Cosijoeza

Cosijoeza ("Thunder of Flint") is the lord of the Zapotec city of Zaachila, considered by many as the most powerful lordship of the Zapotec valleys. He is a prodigious strategist and a skilled diplomat.

After a sound defeat against the Triple Alliance in 1492, Zaachila's rival city, Sa'a Yucu-Ynchaca seized the opportunity to expel Cosijoeza from his capital city, forced to head south to Danniguibeche, in the Isthmus.

Name
Cosijoeza is a Zapotec name. Although several interpretations for his name have been suggested, there doesn't seem to be a true consensus. One of said interpretations is that Cosijoeza means "Thunder of Flint", from cosijo: "thunder", and guesa: "flint". Other translations include "Obsidian Rain", "Creator Thunder" or "Thunder that makes the clouds' ether tremble", suggested by Martínez Gracida.

His calendar name is Bilapag (7-Cloudy) in the Zapotec sacred calendar, Píye. In the Nahua Tonalpohualli, this is equivalent to the day 7-Rain.

= Trivia =


 * In Chapter 4, after hearing Donaji's name, Cosijoeza insists it is "a good name". This is a reference to the fact that Cosijoeza was the father of the legendary princess Donaji of Zaachila, born in 1506. It is implied that he may have taken a liking to the name upon his meeting with Donaji in Codex Black.
 * Cosijoeza is one of the most beloved characters of Zapotec history. He's particularly famous for his battle against the Triple Alliance at the hilltop fortress of Guiengola, which was the only time the Mexica Emperor Ahuizotl was defeated. As a peace offering, Ahuizotl gave one of his daughters, Coyolicatzin, in marriage to the Zapotec lord, thus connecting the royal houses of Zaachila and Tenochtitlan. Zapotec lord Cosijopii and the legendary princess Donaji were born from this marriage, them also being two of the most beloved characters in Zapotec history.
 * Thanks to the royal lineages recorded in several codices, it is known that Cosijoeza was a descendant of the legendary Mixtec warlord Iya Nacuaa (8-Deer Jaguar Claw) from the powerful city of Ñuu Tnoo-Huahi Andehui (Tilantongo). Along with the Mixtec city of Teozacualco, these two had a long-lasting traditional alliance with Zaachila.

= Gallery =