temple,

and Moctezuma wanted to build a new temple to Witchley Apoccily. The old one was, well, pretty old, and it was time for an

upgrade. Messages were sent out to the Aztec vassals, and also to Chalco. The Chalca refused,

and said that they would prefer war rather than yield to the request.

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