Migration Accounts in Ixtlilxochitl’s Histories
Fernando de Alva Ixtlilxochitl (c. 1578–1650) describes many migrations in his relaciones and in his Historia de la nación chichimeca. This table collects 18 of them, one per row. Each row gives who moved, from where to where, how long he says the journey took, his dates, and the stops in his own spelling, with links to the pages of the Chavero edition (1891–92). It also notes whether other early chroniclers tell the same story. For more on the sources, see Aztec, Mixtec, Maya & Early Spanish Codices, Manuscripts and Histories.
Sources and caveats
Every row comes from the OCR text of Alfredo Chavero’s edition of the Obras históricas de D. Fernando de Alva Ixtlilxochitl. Vol. I (1891) has the Sumaria relación (the Toltec relaciones, plus the Historia de los señores chichimecas), the Compendio histórico, the Relación sucinta, the Sumaria relación general and a variant Historia chichimeca. Vol. II (1892) has the Historia de la nación chichimeca (HCh). Quotes keep his spelling. Chavero’s and Ramírez’s footnotes are left out unless a cell says so.
Where he gives no figure the cell says “— not stated”. He rarely counts days: only the Toltec land itinerary gives days and leagues. Elsewhere durations are years of wandering (104, 49, 180) or nothing at all. OCR-garbled names are flagged, and his versions often disagree with each other on dates and leaders.
About the comparison column. The notes on other chroniclers are summaries drawn from general knowledge of those works and from the companion article, not quotations. The texts of Codex Aubin, the Crónica Mexicayotl, Chimalpahin, Mendieta and Torquemada were not checked line by line.
The migrations
18 migrations, one per row. The table is wide: scroll sideways to see every column.
| Migration | Date(s) | Group & leaders | From → To | Duration (as stated) | Stops / cities in order (as spelled) | Work, chapter & scan | Other early chroniclers | Contradictions / OCR flags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Post-flood dispersal from the tower (Zacualli) and the Toltec journey to Huehuetlapallan Toltec | Ce Tecpatl, 'que había 520 años que el Diluvio' (no AD year) First Age? | Tultecas: 'hasta siete compañeros con sus mujeres'; no leaders named | The 'Zacualli' (torre altísima) built after the flood → 'diversas partes del mundo' → Huehue Tlapallan | 'anduvieron 104 años por diferentes partes del mundo'; 'habiendo primero pasado grandes tierras y mares, viviendo en las cuevas' | — not stated. Second Age? (only 'grandes tierras y mares') | Sumaria relación, Rel. 1, Vol. I p. 12 | The flood and ages framework parallels the Leyenda de los Soles and Anales de Cuauhtitlan (Codex Chimalpopoca) suns, but no other native source has a tower or confusion of tongues. That motif matches Durán's Cholula tower story and Genesis 11, so it is probably a post-conquest gloss. The Toltec origin in Huehuetlapallan recurs in Torquemada and later Veytia, who drew on Ixtlilxochitl's material. | Biblical framing (tower, tongues). No AD year given. |
| 2. Chichimecatl, first Chichimec king, comes from 'la gran Tartaria' Chichimec | — not stated | Chichimecatl and his people, 'de los de la división de Babilonia' | 'la gran Tartaria' → 'esta tierra', settling mostly in the north; ancestors 'vinieron … de las partes Occidentales' | 'anduviese con ellos discurriendo por la mayor parte del mundo' — no days or years stated | — not stated | Compendio histórico, Rel. 1, Vol. I pp. 16–17 | No native pictorial or annal has a Tartary or Babel origin; this is Ixtlilxochitl's own European-style reconciliation. Other sources put the Chichimec homeland at Chicomoztoc in the north: Historia Tolteca-Chichimeca, Anales de Cuauhtitlan, Codex Xolotl, and Torquemada (who uses Amaquemecan). | Learned European gloss, not from the native record. |
| 3. Ulmecas and Xicalancas arrive by sea from the East Other early peoples | Third age; no year | Ulmecas (Olmecas) and Xicalancas; no leaders named | 'de la parte de Oriente' by sea → 'la tierra de Potonchan' → banks of the río Atoyac between Puebla and Cholula, where they killed the surviving giants at a banquet | — not stated | Potonchan → río Atoyac (Puebla–Cholula) → Cholula | Historia chichimeca, Cap. I, Vol. II p. 22 Historia chichimeca (variant), Cap. I, Vol. I pp. 19–20 Sumaria relación general, Vol. I p. 470 ('Papuha', OCR) | Historia Tolteca-Chichimeca: Olmeca-Xicallanca are the lords of Cholula whom the Tolteca-Chichimeca later overthrow. Sahagún (Florentine Codex Bk 10, ch. 29): the first settlers came by sea and landed at Panutla (Pánuco). Mendieta and Motolinía list Olmecatl and Xicalancatl among the sons of Iztac Mixcoatl at Chicomoztoc. Durán and the article's notes: the giants (Quiname) of Puebla and Cholula were killed at a banquet, the same story. | The landing place is Potonchan in Vol. II and Vol. I but 'Papuha' in the Sumaria relación general (OCR or variant). |
| 4. Quetzalcoatl (Huemac) comes, preaches, and departs eastward Other early peoples | 'algunos años después de la Encarnación'; the Cholula temple is named Ce Acatl after 'el nombre del año de su venida'; promised to return in a year Ce Acatl | Quetzalcoatl, 'por otro nombre Huemac' | Arrives among the Ulmeca and Xicalanca cities, especially Cholula → 'se volvió por la misma parte de donde había venido, que fué por la de Oriente, desapareciéndose por la costa de Coatzacoalco' | — not stated | Cholula → coast of Coatzacoalco | Historia chichimeca, Cap. I, Vol. II pp. 23–24 Historia chichimeca (variant), Cap. I, Vol. I p. 20 | Sahagún (Bk 3 and Bk 10, ch. 29): Quetzalcoatl leaves Tula for Tlapallan, going east toward the sea. Anales de Cuauhtitlan and Leyenda de los Soles: Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl departs to Tlillan Tlapallan in a year 1 Acatl. Durán (Libro de los dioses, cap. 1): Topiltzin-Quetzalcoatl leaves Tula. Cortés's 2nd letter: Moctezuma's speech that the ancestors' lord left and was expected back. Torquemada and Mendieta tell the same departure. Ixtlilxochitl differs by placing Quetzalcoatl soon after the Incarnation, among the Olmecs, long before Tula. | Ixtlilxochitl splits the Quetzalcoatl tradition. Here he is an early preacher; Topiltzin of Tula (row 8) gets the Tlapallan flight and the Ce Acatl return. |
| 5. Toltec exile from Huehuetlapallan to Tulantzinco and Tula: detailed land itinerary Toltec | Exiled 13 Acatl; left the next year, Ce Tecpatl, '439 de la Encarnación' (Rel. 1). At Chimalhuacan Atenco: 4th year Tochtli = 27 years, 466 AD. At Tulantzinco: Ce Tecpatl, 104 years, 543 AD. Arrival at Tula: Ce Calli, 556 (Rel. 3). | Tultecas, exiled with the lords Chalcatzin and Tlacamihtzin; guide and astrologer Huematzin. Discoverers of each stop: Cecatzin, Cohuatzon, Xiuhcohuatl, Mexotzin, Acapichtzin, Chalcatzin, Tlapalmetzin, Metzotzin(?), Acamapichtzin (names partly OCR-garbled) | Huehuetlapallan (city of Tlachicatzinco, OCR) → Tulantzinco → Tula | Stated per leg as days and leagues ('doce días … setenta leguas', 'veinte días arreo … más de cien leguas', 18 days ≈ 80 leagues, 28 days ≈ 140 leagues). The stated legs add up to 228 days; that sum is my arithmetic. Each stay lasted 3–26 years; 'ocho años … haciendo guerra' at the start. The text counts one age (104 years) by the 3rd year at Tulantzinco. | Tlapallanconco (3 years) → Hueyxallan (4) → Xalixco (8) → Chimalhuacan Atenco (5) → Tochpan (5) → Quiyahuiztlan Anahuac (6) → Zacatlan (7) → Totzapan (6) → Tepetla (7) → Mazatepec (8) → Xiuhcohuac (8) → Iztachuexucan (26) → Tulantzinco ('casi diez y seis años') → Tula. People were left to settle at every stop. | Sumaria relación, Rel. 1, Vol. I p. 14 Sumaria relación, Rel. 2, Vol. I pp. 22–27 Sumaria relación, Rel. 3, Vol. I pp. 29–30 | No other source has this stop list. Torquemada (Monarquía indiana Bk 1) has the Toltecs come from Huehuetlapallan, settle Tollantzinco and then Tollan, as the article notes. Sahagún Bk 10 and the Anales de Cuauhtitlan have Toltecs at Tollan but no Huehuetlapallan exodus. Historia Tolteca-Chichimeca begins the story at Tollan itself. Veytia later repeats this itinerary from Ixtlilxochitl. | OCR-garbled names: 'ITapaUanconco', 'ChimaOinacan', 'AcapuMdn', 'Chacatdn', 'Tulzapan', 'Tepeda', 'Iztachueamcaj', 'Jlfefeofcsin'. One garbled phrase reads 'cada jornada … doce días'. A day's march is given as 'seis leguas': that fits 12 days ≈ 70 leagues, but not the 18-day ≈ 80-league legs. The dates conflict with row 6 (387/503 AD) and with the Relación sucinta (432/536/556). |
| 6. Toltec exile to Tulantzinco and Tula: coastal and sea version, plus short versions Toltec | HCh Vol. II: Ce Tecpatl 387; first king Chicome Acatl 510. HCh variant Vol. I: Ce Tecpatl 387 AD. Compendio: left Ce Tecpatl 386; Tollan begun Ce Calli 503; king 509. Relación sucinta: left 432; Tollantzinco Ce Tecpatl 536; king Chicome Acatl 556 AD. | Tultecas under seven caudillos. HCh: Tlacomihua (or Acatl), Chalchiuhmatzin, Ahuecatl, Coatzon, Tziuhcoatl, Tlapalhuitz, Huitz. Compendio: Chalcatzin, Acatl, Ehecatl, Cohuatzon, Mazacohuatl(?), Xiuhcohuatl, Tlapalhuitz, Huitz (OCR) | HCh and Sumaria general: by the 'mar del Sur' 'hasta donde es ahora la California' → Huey Tlapallan (the sea of Cortés) → coast of Xalisco → Huatulco → Tochtepec → Tolantzinco → Tollan. Compendio: from Huey Xalac, 'caminando siempre por la vía de Oriente'. Relación sucinta: from Huehuetlapallan 'en diversas partes del mundo' to Tollantzinco. | 'contaron 104 años que habían salido de su patria' (at Tolantzinco). Compendio: stayed 'tres, cuatro ó más años' at each place. Relación sucinta: 'anduvieron ciento cuatro años' (OCR 'derUo cuatro'), i.e. 432 → 536. | California (by sea) → Huey Tlapallan → Xalisco coast → Huatulco → Tochtepec → Tolantzinco → Tollan. Compendio and Relación sucinta: no stops named before Tollantzinco. | Historia chichimeca, Cap. II, Vol. II pp. 26–28 Historia chichimeca (variant), Cap. II, Vol. I pp. 27–28 Compendio histórico, Rel. 3, Vol. I pp. 64–65 Compendio, Rel. 3 extracto, Vol. I p. 34 Relación sucinta, Rel. 1, Vol. I p. 69 Sumaria relación general, Vol. I p. 471 | Torquemada: from Huehuetlapallan to Tollantzinco and then Tollan, with kings ruling 52 years each (the article cites this). No Mexica or Chalca annal (Codex Aubin, Chimalpahin, Crónica Mexicayotl) gives a Toltec sea voyage. The Anales de Cuauhtitlan date Toltec rulers from the 8th century, centuries later than Ixtlilxochitl's 386–510. | Contradiction: departure 387 (Vol. II) vs 887 (Vol. I variant) vs 386 (Compendio) vs 432 (Relación sucinta) vs 439 (Sumaria relación). 887 is probably a print or OCR error for 387. Tula: begun 503 (Compendio) vs arrival 556 (Sumaria relación) vs king 556 (Relación sucinta). |
| 7. Topiltzin's flight from Tula to Tlapallan Toltec | Destruction Ce Tecpatl 1011 AD (Sumaria relación) / 958 (Compendio) / 959 (HCh) / 1004 AD (Relación sucinta) | Topiltzin (Ameconetzin) with a few servants and Toltecs | Tula → Xico (cave near Tlalmanalco), where he hid → back to Xico → 'partió para Tlapallan caminando de noche por desiertos'. Tlapallan is described as a 'provincia que cae hasta la mar del Sur', 'hacia donde el sol sale'. The Compendio has him go 'por la tierradentro hasta Tlapallan, ó según otros Hueyxalac, antigua patria'. | Night marches through deserts. Lived 'casi treinta años' in Tlapallan; died aged 104. Promised to return 'de allí á quinientos doce años … en el año de ce Acatl'. | Tula → Xico → Culhuacan (addressed his people there) → Xico → Tlapallan | Sumaria relación, Rel. 5, Vol. I pp. 54–55 Compendio histórico, Rel. 3, Vol. I p. 67 Historia chichimeca, Cap. III, Vol. II pp. 32–33 | Anales de Cuauhtitlan and Sahagún Bk 3: Quetzalcoatl (not Topiltzin as a separate king) leaves Tula for Tlapallan and the east. Anales de Cuauhtitlan: Huemac, the last Toltec king, flees and dies at Cincalco in Chapultepec, a cave refuge like Xico. Durán: Topiltzin flees Tula. The article notes the Codex Chimalpopoca dates Tula's end and the Toltec dispersal to 1064. | The HCh says 'nunca más se supo dé él', with no Tlapallan journey. The Sumaria relación adds that many natives say he is still in Xico. The 512-year Ce Acatl return is read as foretelling 1519, but 1011 + 512 = 1523, so his numbers do not line up. |
| 8. Dispersal of the Toltec survivors after the fall of Tula Toltec | Ce Tecpatl 1011, 28 April (Sumaria relación); 958 (Compendio); 959 (HCh); 1004 (Relación sucinta) | Toltec nobles and commoners: Pochotl with his nurse Tochcueye; at Culhuacan, Xiuhtemol, Nauhyotl and others; Mitl and Cohuaxuchitl; Nacaxoc; Cohuatl; priests at Cholula; Xiutzin and Oztaxuchitl | Tula → lagoons and sierras; 'por las costas' (Guatimala, Tecuantepec, Quauhtzacualco, Campeche, Tecolotlan, the islands). Survivors gathered at Culhuacan (1,612 people) and split into five parts: four 'hacia las cuatro partes del mundo', the fifth (~400) stayed. HCh adds Nicaragua: 'algunos … no pasaron sino hasta la tierra de Nicaragua'. | — not stated | Sumaria relación: Chiuhnauhtlan → Xaltocan → Teotihuacan → Totolapan (pursuit); refuges at Malacatepec, Totzatepec, Tototepec, Quauhquechollan, Tepexomaco, Tlatzallan, Chapoltepec, Culhuacan. HCh: Chapoltepec, Colhuacan, Tlatzalantepexoxoma, Totolapan, Quauhquecholan, Tozapan, Tochpan, Tziuhcoac, Xicotepec, Cholula. Pochotl: 'desiertos de Nonoalco' (HCh); later at Cuauhtlitenco near Tula (Sumaria relación Rel. 2). | Sumaria relación, Rel. 5, Vol. I pp. 54–59 Historia chichimeca, Cap. III–IV, Vol. II pp. 32–37 Compendio, Rel. 3, Vol. I p. 67 Relación sucinta, Rel. 1, Vol. I p. 70 | Historia Tolteca-Chichimeca: Tolteca-Chichimeca and Nonoalca split at Tollan; the Nonoalca leave and the Tolteca go to Cholula. That matches Ixtlilxochitl's Cholula priests and Nonoalco. Sahagún Bk 10, ch. 29: Toltecs scatter after Quetzalcoatl leaves. Codex Aubin and Chimalpahin start the Mexica migration around the end of Tula. The article notes the Codex Chimalpopoca puts the Toltec dispersal in 1064, about 50–100 years later than Ixtlilxochitl. | OCR garbles the refuge list ('Mallauxiuhcohtuic^ Macaiepec … Tepexomaco-ilazaUan'). Dates conflict: 958, 959, 1004, 1011 (a footnote in the Vol. I text says 1012). |
| 9. Xolotl's Chichimec migration from the north (Chicomoztoc / Oyome) to Tenayuca Chichimec | HCh: 5 years after Tula's fall, Macuili Tecpatl 963. Compendio: left in Ome Calli, the year after Tula's fall; reached Tula Macuili Tecpatl 962. Sumaria relación: left 1012; at Xoloc in 5 Tecpatl 1015; Tenayuca 1015. Relación sucinta: reached Tula 6 Tecpatl 1009. Sumaria relación general: 'novecientos noventa y tres' (footnote: 968 in the MS). | Xolotl, his wife Tomiyauh (lady of Tampico) and prince Nopaltzin, with six lords: Acatomatl, Quahuatlapal, Cozcaquauh, Mitliztac, Tecpan, Iztacquauhtli (HCh spellings). Numbers: 'más de un millón' (HCh); 3,002,200 (Sumaria relación, counted with pebbles at Nepohualco); 1,600,000 (Compendio) | HCh: 'de hacia la parte septentrional … Chicomoztoc' → Tolan (in ruins, not settled) → Tenayocan Oztopolco. Sumaria relación and Relación sucinta: from the city of Oyome, capital of the Chichimecs, where his brother Achcauhtzin stayed as king. | Sumaria relación: 'andubo dos años por diversas partes, dando vueltas'. Compendio: 'casi cuatro años' exploring. HCh: — not stated. | Sumaria relación: Cuextecatlichocayan → Cohuatlicamac → Tepenec → Tula → Mizquiahuala → 'Ihiopan' (OCR) → Xoloc (caves near Xaltocan). Then Cempoallan → Tepepulco → Oztotl → Cahuacan → Tepetepec(?) → cerro Atonan → back to Xoloc. Nopaltzin: Oztoticpac → Cohuatlipac → Tepetlaoztoc → Tzinacanoztoc → Cuauhyacac → Patlachiuhcan → Tetzcotzinco → sierra of Tlaloc → Oztoticpac (Texcoco) → Huexotla → Tlachachalco (Coatlichan) → Oztotlitlacoyan → back to Xoloc via Teotihuacan. Finally Tenayuca. Demarcation circuit: Xocotitlan, Chiuhnauhtecatl, Malinalco, Itzocan, Atlixcahuacan, Temalacayocan, Poyauhtecatl, Xiuhtecuhtitlan, Zacatlan, Tenamitec, Cuauhchinanco, Tototepec, Meztitlan, Cuachquetzaloyan, Atotonilco, Cuahuacan, back to Xocotitlan. | Historia chichimeca, Cap. IV, Vol. II pp. 34–36 Sumaria relación (Señores chichimecas), Rel. 1–2, Vol. I pp. 78–88 Compendio, Rel. 5, Vol. I pp. 267–268 Relación sucinta, Rel. 3, Vol. I pp. 275–276 Sumaria relación general, Vol. I p. 474 | Codex Xolotl (Texcocan pictorial, one of Ixtlilxochitl's main sources): Xolotl's arrival, Tula, Tenayuca, Nopaltzin's reconnaissance and the boundary hills. Torquemada (Bk 1): same story, homeland called Amaquemecan. Historia Tolteca-Chichimeca and Anales de Cuauhtitlan: Chichimecs leave Chicomoztoc, but under other leaders (no Xolotl). Mexica sources (Boturini, Aubin, Crónica Mexicayotl) do not mention Xolotl's migration. | Dates span 962–1015. The HCh names Chicomoztoc; the Sumaria relación and Relación sucinta name Oyome. Population figures differ threefold. OCR-garbled stop names in the Sumaria relación. |
| 10. The six later Chichimec lords who follow Xolotl Chichimec | HCh: 'poco más de veinte años' after Xolotl. Sumaria relación and Relación sucinta: 8 years after his arrival. | Xiyotecua, Xiyotzoncua, Zacatitechcochi, Huihuaxtzin, Tepotzoteaca, Itzcuintecua (HCh). Sumaria relación: Xiotecua, Xiotzonecua, Zacatitexcotzin, Huitzihuaxtzin, Tepotzotecua(?), Izcuitecah | The Chichimec homeland ('de allá de su patria') → Xolotl's realm; settled at Tepetlaoztoc, Oztotipac, Tenayucan | HCh: 'entrando cada caudillo un año tras otro'. Sumaria relación: the first 8 years after Xolotl, the next one year later, four more 4 years after that. | — not stated | Historia chichimeca, Cap. IV, Vol. II p. 38 Sumaria relación, Rel. 2, Vol. I pp. 89–90 Relación sucinta, Rel. 4, Vol. I p. 276 Relación de los demás señores, Vol. I pp. 452–453 | Codex Xolotl shows later Chichimec arrivals settled around Tepetlaoztoc. No Mexica or Chalca source has them. | Internal contradiction: 'Relación de los demás señores' calls these later six 'también Tultecas' and names different men (Izcaz, Pixahua, Quetzalpopoca, Nacacxoc, Acxocuauh…). |
| 11. Arrival of the Acolhuas, Tepanecas and Otomíes from beyond Michoacán Chichimec | HCh: 47 years after Xolotl, 52 after Tula, 1011. Compendio: 52 years after Tula and 47 after Xolotl (no AD). Relación sucinta: 4 Tecpatl 1056. Sumaria relación: same year as the grants, Ce Tecpatl 1063. | Three lords: Acolhua (Tepanecas) → Azcapotzalco; Chiconquauh (Otomíes) → Xaltocan; Tzontecomatl (Acolhuas) → Coatlichan. Xolotl married them to his daughters Cuetlaxochitl and Cihuaxochitl. | 'salieron de las últimas tierras de la provincia de Michuacan' (HCh); Otomíes 'de la otra parte de aquel mar … bermejo … Californias'. Sumaria relación: 'de adelante de las provincias de Michuacan'. Then to Xolotl at Tenayuca. | Sumaria relación: 'andubieron por diversas partes cuarenta y nueve años'. Others: — not stated. | — not stated (Michoacán → Tenayuca) | Historia chichimeca, Cap. V, Vol. II pp. 40–41 Sumaria relación, Rel. 3, Vol. I pp. 93–95 Compendio, Rel. 5, Vol. I p. 269 Relación sucinta, Rel. 4, Vol. I p. 276 Sumaria relación general, Vol. I p. 474 | Codex Xolotl shows the three arriving lords. Torquemada names the same three. Durán, Codex Ramírez and the Crónica Mexicayotl count the Tepanecas among the Nahua tribes from the seven caves (Chicomoztoc/Aztlan), not from Michoacán. Mendieta and Motolinía give Otomitl as a son of Iztac Mixcoatl. | Dates: 1011 vs 1056 vs 1063. The Sumaria relación says they were neighbors of the 'Hueytlapaltecas' who destroyed the Toltecs. |
| 12. Xochimilcas from Aquilazco Other early peoples | Before Tlotzin's death (Ce Tochtli 1194 in the Sumaria relación); no year of arrival | Xochimilcas, led by Huetzalin and then Acatonale | Aquilazco ('que cae hacia el Poniente') → 'muchas y diversas tierras, costas y brazos de mar' → Tula → Xochimilco (granted by Tlotzin) | '180 años hasta ponerse en Tula'; Huetzalin 'vivió seiscientos [OCR 'seisdenio»'] y tantos años, cosa increíble' | Aquilazco → … → Tula → Xochimilco | Sumaria relación, Rel. 5, Vol. I p. 111 Relación del origen de los xochimilcas, Vol. I pp. 454–456 | Durán and Codex Ramírez: the Xochimilcas are the first of the Nahuatlaca tribes to leave the seven caves and settle on the lake. Crónica Mexicayotl, Codex Boturini and Aubin: Xochimilcas among the Aztlan groups. Chimalpahin: a Xochimilca tradition separate from the Chalca. All agree they arrived before the Mexica; only Ixtlilxochitl names Aquilazco and Huetzalin. | The opening of the 'Origen' text was missed by my cleaned file; checked against the raw OCR (p. 454). |
| 13. Toltec family of Huetzitin flees from Chapoltepec through Michoacán to Aztlan (prelude to the Mexica) Mexica | Leaves at Tula's destruction; no separate year | Huetzitin's family (Toltec lineage), later Ozelopan (Ocelopan) II | 'el puerto de Chapoltepec' → 'por las tierras del reino de Michhuacan' → 'la provincia de Aztlan … en lo último de Xalixco' | 'después de haber peregrinado muchos años en diversas tierras y provincias' | Chapoltepec → Michhuacan → Aztlan | Historia chichimeca, Cap. X, Vol. II p. 62 Sumaria relación general, Vol. I p. 476 | Durán and Codex Ramírez also take the Mexica through Michoacán (some stay at Pátzcuaro). Codex Boturini, Aubin and the Crónica Mexicayotl start the migration at Aztlan itself, with no prior Toltec flight from Chapultepec. | The Sumaria relación general says Ocelopan was son of 'OeUe' (OCR), 'aquel caballero que arriba se dijo' who went to Michoacán. Tie to Huetzitin is not certain. |
| 14. Mexica (Aztlanecas) arrive in the Valley of Mexico Mexica | Year Tlotzin died: HCh 1141 (Ce Tochtli); Compendio 1140; Relación sucinta Ce Toxtli 1189; Sumaria relación 1194–1195. Lords given 1214 (Relación sucinta) or 1220 (Sumaria relación). | 'Aztlanecas, que ahora se llaman Mexicanos'. HCh: Ozelopan with Izcahui, Cuexpalatl, Yopi ('y según otros Aztlal y Acatl'), his sister Matlalatl; idol Huitzilopochtli. Sumaria relación general: Ocelopan, Yopiatzone, Izcahui. Sumaria relación Rel. 6: four captains and Matlalcihuatzin. | Aztlan ('en lo último de Xalixco') → Chapoltepec → Culhuacan → the lagoon in Azcapotzalco lands. Compendio: Chapoltepec (expelled by the Tlacopan people) → Acapichtlan ('cien días sirviendo á Coxcox') → Culhuacan (king Calquiyauhtzin) → by night into the marsh at Iztacalco → Azcapotzalco's lagoon. | 'peregrinado muchos años'. Compendio: 100 days serving Coxcox. Sumaria relación Rel. 6: 'estuvieron allí cien [días? OCR]' at Culhuacan. | Aztlan → Chapoltepec → Acapichtlan → Culhuacan → Iztacalco → Tenochtitlan/Tlatelolco | Historia chichimeca, Cap. X, Vol. II p. 62 Sumaria relación, Rel. 5–6, Vol. I pp. 111–119 Compendio, Rel. 7, Vol. I pp. 280–282 Relación sucinta, Rel. 6, Vol. I pp. 284–285 Sumaria relación general, Vol. I p. 476 Relación sucinta, Continuación Rel. 11, Vol. I p. 446 | This is the best-attested migration. Codex Boturini, Aubin, Azcatitlan, Mexicanus, Crónica Mexicayotl, Chimalpahin, Durán and Codex Ramírez all have Aztlan → Coatepec → Tula → Chapultepec → Culhuacan (serving Coxcox, war with the Xochimilcas) → flight → Tenochtitlan in 2 Calli 1325. Departure from Aztlan is 1 Tecpatl, read as 1064 (Chimalpahin), 1069 (Crónica Mexicayotl) or 1168 (Codex Aubin). Durán's arrival is 1193 (per the article). Ixtlilxochitl agrees on Chapultepec, Culhuacan, Coxcox and the night flight, but omits all the northern stops and makes the Mexica of Toltec descent, ruled by Azcapotzalco princes. | Arrival: 1140/1141 vs 1189 vs 1194/1195. Ixtlilxochitl rejects origins from 'Nuevo México' or 'de ultramar' as fables (Rel. 11). In the Relación sucinta, Rel. 8, 'the true Mexicans' are the 1301 Mexitin (row 16). |
| 15. Tlailotlaque and Chimalpanecas from the Mixteca Other early peoples | 4 years after Quinatzin's accession (Sumaria relación, Compendio). Relación sucinta: 4 Acatl 1248. Compendio: nahui Acatl. HCh: no year. | HCh: Tlailotlaques under Aztatlitexcan ('Coatlitepan' in the historia general); Chimalpanecas under Xiloquetzin and Tlacateotzin. Compendio: caudillo Tempantzin, idol Tezcatlipoca, 'más de dos mil hombres'. Sumaria relación: 'Itepantzin' (OCR) | 'de las provincias de la Mixteca' / 'de adelante de la Mixteca' → Chalco ('antes habían estado … mucho tiempo en la provincia de Chalco') → Texcoco barrios Tlailotlacan and Chimalpan | — not stated | Mixteca → Chalco → Texcoco (guided by a man from Chalco) | Historia chichimeca, Cap. XII, Vol. II pp. 68–70 Sumaria relación, Rel. 7, Vol. I pp. 122–123 Compendio, Rel. 8, Vol. I p. 289 Relación sucinta, Rel. 7, Vol. I p. 290 | Chimalpahin lists a Tlailotlacan among the Chalca-Amaquemecan altepetl, consistent with their long stay in Chalco. The Codex Xolotl and Mapa Quinatzin are the Texcocan pictorials of Quinatzin's reign. No Mexica migration codex mentions this group. | The leaders differ in every version (Aztatlitexcan / Coatlitepan / Tempantzin / Itepantzin). Sumaria relación Rel. 6 says Chimalpan was given to Xilotlicuextzin, a refugee from Tlaxcala, which conflicts with the HCh. |
| 16. Four Toltec-Culhua nations come to Texcoco in 1301 (Mexitin, Colhuaque, Huitznahuaque, Tepanecas/Panecas) Mexica | 4 Calli, 1301 (HCh, Sumaria relación, Compendio) | HCh: Mexitin under Ayocuan; Colhuaques under Nauhyotl; Huitznahuaques under Tlacomihua; Panecas under Achitometl. Sumaria relación: Mexitin under Tenahuacatzin, Colhuaque under Nahuayotl, Huitznahuaque under 'TlnmdnoJtmv' (OCR), Tepaneca under Achitometl. Compendio: Tennahuacatl, Nauhyotl, Tlamina, 'Ayxmechi' (OCR). | Sumaria relación: 'de delante de Xalisco', 'de Tlaxicuitiucan, hacia Cíbola', exiled for factional strife → Huaxtepec → Culhuacan → Coatlichan → Huexotla → Texcoco. Compendio: wandered 'en diversas tierras hasta llegar á Culhuacan', some years on cerro Huexachtecatl, sent by oracle to Texcoco. HCh: expelled by Coxcox from the slopes of the cerro Huexachtecatl. | 'habían andado en diversas tierras'; 'algunos años' on the Huexachtecatl (Compendio) | Huaxtepec → Culhuacan → Coatlichan → Huexotla → Texcoco; settled in four barrios. Some Tepanecas sent to Azcapotzalco, the Mexitin to Mexico. | Historia chichimeca, Cap. XIII, Vol. II pp. 74–75 Sumaria relación, Rel. 8, Vol. I pp. 139–140 Compendio, Rel. 9, Vol. I p. 295 Relación sucinta, Rel. 8, Vol. I pp. 296–297 | Mapa Quinatzin legend (quoted in Chavero's note): 'En tiempo de Techotlalatzin llegaron los colhuas', bringing seeds and gods. Mexica sources (Crónica Mexicayotl, Durán, Codex Ramírez, Aubin) have Mexica at Culhuacan under Coxcox in roughly the same decades before 1325. Huexachtecatl (Cerro de la Estrella) is the Mexica New Fire hill in those sources. | The origin conflicts: Xalisco/Cíbola (Sumaria relación) vs expelled from Culhuacan (HCh, Compendio). The leaders differ. The Relación sucinta calls these 'los verdaderos Mexicanos', which conflicts with row 14. |
| 17. Rebel and conservative Chichimecs withdraw to the north and the northern sierras Chichimec | Cap. VII around 1062–1064; others undated in the passage (reigns of Tlotzin and Quinatzin) | Yacanex and Cozcacuauh (Cap. VII); conservative Chichimecs who rejected Tlotzin's reforms (Cap. IX); Tenancacaltzin (Cap. X); rebels defeated by Quinatzin (Cap. XI) | Yacanex fled 'sin parar hasta Panuco'. Conservatives went 'á las sierras de Metztitlan y Totepec'. Tenancacaltzin 'acordó de irse á la tierra septentrional de sus pasados'. Defeated rebels fled to the 'tierra septentrional'. | — not stated | Pánuco; sierras of Metztitlan and Totepec; 'tierra septentrional' | Historia chichimeca, Cap. VII, Vol. II pp. 51–52 Cap. IX, Vol. II p. 57 Cap. X, Vol. II p. 63 Cap. XI, Vol. II pp. 66–67 | Codex Xolotl depicts the revolts and flights. Torquemada follows the same Texcocan tradition. No Mexica or Chalca source. | Small and partly political movements; grouped into one row. |
| 18. Exiles and refugees to Tlaxcala and Huexotzinco Chichimec | — not stated in these passages (reign of Quinatzin; around 1195 in the Sumaria relación sequence) | Captives after Quinatzin's war, including Quinatzin's rebel sons and the Poyauhtlan people (HCh Cap. XI). Also Tlacateotzin, lord of Tlaxcallan, who fled with Xilotlicuextzin to Texcoco while some vassals fled to Huexotzinco (Sumaria relación Rel. 6). | Texcoco region → Tlaxcalan and Huexotzinco (exile). Tlaxcallan → Texcoco and Huexotzinco (flight). | — not stated | Tlaxcalan, Huexotzinco; Texcoco | Historia chichimeca, Cap. XI, Vol. II p. 67 Sumaria relación, Rel. 6, Vol. I p. 113 | Muñoz Camargo's Historia de Tlaxcala, as summarized in Chavero's footnote: the Teochichimeca were at Poyauhtlan from 1208, left in 1325, went by Amaquemecan to Tlaxcala and took Tepeticpac in 1328. Durán and Codex Ramírez count the Tlaxcalteca among the seven-cave tribes. This confirms Poyauhtlan → Tlaxcala, but as a whole tribe, not as exiles of Quinatzin. | The Poyauhtlan dates (1208, 1325, 1328) are Chavero's footnote, not Ixtlilxochitl's. |
The Toltec land itinerary, leg by leg
Sumaria relación, Rel. 2, Vol. I pp. 22–27. Stays are in years at each place.
| Stop (as spelled) | Discovered by | Journey to reach it | Time there / count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start: expelled, pursued by the Tlaxicoliucan kin | — | 'más de sesenta leguas' | 'ocho años … haciendo guerra' |
| Tlapallanconco | Cecatzin | — not stated | 3 years (11 since leaving) |
| Hueyxallan | Cohuatzon | 'doce días … setenta leguas' | 4 years (13 = 1 Tlalpilli) |
| Xalixco | Xiuhcohuatl | 'veinte días arreo', 'más de cien leguas' | 8 years |
| Chimalhuacan Atenco | — not stated | 20 days, ~100 leagues | 5 years (27 years out, 466 AD) |
| Tochpan | Mexotzin | 18 days, ~80 leagues | 5 years |
| Quiyahuiztlan Anahuac | Acapichtzin (OCR 'AcapuMdn') | 20 days, ~100 leagues | 6 years |
| Zacatlan | Chalcatzin (OCR 'Chacatdn') | 18 days, ~80 leagues | 7 years (52 years since the wars) |
| Totzapan | Cecatzin (2nd time) | 18 days, ~80 leagues | 6 years (52 since leaving) |
| Tepetla | Cohuatzon (2nd time) | 28 days, ~140 leagues | 7 years |
| Mazatepec | Xiuhcohuatl | 18 days, ~80 leagues | 8 years (66 years) |
| Xiuhcohuac | Tlapalmetzin (2nd time) | 18 days, ~80 leagues | 8 years |
| Iztachuexucan ('hacia el Norte') | Metzotzin? (OCR 'Jlfefeofcsin') | 20 days, ~100 leagues | 26 years (78, then 91 years) |
| Tulantzinco | Acamapichtzin (3rd time) | 18 days, ~80 leagues | 'casi diez y seis años' (104 years, 543 AD) |
| Tula | Huematzin guides | — not stated | Arrive Ce Calli 556 (Rel. 3) |
This is the only migration with day counts. The legs he gives add up to 228 days of march (a modern sum, not his), spread over roughly a century of stays.
Where his own versions disagree
| Event | AD year by version |
|---|---|
| Toltecs leave the homeland | 387 (HCh Vol. II); 887 (HCh variant, Vol. I); 386 (Compendio); 432 (Relación sucinta); 439 (Sumaria relación) |
| Toltecs reach Tulantzinco | 491 = 387 + 104 (implied, HCh); 536 (Relación sucinta); 543 (Sumaria relación) |
| Tula founded or first king | Tollan begun 503, king 509 (Compendio); king 510 (HCh); king 556 (Relación sucinta); arrival 556 (Sumaria relación) |
| Tula destroyed | 958 (Compendio); 959 (HCh); 1004 (Relación sucinta); 1011 (Sumaria relación) |
| Xolotl arrives | 962 (Compendio); 963 (HCh); 993 (Sumaria relación general); 1009 (Relación sucinta); 1012–1015 (Sumaria relación) |
| Acolhuas, Tepanecas, Otomíes arrive | 1011 (HCh); 1056 (Relación sucinta); 1063 (Sumaria relación) |
| Mexica arrive | 1140 (Compendio); 1141 (HCh); 1189 (Relación sucinta); 1194–1195 (Sumaria relación) |
| Tlailotlaque arrive | 4 Acatl 1248 (Relación sucinta); nahui Acatl (Compendio); no year (HCh) |
| Four Culhua nations | 1301 in every version, but the origin and leaders differ |
Do other chroniclers mention these migrations?
| Migration | Attested elsewhere? | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Tower and journey to Huehuetlapallan | No | Only the flood and ages framework (Leyenda de los Soles); the tower is a European motif |
| 2. Chichimecatl from Tartary | No | Ixtlilxochitl's own gloss |
| 3. Ulmecas and Xicalancas by sea | Partly | Historia Tolteca-Chichimeca (Olmeca-Xicallanca at Cholula); Sahagún (sea landing at Pánuco); Mendieta and Motolinía |
| 4. Quetzalcoatl's coming and going | Yes | Sahagún, Anales de Cuauhtitlan, Leyenda de los Soles, Durán, Torquemada, Mendieta, Cortés; but those place him at Tula |
| 5–6. Toltec exile to Tula | Partly | Torquemada (Huehuetlapallan → Tollantzinco → Tollan); the stop list is unique to Ixtlilxochitl |
| 7. Topiltzin to Tlapallan | Yes, as Quetzalcoatl | Sahagún, Anales de Cuauhtitlan; Huemac's flight to Cincalco is a parallel |
| 8. Toltec dispersal | Yes | Historia Tolteca-Chichimeca (Tolteca to Cholula, Nonoalca leave), Sahagún, Codex Chimalpopoca (1064) |
| 9–11. Xolotl, the six lords, the Acolhuas | Texcocan sources only | Codex Xolotl, Torquemada; Chicomoztoc origins in the Historia Tolteca-Chichimeca and Anales de Cuauhtitlan under other leaders |
| 12. Xochimilcas | Yes, differently | Durán, Codex Ramírez, Crónica Mexicayotl: from the seven caves, first tribe to arrive |
| 13–14. Mexica | Yes, strongly | Boturini, Aubin, Azcatitlan, Mexicanus, Crónica Mexicayotl, Chimalpahin, Durán, Codex Ramírez |
| 15. Tlailotlaque | Partly | Chimalpahin's Tlailotlacan in Chalco-Amaquemecan |
| 16. Four nations of 1301 | Partly | Mapa Quinatzin (Colhuas under Techotlalatzin); Mexica sources on Culhuacan and Coxcox |
| 17–18. Chichimec withdrawals and exiles | Partly | Codex Xolotl; Muñoz Camargo on Poyauhtlan → Tlaxcala |
The Mexica migration is the one every tradition shares. Ixtlilxochitl agrees with the Mexica sources on Chapultepec, Culhuacan, Coxcox and the night flight. He skips the northern stops after Aztlan, makes the Mexica of Toltec descent, and dates their arrival 1140–1195; the Mexica annals date the departure from Aztlan to 1064, 1069 or 1168.
The Chichimec migrations (Xolotl, the six later lords, the Acolhuas) are essentially Texcocan. They match the Codex Xolotl and Torquemada, who used the same pictorials, and are absent from the Mexica codices. The Historia Tolteca-Chichimeca and the Anales de Cuauhtitlan know a Chichimec exodus from Chicomoztoc, but under other leaders.
The Toltec stories overlap only in outline: Quetzalcoatl’s departure east to Tlapallan, the fall of Tula, and a Toltec scattering toward Cholula and the coasts. No independent source checked has his Huehuetlapallan exodus with named stops, the sea voyage via California, the Tartary and tower origins, or the Xochimilca leader Huetzalin. His Toltec chronology (386–1011) runs about 50–100 years earlier than the Anales de Cuauhtitlan, which put the end of Tula in 1064.
Sources
- Aztec, Mixtec, Maya & Early Spanish Codices, Manuscripts and Histories (gatheredin.one)
- Obras históricas, Vol. I (Chavero 1891) (archive.org)
- Obras históricas, Vol. II: Historia chichimeca (Chavero 1892) (archive.org)
- Rafael Tena, La cronología de la Tira de la peregrinación (UNAM, Estudios de Cultura Náhuatl)
- Crónica mexicáyotl (UNAM edition) (historicas.unam.mx)
