When Tenochtitlan was founded, we remained under the control of the Tepaneca. It was under this control in which we allied ourselves with them and began to gain power through tribute and conquest. The Tepaneca under the rule of Tezozomoc had become tolerant of us as they realized we would not go away and so they used us as allies to exploit our skills in order to expand their territories. Tezozomoc also forced us to pay him a yearly tribute in order to remain in Tenochtitlan as Tepaneca subjects.

The first tlatoani (speaker of the people) of the Mexica was Tenuch. Tenuch was also accompanied by nine assistants; Xokoyol, Tecineuh, Ozelopan, Akakitli, Kuapan, Ahuexotl, Xomimitl, Atototl, and Xiuhkakui but Tenuch clearly had the duty of tlatoani and his role became more important once we were allied with the Tepaneca.

The following is a list of the tlatoane and the state of Tenochtitlan under their guidance.

Acamapichtli -
The Years: 1376 (Ze Tecpatl) - 1396 (Chikoei Tecpatl)
The Ruler: Acamapichtli was the son of a Mexica father and a mother from Colhuacan. Through his mother he gained a connection to the prestigious Tolteca. His succession to the Tenoctitlan tlatoani position was sanctioned by the most powerful city-state in the valley of Mexico at that time, Azcapotzalco.
The Conquests: As Tepaneca subjects, the Mexica under Acamapichtli engaged in wars on behalf of Tezozomoc. Under this rule, Acamapichtli conquered three communities in the southern chinampa zone: Mizquic, Cuitlahuac, and Xochimilco. Acamapichtli was also involved with the conquests of Kuahuakan, and Chimalhuacan.

Huitzilihuitl -
The Years: 1397 (Chikonaui Kalli) - 1417 (Yei Kalli)
The Ruler: Son of Acamapichtli. He spent considerable energy in building up Tenochtitlan (especially the temples), establishing laws, and enhancing religious affairs. Huitzilihuitl made a very important move when he married the grandaughter of Tezozomoc; this move clearly improved our standing under the rule of thetTepaneca.
The Conquests: Toltitlan, Kuauhtitlan, Chalco, Tulancinco, Xaltocan, Otunpa, Tezcoco, and Acolma.

Chimalpopoca -
The Years: 1418 (Naui Tochtli) - 1427 (Mahtlaktli iuan Yei Acatl)
The Ruler: Son of Huitzilihuitl. He was also a favored grandson of Tezozomoc who continued to rule Azcapotzalco. Tribute demands on the Mexica began to be reduced at this time and the standard of living in Tenochtitlan greatly improved with the replacemnt of huts with stone dwellings. A very important event occured during this time: Tezozomoc died in 1426. When Tezozomoc died, two of his sons, Maxtla and Tayauh, were competing for the now vacant tlatoani position in Azcapotzalco. Maxtla eventually succeeded and became tlatoani. Chimalpopoca unfortunately supported the losing brother, Tayauh, and Maxtla had him put to death in 1427.
The Conquests: Tekuixkuiac, and Chalco (Chalco had rebelled against Tenochtitlan and the hostilities would not end here as many other tlatoane are attributed with conquering Chalco)

Itzcoatl -
The Years: 1428 (Ze Tecpatl) - 1440 (Mahtlaktli iuan Yei Tecpatl)
The Ruler: Son of Acamapichtli, brother of Huitzilihuitl, and uncle of Chimalpopoca. He was already a known man of valor, being 46 years old when he assumed the tlatoani position in Tenochtitlan. With Itzcoatl, the Mexica moved from a position of subservience to one of dominance. Itzcoatl's greatest military feat came early during his rule: the toppling of the powerful Tepanec empire centered at Azcapotzalco. Itzcoatl aggressively allied himself with the struggling ruler in exile of the Acolhua, Nezahualcoyotl and together they destroyed the Tepaneca forces. In 1430, the Triple Alliance was formed between Tenochtitlan, Texoco and Tlacopan in which the three agreed to ally themselves as one unit in order to better control their subjugated city-states.
The Conquests: With the fall of the Tepaneca, the Mexica found it necessary to establish their own control over these restless towns. Coyoacan, Xochimilco, Mizquic, Cuitlahuac, Kuekalan, Kakualpan, Yztepec, Yoalan, Tepekuakuilko, Kuauhnahuac, and Xiuhtepec

One of the most important people of Mexica history is a man named Tlacaelel who held the position of Cihuacoatl, Vice-Tlatoani. Tlacaelel was a man with a tremendous wisdom and knowledge. He is the one responsible for leading the Mexica rise to power as he advised many tlatoane wisely and these tlatoane wouldnt not make a decision without his guidance. If it was not for Tlacaelel, Itzcoatl would have never rebelled against the Tepaneca. Itzcoatl actually wanted to surrender to Maxtla and make Tenochtitlan a subservient city of the Tepaneca. When Tlacaelel heard this, he said:

"What is this, Mexicans? What are you doing? You are out of your minds. Wait, be still, let us take further account of this matter. Is there such cowardice that we must mingle with those from Azcapotzalco?" And turning to Itzcoatl, he said, "Sire, what is this? How can you permit such a thing? Speak to your people. Let some means be sought for our defense and our honor, and let us not offer ourselves so ignominiously to our enemies." (Aztec Thought and Culture pg. 160)

It is said that Tlacaelel influenced Itzcoatl so greatly that "he did only what Tlacaelel advised him to do."

Motecuhzoma Ilhuicamina -
The Years: 1441 (Ze Kalli) - 1469 (Yei Kalli)
The Ruler: Son of Huitzilihuitl and nephew of Itzcoatl. He was well over forty years old when he succeeded to the Mexica rulershiop, a man of considerable experience. He is described as being "very serious, severe and virtuous...of good temper and judgement, and an enemy of evil." His life-style did not include indulging in wine and women and he reportedly fathered only two sons, a suprisingly small number. There were many calamities during this time however. They began with a locust plague in 1446, followed by serious flooding in the island city of Tenochtitlan in 1449 (Motecuhzoma requested a massive dike to be engineered by Nezahualcoyotl of Texcoco). Then in 1450, there was a famine which lasted four years. Some Mexica were forced to sell themselves into slavery to the well fed people of the "hot lands" of the Gulf Coast. After this terrible famine, the year Tochtli would always be viewed as unlucky.
The Conquests: Chalco, Morelos, Guerrero, Coayxtlahuacan, Atotonilco, and portions of Huaxtec, Totonac, and Tepeacac

Axayacatl -
The Years: 1470 (Naui Tochtli) - 1481 (Ome Kalli)
The Ruler: Axayacatl was very young and inexperienced when he became tlatoani at the age of nineteen but he was seen as having great potential especially in the eyes of Tlacaelel. As Motecuhzoma Ilhuicamina left no legitimate children, the electoral process became extremely important. Axayacatl was a grandson of Motecuhzoma Ilhuicamina. His interests focused on warfare and conquest rather than internal affairs, although he made sure to enforce the laws established by his grandfather. Unfortunately, early in his career, he lost two of the wisest and most experienced advisors in Mexica history: The Cihuacoatl Tlacaelel and the Texcocan Tlatoani Nezahualcoyotl. Both died in the early 1470's.
The Conquests: Cuetlaxtlan, Tepeacac, Tlatelolco, Toluca, Huaxtec, northern Gulf Coast (Axayacatl made a signifigant military mistake when he attacked the Tarascans of Micchuacan; modern-day Michoacan. The Mexica were vastly outnumbered and reportedly lost thousands of warriors and this was the first great defeat suffered by the Mexica)

Tizoc -
The Years: 1482 (Yei Tochtli) - 1486 (Chikome Tochtli)
The Ruler: Tizoc was the worst tlatoani of the Mexica. "He preffered to seclude himslef in his palace, showing little interest in public affairs and even less in wars to enhance the glory of the Mexica." Due to his insolence, Tizoc probably did not die of natural causes but perhaps by sorcery or poisoning. It is no coincedence that the tlatoani following Tlacaelel's death was not a good one.
The Conquests: Tonali imokuekayan, Toxico, Ecatepec, Zilan, Tecaxic, Tuluca, Yancuitlan, Tlapan, Atezchuacan, Macatlan, Xochiyetla, Tamapachco, Ecatl Ikuapechco, and Mikuetlan

Ahuitzotl -
The Years: 1487 (Chikoei Acatl) - 1502 (Mahtlaktli Tochtli)
The Ruler: Ahuitzotl was Tizoc's younger brother and was in contrast a high-ranking military officer (Tlacatecatl). Ahuitzotl proved himself to be the greatest of the Mexica leaders who led his troops in person, suffering their hardships and sharing their victories. He was also the father of the great Cuauhtemoc. As fierce as Ahuitzotl was on the battlefield, he was kind and lavish to his friends. He entertained them and it is said that "the music never ceased, day or night." His expenditures cost Tenochtitlan dearly however and the needs of the city could barely be met even by the rapidly expanding tribute demands.
The Conquests: Cihuatlan, Tlapan, Tehuantepec, Xoconochco, Teloloapan, Alahuiztlan, Oztoma, Xikuipilco, Chiapan, and Xilotepec

Motecuhzoma Xocoyotzin -
The Years: 1503 (Mahtlaktli iuan Ze) - 1520 (Ome Tecpatl)
The Ruler: Motecuhzoma was the son of Axayacatl and Ahuitzotl's nephew. He was thirty five when he assumed the tlatoani position and was already a man of accomplishment "renowned for military valor, political skill, and religious piety." He was devoutly religous and was known as a philosopher and astrologer, wise in the arts.
The Conquests: Motecuhzoma Xocoyotzin did not extend the boundaries beyond those established by his aggressive predecessor; instead he spent his rulership consolidating conquests within those bounds.