Cacamatzin (or Cacama) (c. 1483–1520) was the tlatoani (ruler) of Texcoco, the second most important city of the Aztec Empire.
Cacamatzin was a son of the previous king Nezahualpilli by one of his mistresses. Traditionally, the Texcocan kings were elected by the nobility from the most able of the royal family. Cacamatzin's election to the throne in 1515 was said to have been made under considerable pressure from Moctezuma II, lord of Tenochtitlán. Moctezuma II wished to lessen Texcoco's power in favor of greater centralization in Tenochtitlán.
Cacamatzin wrote Cacamatzin Icuic ("Song of Cacamatzin"), invoking his father and grandfather; he seems to protest against Pedro de Alvarado's attack during the festival of Tóxcatl.
Moctezuma II, under orders from Cortés, had Cacamatzin arrested "in his own palace while discussing war-preparations". The Caciques of Coyoacan, Iztapalapa, and Tacuba were also arrested.
Rebellion
While staying in the Axayácatl palace, the Spaniards discovered the room where the treasures of Moctezuma's grandfather were found. Cortés asked the huey tlatoani about the places where the gold came from. After the answer, expeditions were organized to the regions of Zacatula, Pánuco and Coatzacoalcos; Cortés also demanded that Moctezuma ask all his vassals to immediately pay all available gold. Tetlahuehuezquititzin and Netzahualquentzin, both Cacamatzin's brothers, were responsible in Tetzcuco for delivering the gold to the Spanish. Due to a misunderstanding, a probable treason on the part of Netzahualquentzin was suspected, he was arrested and taken in front of Cortés who sentenced him to hang, but Moctezuma interceded and the sentence was suspended, however Netzahualquentzin had been flogged.