User:SolaceEaSw/Tarascan Empire

The Tarascan Empire (Purépecha: Kʼeri Tzintzuntzáni; Nahuatl: Tlahtohcāyōtl Tzintzuntzáni; Mixtec: Duñu'u Tzintzuntzáni) was a Postclassic monarchy in Mesoamerica. At it's height, it was home to roughly 2.45 million inhabitants, the majority of which being of Purépechan descent. The most widely-practiced religion was Yolit’ism, or Folk Purépecha, while other interpretations of the Purépechan pantheon and indigenous religions were allowed to be practiced. Originally founded as the Tarasco Confederation (Ilhuitl ka Tzintzuntzáni) in 1180, the city-states of the Purépecha would gradually expand and centralizing throughout the 13th century, eventually forming into the Tarascan State (Iréchecua Tzintzuntzáni) in the early 14th century after the succession of Tariácuri as Cazonci. In his reign, he would expand the state's general territory, as well as culturally define the state among his neighbors, in addition to his appointment of famed Uakusï Citlali.

Although a military power, a number of science-related and literary achievements had been made in the Mesoamerican culture. The introduction of a written language script in the late 1320's allowed for a recording method of history as well as the recording of knowledge, while basic geometry and algebraic expressions were formed and studied in the following decades. In 1332, Cazonci Tariácuri would reform the state into an Empire after conquering the Atzcapotzalco Empire, as well as establishing the Toltec quadruple alliance with various neighbor states. Tariácuri would die in 1342, with his successor being his first son Nalhen, although this has been widely debated among historical scholars. Nalhen would help develop and urbanize the Tarascan Empire, although a civil war would disrupt future expansion in the north.

After the end of the Tarascan-Xalisco conflict, the Tarascan Empire would expand it's territory southward due to unexplained religious inclinations, starting a period of Flower Wars that would last nearly seventeen years. Nalhen would be assassinated during the last decade of the flower wars, with his second son Xitlálnolli succeeding his rule and continuing the religious wars. The Flower Wars would end in 1387 with the submission of the K'iche kingdom and the defeat of the Zapotec rebels. Xitlálnolli would die without a heir in late 1389, thus ending the divine lineage of the Uacúsecha, decentralizing the Empire within the period a months until it's utter collapse in 1390.

Prehistory
The region where the Tarascan Empire stands now has been habitated by humans for nearly 10,000 years. The "Achtoquetlhá" (tr. First People) were regarded to have settled around this time, according to the ''Amoxtli Huēhuehcāyōmatiliztli. ''The Achtoquetlhá are seen as the spiritual ancestors of the Purépecha, as well as other native inhabitants in the region, with their original migration being from the north. Around roughly 2000 BC, the Achtoquetlhá would form the ceramic Capacha Culture, which would influence a majority of pottery in both western Mexico and South America, disputed to be a result of early ocean navigation. The Capacha Culture would exist until roughly 100 AD, when it faded away after famine struck.

Following the collapse of the Capacha Culture, the Chichimec people would migrate from the north, mixing in with the remnant populations of the Capacha to create the classic iteration of the Purépecha people. A large portion of the pyramids and primary archaeological sites featured in Michoacan are estimated to have been built from 800 BC to 200 AD in the Chupícuaro culture, although it has been debated whether or not the Chupícuaro existed in a productive form. Most of the methods of metallurgy used by the modern Purépecha are regarded to have been made prior to 650 AD, possibly having originated in Baja California. Early archaelogical religious sites for many of the dieties featured in the Purépecha pantheon are regarded to having been created between 800 AD to 1000 AD, prompting scholars to assume that the associating polytheistic religion was formed sometime from 200 AD to 600 AD.

Early History
Although the dates are not thoroughly accurate, it is regarded by the Amoxtli Huēhuehcāyōmatiliztli that the region pre-dating the Tarascan state was volatile, comprised mostly of clans and city-states, which had remained in a state of perpetual war for centuries prior. Around 950 AD, Tlatoani Mitl of the Toltec Empire would conquer all of the territories, claiming it for himself as well as destroying various religious artifacts. Mitl remain in control until roughly 970 AD. According to Purépecha mythology, he would proclaim himself to be akin to the sun god Curicaueri, and when the people of the Tarascan did not agree, a large majority of them were slaughtered. It was then that Curicaueri would appear in the sky, burning the eyes of Mitl and his army, forcing them to retreat and never return to Michoacán. Although skeptical due to the religious undertones underlying the reign of Mitl being biased, it has been studied that many of the archaeological sites during this period were rebuilt, other causing pointing to a possible fire having been caused.

The remaining tribes in the region would gradually solidify into the modern-day Purépecha, ruling across various city-states and archaelogical sites for nearly three hundred years. Although the Purépecha people remained mostly in a state of peace during this time, many of them would form clans and exert territorial claims via a military. The region would develop into four distinct clans: the Uacúsecha (tr. Eagles), the Sïkuapu (tr. Spiders), Axuni (tr. Deer) and the Jeiaki (tr. Rabbits), who would control the cities of Tzintzuntzan and Angamuco, Urichu, Erongarícuaro, as well as Pechátaro and Jarácuaro respectively. They would operate as a loose confederation, becoming highly wealthy through their methods of metallurgy producing vast quantities of copper, silver, and gold, as well as various material accessories, such as bracelets and cups.

In 1180 AD, Curátame of the Uacúsecha would become the first to fully rule over the entirity of the confederation as Cazonci, although his reign would only last a few years, not securing a proper standing in lineage nor uniting the confederation politically. Although many of his successors would attempt to form a unified Purépechan state, many would be unsuccessful, only establishing minor control over the governing of each city-state. Curátame would be succeeded by Pauácume around 1230 AD, who has been culturally credited for creating the first pictograms. There has been major debates surrounding Pauácume's successor, as oral tradition contradicts whether Pauácume's son Uápeani II or Curátame's cousin Sicuirancha had ruled during this period. The last Cazonci prior to the ascension of Tariácuri was Tzétahcu, father of Tariácuri, who was able to develop and create a governing system among the city-states, similar to the feudal system in western europe, with a form of hierarchal caste being introduced.

Cazonci
The Cazonci was the ruler of the Tarascan state. Considered to be the highest public position in the government, the Cazonci exercised complete economic, legal, and religious authority for the state.

The Tarascan Empire was an absolute monarchy under the Uacúsecha dynasty, operating primarily under a system of tributes, who's leaders are included in the Tlacame Tarasco. Although a central government does exist, much of the rule over the territory is kept domestically to each leader while the Cazonci acts as a representation of the state. Although not having direct rule over the tributes, the Cazonci is seen as the true leader of the region and holds the power to raise armies in these tributary states when needed. The position of Cazonci is primarily heridary, due to the Cazonci's blood being seen as divine as per their religious authority, in addition to being seen as the representation for the Purépechan pantheon.

Uakusï
The Uakusï was the highest rank in the Tarascan military, comparable to the position of General.

The Uakusï are seen as fearless, mostly consisting of savage warriors in the military, that have proven themselves to be capable of leading large and extensive armies with success. They are commonly decorated with wearing the skins of Golden eagles and other superior birds, as to fulfill their position requirement, they are to kill at least three so that their bodies may be dissected and applied to the wearer properly. For warriors to become an Uakusï, they are to fulfill the "Sacrifice", by having a captured nearly ten enemies as well as having killed over fifty men in combat. Many of the Uakusï are trained in very harsh conditions, so as to create a more dangerous warrior. The most commonly used equipment among the Uakusï is the Macuahuitl, or the Tepoztopilli, in addition to their Otlachimalli being engraved with the Golden eagle and the symbol of their original clan. Each Uakusï is given a title to hold, mostly representative of a spiritual animal or a manifestation of a specific diety. As per Tarascan tradition, there can only be up to three alive and active Uakusï's in combat, although their service is derived as eternal, even after death.

Ocēlōtl
The Ocēlōtl is one of the highest ranks in the military, comparable to the position of Colonel.