Tribunal of Tenochtitlan: Court of Axayacatl (1473)

Committee Profile

From the jungle-covered terrain to the coastline of the Pacific Ocean, the Aztec Empire was built at the heart of Mexico in a city called Tenochtitlán. A triple alliance between the city-states of Tenochtitlán, Tlacopan, and Texcoco created the Aztec Empire with smaller city-states forming the remaining parts of a vast Empire throughout the region of central and northern Mexico. The year is 1473 and as part of the New Tribunal of Tenochtitlan and the highest body of military power in Mesoamerica, you are in charge of navigating the Aztecs throughout this perilous time period. With the tension of rival tribes rising and uniting to take the throne of the Huey Tlatoani, the unforgiveness of mother nature’s wrath, and whispers of betrayal and civil unrest looming in the air; only the Tribunal of Tenochtitlan: Court of Axayacatl (1473) can deliver the Aztec people into safeguard. As leaders of religious groups, city-states, military ambassadors, and affluent individuals it is your responsibility to deal with the crisis that is laid beside you.

Delegates will be called to the palace of Axayacatl to advise the Huey Tlatoani on how he should act upon the social, economic, political, and other issues that he will be facing as the head of the Aztec Empire. Will you stand together to protect the interest of the Empire and your leader Axayacatl? Will you work in secret to fulfill your own deceitful deeds of good and evil like the god Huehuecóyotl? Or will you use your power to revolutionize the Empire in ways that only you could fulfill? As this crisis emerges, you decide how the Tribunal of Tenochtitlan will respond to the dangers that lie ahead. Welcome to the Aztec Empire and as the old Aztec proverb goes, ‘The world is yours, but you have to earn it.’

Chair Letter

Hello Delegates!

My name is Gustavo Calva Hernandez. I am first generation student (currently in my third year) at UCLA majoring in Global Studies and minoring in Global Health. I am involved in multiple different organizations and clubs at UCLA like Model United Nations at UCLA! As an introverted guy, I enjoy spending my time reading, playing video games, listening to music, watching TV, and occasionally I venture outside to hang out with my friends. I am from Puebla, Mexico but I have lived in California most of my life, specifically, in Richmond, California in the Bay Area. Since I have lived in many different places I would consider myself a 21st-century nomad. After graduation, I hope to go into grad school and eventually go into international law, or work for an NGO/IGO to pursue a career in helping health and environmental development in the Global South, like Latin America.

My experience with MUN is very limited to college because my school didn’t offer MUN; however, I have staffed both BruinMUN and LAMUN in both years of college doing both GA and Crisis committees (Crisis is my favorite type of committee). Staffing for LAMUN 2023 was an extremely memorable experience as delegates put their brains to work to figure out the secrets of the Library of Alexandria. Though limited, the experience I have gained at MUN at UCLA has been focused on the understanding and creation of strong and successful committees.

I am excited to translate that experience as the chair of this committee as it focuses on a topic that is dear to my heart and culture. I hope to make this committee the most memorable committee you’ll experience and I am excited to be your chair for this year’s BruinMUN conference. With that being said, join me as we travel back 700 years into the past to explore the Tribunal of Tenochtitlan! Delegates welcome to the Aztec Empire!

Best Regards,

Gustavo Calva Hernandez | Crisis Chair | BruinMUN 31

aztec@bruinmun.org

CD Letter

Dear Delegates,

My name is Daniel Qu, and it is my absolute pleasure to serve as your Crisis Director for the new Court of the Tlatoani Crisis Committee. I am a senior this year at UCLA, double majoring in political science with a focus on international relations and economics and potentially looking for a career in diplomacy.

I started my MUN career with the YMCA’s program in 6th grade largely because my parents forced me to. Truth be told, I wasn’t particularly enthusiastic until our first real conference. I was representing an NGO, delivering technology to isolated African communities to better their education and connection to the outside world. The lasting impression of making a difference with ideas that you came up with yourself really stuck with me, and I’ve been hooked on MUN ever since. I’m sure many of you returners know how fun and engaging MUN can be, and for any new delegates among you, I certainly hope you’ll start off your MUN careers with a blast BruinMUN weekend. I’ll not bore you more with details about my personal life; Let’s talk about the committee.

The year is 1473. You are among the elders of the Court of the Tlatoani, the highest council in the Ēxcān Tlahtōlōyān, or the Triple Alliance of the Aztec Empire. Your people have emerged as the dominant military force in central Mexico, overseeing your sprawling empire from the hewn-stone pyramids of Tenochtitlan. Your rule, however, is not absolute. Rival, independent domains continue to threaten your control over the fringes of your territory. Dissent stirs among your tributaries, which remain nominally independent after their conquest. Mysterious visitors, in hulking boats of wood and metal, bearing staves that cast fire and brimstone, are bearing down in droves upon lands that traditionally have been yours. It is up to you and the other elders to navigate the Aztec Empire through this time of crisis.

MUN truly is an experience about connecting with others and just having a great time! I hope this upcoming weekend will be a blast for everyone, so please enjoy yourselves.

From myself and the chair Gustavo, as well as the rest of our front and backroom staff, I wish you a wonderful weekend here at BruinMUN!

Daniel Qu | Chair | BruinMUN 31

aztec@bruinmun.org