Like his predecessor, Andrés de Tapia Motelchiuh, he was not of the upper class, so he was not designated a tlatoani, but rather a cuauhtlatoani ("eagle ruler"; a non-dynastic interim ruler).
Like his predecessor, Andrés de Tapia Motelchiuh, he lacked noble lineage and thus did not receive the traditional tlatoani designation but instead held the position of cuauhtlatoani ("eagle ruler").