Los Aztecas (Gente de Aztlan,) anduvieron errantes de región en región, despreciados y atacados por pueblos ya establecidos. Durante muchos años recordaron las palabras de su dios: “Cuando seáis reyes tendréis allá innumerables, interminables, infinitos vasallos que os pagarán tributo, os darán innumerables, excelentísimas piedras preciosas, oro, plumas de quetzal, esmeraldas, corales, amatistas, las que vestiréis primorosamente...”
En una zona boscosa, encontraron un área idónea para vivir, no poblada. Estaba ubicada entre los límites de Azcapotzalco, Coyohoacán y Culhuacán llamado Chapultepec (Cerro del Chapulín.). Pero los demás pueblos no les veían con buenos ojos y atacaron a los aztecas, quienes sufrieron una gran derrota, a pesar de su valentía. El gobernante, Huilzilihuitl, y su hija fueron capturados y desnudados para ser sacrificados en Culhuacan. El resto de los hijos del caudillo azteca, sufrieron la misma suerte en otras ciudades. Según la historia mexica, la tradición oral indica que los aztecas estaban concientes de la derrota, pues Huitzilopochtli les había indicado que ése no era el sitio que había sido profetizado. En su propia narrativa, culpan del ataque a otra causa. Culpan a Copil, hijo de Malinalxochitl, bruja y hermana de Huitzilopochtli quien había sido abandonada. Buscando venganza por ese abandono, Copil incita a los caudillos de los otros pueblos al ataque. Huitzilopochtli, enterado, decide matarlo y envía a un capitán llamado Cuauhtequetzqui a que combata con Copil. Animado por su dios, el capitánderrota y le arranca el corazón a Copil. El corazón es entregado a otro dirigente mexica, el joven Tenoch, para que lo arroje en medio del lago, donde crecían cañas y tules. Años después,justo en ese sitio, habría de crecer el nopal de tunas rojas que marcaría el lugar de la fundación de México (Tenochtitlan).
The Aztecs (People of Aztlan) walked from region in region, despised and attacked by other people already settled down. For many years the words of their God were remembered: " When you become kings you will have innumerable, interminable, infinite number of vasals who will pay you tribute; they will give you innumerable, excellent precious stones, gold, coral, quetzal feathers, emeralds, amethysts, which you will wear exquisitely..."
In a wooded zone, they found an area suitable to live, which was not populated. Located between the limits of Azcapotzalco, Coyohoacán and Culhuacán, it was called Chapultepec (Hill of the Grasshopper). But the other towns did not see them with good eyes and they attacked the Aztecs, who suffered a great defeat, in spite of their great courage. The governor, Huilzilihuitl, and his daughter were captured and undressed to be sacrificed in Culhuacan. The rest of the children of the Aztec leader, had the same luck in other cities.
According to mexica history, their oral tradition indicates that the Aztecs were conscientious of the defeat, because Huitzilopochtli had indicated to them that it one was not the site prophesied. In its own internal narrative, they blamed the attack to another cause. Copil, son of Malinalxochitl, witch and sister of Huitzilopochtli who was abandoned. Looking for revenge on behalf of his mother, Copil urges the caudillos from the other towns to attack. Huitzilopochtli, aware of this, decides to kill Copil and sends a captain called Cuauhtequetzqui to fight him. Encouraged by his God, this captain defeats Copil and takes out his heart. The heart is given to another mexica leader, young Tenoch, who threw it in the middle of the lake, over canes and tules. Years later, just in that very site, there would grow a nopal . Perched on this catcacae plant, an eagle eating a serpent, would mark later the place where Tenochtitlan, Mexico city, would be.