When was Tula abandoned?

Tula, the significant capital of the Toltec Empire, was virtually abandoned by 1150.

The Decline and Desertion of Tula

The period leading up to the abandonment of Tula was marked by significant internal strife and external pressures for the Toltec civilization. A key event often associated with the onset of this decline occurred around 1122, when a prominent figure named Huemac reportedly took his own life in Chapultepec, following a betrayal by his followers. This event is believed to have contributed to the instability that ultimately led to the decline of the Toltec power.

By the mid-12th century, specifically the year 1150, Tula had largely ceased to function as a vibrant, active capital. While the majority of its population dispersed, it's important to note that the term "virtually abandoned" suggests that a smaller population remained, albeit without the former glory and autonomy of their great city.

Life After Abandonment

For those Toltecs who chose to remain around the ruins of their former capital, their political and social landscape underwent a drastic transformation. They no longer operated as an independent entity but fell under the dominion of a neighboring power.

• Subjugation to Culhuacán: The remaining inhabitants of Tula came under the direct rule of Culhuacán, a powerful nearby city-state.
• End of an Era: This shift marked the definitive end of Tula's prominence as a major political, economic, and cultural center in Mesoamerica, ushering in a new era where its legacy was maintained through other ruling powers.

Below is a brief timeline of key events related to Tula's decline: