In this third episode of Reign of Blood, we pick up the story of the Mexica in 1425 and follow them on their astonishing political ascent to dominate the other, more powerful Aztec city states – and eventually all of Central Mexico – in under 75 years. We’ll meet the early emperors of the new Mexica-led Triple Alliance. We’ll also meet Nezahualcoyotl, the longtime Acolhua king of Texcoco and the first larger than life figure of the Aztec world. We’ll meet the remarkable Ahuitzotl, perhaps the greatest Mexica emperor of them all. And we’ll bring the story of Aztec civilization to its apex in the early 1500s under Emperor Moctezuma II, as he concentrates power over the Empire of the Triple Alliance exclusively within the Mexica nobility. Unbeknownst to Moctezuma II, the greatest threat to his rule is lurking off the coast of the Yucatan in the islands of the Caribbean.