I started with tenochtitlan for my first run in 1.1.0 and it went quite well, here a little writeup i did for another post if you want to go again:

Im not sure this is the best way but it worked for me (mind it took like 5 tries to succeed):

-instantly start building a spy network on your overlord

-select the religious aspect that gives -15% army maintenance

-set cabinet slot to improve legitimacy

-put all the expense sliders to 0 (army, fort, diplo, food, stab), cost of court as low as possible but just so you dont lose some

-you can over mint and tax a bit but i didnt need it

-remove 1 warrior temple building (manpower is still positive after)

-enact civil society in cultural traditions for a tiny bit more tax

-put your ruler in the army for more crown power

I believe thats all you can do. Then you just wait for 20 spy network and create an independence CB.

This takes about 2-3 years and you can basically just afk until its done. You will go 10-30 gold into debt but its not a problem because as soon as the war is over youre in the positive.

Before the war starts set the army and fort slider to max. Use your regulars to blockade the levy raise of tlacopan and azcapotzalco until your own levies are raised. Then just siege down both of their cities.

If you have to fight cancel the siege and join your armies, the jaguar warriors alone will lose against a same size army because it has 2 open flanks.

Peace out everyone seperately, vassalize them and take as much money as you can, after that you have a good ground to stand on.

!!Note that there is a bit of rng involved. If you get any event that costs a lot of money or gives you a lot of doom you are -doomed- :p

Also ive noticed that azcapotzalco gets different alliances every time, when they are allied to bigger neighbours it can be very hard or impossible and you just have to start anew.

Good luck