The essential Codex Mendoza

435 Pages·1997·32.7 MB·English

by  Berdan, Frances

THE ESSENTIAL
CODEX
MENDOZA
FRANCES BERDAN PATRICIA RIEFF ANAVVALT
F.
Copyrighl
THE
ESSENTIAL
CODEX
MENDOZA
lis ono
I II
GQJC-6GX-E2DU
THE
ESSENTIAL
CodCe^J§Hen3doza
FrancesRBerdan
and
PatrimBieffAnawah
UNIVERSITYOFCALIFORNIAPRESS
Berkeley LosAngeles London
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Copyrightedmaterial
Contents
Preface vii
Aíkmnrted^ients ix
introiiui-tion «i
HF^rRÍPTinMOFrnA^M»,Af^j,
Ar.tunrxnthfVAnvr>F«;rpiPxinN»;
Part1:TheHistmYeartoYear
Folio2r:TheFoundingofTenochtidan:1325
Folios2v-3r:TheConquestsofAcamapichtli'sReign:1376-1396
Folios3v-4r:TheConquestsofHuitzilihuitl'sReign:1397-1417
Folios4v-5r:TheConquestsofChimalpopoca'sReign:1418-1427
Folios5v-6v:TheConquestsofItzcoatl'sReign:1428-1440
Folios7v-8v:TheConquestsofMotecuhzomaIlhuicamina'sReign:1441-1469
Folios9v-10v:TheConquestsof.'\xayacatJ'sReign:1470-1481
Folios1Iv-12r:The(ConquestsofTiz<K-'sReign:1482-1486
Folios12v-13v:TheConquestsofAhuitzotl'sReign:1487-1502
Folios14v-16v:TheConquestsofMotecuhzomaXocoyotzin'sReign:1503-1520
Part2tTheTrihtitfYeartoYear
Folios17v-18r:ImperialOutposts
Folios18v-19r:TlicCityol riaiclolco
FnlirxI0v-7nv'l'hpPrnvinrpnfPprlaralrn
Folios21r-22r:TheProvinceofArnlhii.ican
Folios22v-23v:TheProvinceofOuauhnahuac
Folios24r-25r:TheProvinceofHuaxtepec
Folios25v-26r:TheProvinceofQuauhtitlan
Folios26v-27r:TheProvinceofAxocopan
Folios27v-28r:TheProvinceofAtotonilco(dePedraza)
Folios28v-29r:TheProvinceofIlueypuchtla
Folios29v-30r:TheProvinceofAtotonilco(el(irande)
Folios30v-31r:TheProvinceofXilotepcc
Folios31v-32r:TheProvinceofOuahuacan
Fnlin«:^^v-^4r-ThpPiYtvinrf Driiilan
FdliilSHv-^Sr:ThePnivinrri)fMnlin^ilid
Fulius,Hv->')r- Thel^rovinrrotXt.Kontliin
Folios35v-36r:TheProvinceofTlachco
Folios36v-37r:TheProvinceofTcpcnuacuilco
Folios37v-3Rr:TheProvinteofCihiiarlan
Folios38v-39r:TheProvinceofTlapan
Folios39v-40nThePro\HnceofTIalcocauhtitlan
Folios39v-40r:TheProvinceotQiiiauhteopan
Folios39v-40r:TheProvinceofYoaltepec
Folios40v-41r:TheProvinceofChalen
Folios41v-42r:TheProvinceofTepcacac
Folios42v-43r:TheProvinceof0)a>^t!ahuacan
Folios43v-44r:TheProvinceofCoyolapan
Folios44v-45r:TheProvinceu( 1lachquiavco
Folios45v-46r;TheProvinceofIbchtepec
Folios46v-47rrThePrnvinrenfVíKvmnrIirn
1-olius47\-48r: 1hel'rn\nicccitüuaülitochco
PnVifvt4«v-4Qr-The'Provinrí»off"iifrlavrlan
Folios49v-S0r:TheProvinceofTlapacoyan
Folios5Qv-51r:ThePro\inceofTlatlauhquitepec
FoliosSlv-52r:TheProvinceofTuchpa
Folios'>2v-53r:ThePniviiueoíAtlan
FoliosS3v-S4r:TheProvinceofT/icoac
FoliosS4v-5Sr:TTieProvinceofOxitipan
Part3:TheDailyLifeYeartoYear
Folios56v-57r:TheNamingandDedicationofaChild
Folios57v-58nTheRearingofChildren.•Xges3-6
Folios58v-59r:TheRearingofChildrenAges7-10
Folios5'A-6()r: Ihi-Rc.uiiiL'ofC^hiklrL-iiAj^cs11-14
Folios60v-61r:FormalEducationandMarriage
Folios61v-<S2r:FormalF^iiirationofNohlrAntlComtnontrYouths
Folios62v-63r:FormalF.ducationofNohicand(ipniiiKinerSouths
Folios63v-64r:FormalEducationandSubsequentiVIilitaryHierarchyofCommoner
Youths
Folios64v-65r:Militar)'HierarchyandwSubsequcntCareersofPriestsandNobles
Folios65v-66r:RebellionofaProvincialRulerandItsConsequence
Folios66v-67r:PreparationsforanAttack;High-RankingWarriorsinBattleAttire
Folios67v-68r:AFeast;AchievedWarriors;theCommoners'CourtofJustice
Folios68v-69r:ThePalaceofMotccuhzomaXocoyotzin;theNobles'OiurtofJustice
Folios69v'-70r:ProductiveversusWastefulLives
Folios70v-71r:Life'sEnd:PunishmentsandRewards
Bibliogtiiphy 239
PlaceNamesIndex 2^2
SubjectIndex 255
Colio-Faliax 269
PARAIÍF1 TMACF RFP1trAS Culr^\UnAn^„'<Pirtnri^lF»li,v.wirli
TranscriptionsandEnglishTranslationsoftheSpanishCommentariesand
EngHshTranslationsoftheSpanish(ilosscs
Preface
TheEssentialCodexMendozaL(iml>inesvolumes2.inii4oftht-[luirc PictorialHistoryoftheCodtxMendoza"byKhzabcthHillBoone;
encompassingfbur-voIumL-ciiitionoXTheCodexMendazjipublished "TheImperialTributeRolloftheCnfarAfntdbar"fayPrancesF.
b)ihcUniversityofC^aliforniaPressin1992.Tliatpublicationin- Berdan;"'IhcFrhnop-aphicContentoftheThirdPartoftheCodex
cludes.1colieaionotinterpretationsandappendices(volumeI), Mendoza"byEdward£.Calnek;"Gi)'phicConventionsoftheCo-
pagc-by-pagcdescriptionsofthecodex(volume2),acoloriiacsimile dexMendoza"byFrancesF.Berdan;and"AComparativeAnalysis
ofCodexMendoza(volume3),andpaiallcl-imagcreplicasofeach oftheCostumesandAccoutrcmcptvn';hi-Cmlcx ^/cfí/'j^.;"by
cpiocmtmoreinatlarfoileisowaintdhttrraannsslcartiipotnisoonsftahnedSt](r,aiinisi-l.laitigolnosssoefst(hveolSupmaeni4s)h. iPaHtMriiocinaeKoinctfafiAnneadwailntC.tdIneethMiassuabmuevisolsyunmtehe1s,ixmeudc.htaobtultahteedi,nfaonrd-
Volumes2and4thuspro\idc,indetail,thebasicpictorialandde- chartedincie\'enappendices:atableonthereiLMiliatevof.Me-vica
scriptiveinformationconuinedintheoriginalcodex;thesearethe rulers;twotablesoftributeaccounts;areconstructedfold-outof
"essentials"thattnalceupthepaperbackedition.Withtheexcep- Metidoza'%ethnographicsection;translationsandinterpretationsof
tionofaCewmiiioremendations,thecurrentbookrqiroducesthe ])laLe.personal,andtillej;l\phs;andsixpictorialandtextualcharts
pagesofthetwo1992volumes,plussixteencolorfoliosfromthe layingoutdetailedinloriiiatjononwarriorcostuine.s,shields,ehuatl
ftcsimile,volume3. battleattire,teitiledesigns,andwarriorinsignia.Referencestovol-
MenTdhoozsaeawnhdoiwtsisihmptoordtdanvccemfoorreunddeeerplsytainndtiontgheAzntueacncceulstoufreComdaeyx ubamcekeId'siteisosna.ysandappendicesareretainedthroughoutthispapers
wishtoconsulttheremainingrwovolumesofthe1992edition.Vol- ALiiiiiplctc,iull-colorfacsimileofCodexMendozaiscontainedin
ume1containseightinterpretivestudiesanalyzingsignificantas- volume3ofthe1992edition.Thiscolorfacsimile,togetherwith
pc'ctsofthemanuacriptatitrelatestootherdocumentationon theessaysandappendicesofvolumeI,augmentsandamplifiesthe
tarly-sivtcenth-centuryAltecMexico.Theseessaysinclude"The extensivedescriptivematerialnowmademoreaocasibieinTbtEs-
HistoryoftheCoJtxMendoza"byH.B.Nicholson;"APhysical sentialCodexMendoza.
DescriptionoftheCtdexMeiubmi"byWayneRuwet,withanad- FrancesF.Berdan
denduinonwatermarksbyRrmeRarkfr-Renfield;"TheRelation- PatriciaRieff.Anawalt
shipsofIndigenousandEuropeanStylesintheCodtxMendoza:An June27,1995
AnadiaofFiclorialSl^"fayKathleenStewartHowe;"TheAztec
vU
Cü(.j y edmatsriaf
Acknawledgpients
ThisEamtuUCodexMendozaisanadaputionofthefour-volume WearealsogratefultoCaliforniaStateUnivcrsit)',SanBernar-
editioaofTbeCedexMmdoztipublishedin1992.Manyoftheac- dino,whichawardedusthreegrantsforthiswork.Inaddition,
kiiowlcd^neiMSthuaCOOinpaniedth<itcditinn.ircdicrciorccijuillly ihatcampus'sMediaServicesDepartmenthasi)eenexceptitmally
applicablehere.Inparticular,theintcUcctuaiandmoralsupport supportive.BothTrinaUliitesideandVictoriaWillispleasantly
givenbyDr.H.B.NicholsonisgrateftdlyacknowledgedHesus- andproficiendyproducedalldiemapsforthedescriptivesec-
tainedusfromtheinccptiutioftheprojectthroughitscompleticm. lionsonhistoryandcríbate.We«redsoindebtedtotheFowler
TheencyclopedicknowledgeofthisforemostofAztecspecialists MuseumofCulturalHistoryattheUniversi^ofCalifornia,Los
wp.aipst-eshtrhaeyysaarveaiolWaSbl,entmouhsi;s.hoDrw.evMe.ri,rytfF1tíh/e.ri!ehms!ricSenruriohrsw.oinsatlhseosae Aqnugierleedst,ofoprroitdsugceenethriosusmasnuupspcorrti.ptHiwaessecheemeirnfgull!y}ensdhlaersnslrb\7y)iLnignrdea-
sourceofearlyenoouragcnieiu,forwhichwearemustgrateful. StockhamofCaliforniaStateUnhreisity,SanBernardino,andLisa
Dr.Nicholson,Dr.HaasovonWinning,andDr.AlanGrinnell Chisholm.MargaretAmblerNicholsonIdndlyprovidedearlyre-
L'jrL'fulK readearlvilraft.soltheilescriptiscpJi.'esnfilieethno- searchassistance.
graphicsection.'Ilieirsuggestionsconsistentlyimprovedthework. BridgetHodderStuartwasavaluedaideintheinitialstages
Dr.StanleyRobewasal»>mostgenerouswithtimeandexpertise; ofpreparingtheethnographicdescriprions.Shewasfollowedby
hiscarefulreviewofthetranscripriimis.indrr.inslatinnsoftheSpan- cheei]uallymultifiicetedLisaChisholm,whoappliedlinguistic
ishcommentariesandannotationsismostappreciated.VVcowethe skills,meticulousorganizadon,andliighstandardstothiscomplex
careñillydetailedtradngsofthecodeximagestodiepahistaking enterprise.
workof'Ie.m Sells. Itisourpleasuretoincludeaspecialacknowledgmentto The
Luther\\ilsonistobethankedtorhisearlyencouragementof BodleianLibrary,Oxford,forpermittingourinclusionofrepro-
dieprojectaswellasibrobtainingaNatiomilEndowmentfortbe docdonsofthefollowingcolorfoliosof"MS.Arch.Selden.A.1"
uHfsurmoiamnntNioEtuiHceh.swIgitrtawhiaust.hDeWr'.UcnLiauvrdeawrtiingntsyLioatufrenCriaihleafisufslejfmroi.ra,cwPhrhaeotssgsuSifnnaesLieOoqUsuSAeSnnogdpeyplpoeurstt, 6(ICr.W,Hle6e4xrw,oMeu65nlrdd,ol6/i7akr)e,:tao2nard.dd47\1o,vu.1rOsrp,e1c3ira,lt1h7va,nk2s0rt,o3T7orn,4y6Crr,o4o7dri,,5S2rt,a6n0lre,y
whoseStanleyHolwitz. AssistantDirector,and ScottMahler, Hoiwitz,BarbaraJellow.FranMitchell,andtheUniversityofCal-
SponsoringEditor,broughttheinitialprojecttofruition.Ihcyalso iforniaPress,aswellasoursuppordveAiesoamericancolleagues.
obtainedaJ.PaulGettyF(nindati<mgrant;wearemostappreciative Thankstodieassistanceandencouragementofallthesefriends,
totWheeFaoruenadlastoiboenhoflordehnelptionsDrr.toDmaMaikieXt'haeisenryÍ,L'Diin.rieíc«tnorrkofpotshseibBloed.- theFiCnoadlelyx,Moeunrddoezeapepsatpearpbparecckieadtiitoinofnuhratsherepaacthieedncfenioifrionunr.families.
leianLibraryinOxford,forhisgenerouscooperation.Hewasvery They—likeC«ferJlfcmfeu—continue,toinqwre.Weareindeed
supportiveoftheundertakingfromitsbeginningandhasremained fortunate.
so.Hisenthusiasmhasl>ccncontagious.Dr.R.C.B.irkcr-Bcnñcld, Ourprofoundthankstoall.
AssistantLibrarian,DepartmentofWesternManuscripts,alsohas Fi«noesF.Beidan
givengenerouslyofhistimeandexpertise;bothhavebeenvery PatriciaRieffAnawdt
muchappreciated.
ÍX
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Introdmim
TheCaiexMenáíggisavividpjcMrialandtactualaccountofeariy- arcdividedintothreedistinctsections.Part1{nineteenpictorial
sixteenth-centuryAzteclife.Thisuniquemanuscriptcombinesa pages)documentsdiefoundingofTcnochtitlanandthehistoryof
historyofimperialconquests,atally<^provincialtribute,andan Mexicaimperialconquests,presentedchronologicallybyindividual
ethnograpiiicchronideofdailylifethttcollectivelyoomtitatethe ruler.Thissectionofthecodexshowsusageneralizedviewofthe
uI<>stcumprchcn:>i\c;(>f(hi'knownMcsoamericaucodkes. settlementoftheislandcityandanidealizedvictorychronideof
Althoughthesubjectsofthisextraordinarydocnmentatecom- imperialexpansion.Itdoesnotdocumentallofthe.Mexica'swars;
monlyreferredtoasAztecs,thesepeoplecalledthemselvesMexica. nowhere,iretheirdisastrousdefeatsrecorded.Ontheotherhand,
TheywerebutoneofseveralNáhuatl-speakingethnicgroupsin- someenerTu(it)-statesappearmorethanonce,underthelaurelsof
habitingtheValleyofMexicoduringtheLatePosiclassicperiod successiverulers;thisduplicationmostUkelyindicateswarsbutnot
(ca.A.0.1250-1519).Collectively,allofthescpeoplesaregenerally conquests,orconquestsandsubsequentsubduedrebellions.Some
i.ri;iL'ilA/.teis. especiallynotableconfrontationsarefeatured:theheateddispute
IheMexicawerethelastofnumerousnomadicgroupstoarrive withChalcoundertheMexicarulerChimalpopoca(fiolio4v),the
intheValleyofMexicofromthenortherndesertregions.They ccmquestofthepowerfulcity-stateofCoavtlahuacanunderEm-
c1s5t1ah9lithhlaitedsettltilciermein^ltaihiialdcbnemcmuonmiera\'meotfroTpeonloicsluoiftbleatnweinen11.5520^,;0l0)0y pdeefreoartMoofttehecuTlhaztoemloalcIolhntuliccramMmo;q!ui(htouhiox7u\ndi,enrnEJmptheeroiir^nAixonaiyiancioattils
and200,000people.In1430theMexicafoinedwiththeirneigfabon (foliolOr).
theVeolh'ii11" Iexoico.miltheIVpinecaofTl.iciipantoformthe Themosiicnjxjrtantconsequenceofconquestwastheimposi-
Aztec1nplc/Vlliancc.Thispowerfulmilitaryconfederationspread tionoftributebythevictofs.Pan2ofCodtxMtmku(dihr^nine
Aztecmilitarymightdironghoutmuchofcentralandsontfaem pictmialpages)servedasadetafledaccountbookofdierichand
Mtvico,ilr.ivvingsustainedtributefipomconqnetedcity-stMesand voluminousgoodsdeliveredbysubdueddty-statestotheirimpe-
battlingperpetualenemiesattheirborders. rialoverlords.The371city-statesthatboretheseregulartribute
TheMexicathatappearontheMlnnlBarfoliosarenotonlyvjg> obligationsweregroupedintothirty-eightgeographicallydistinct
oroiisconqtiernrsamiuisrrinrs]ni\lilsoilixoheiiient[hildren,invet- provinces.CodexMendozasequentiallypresentstheseprovinces
aerdautletebraelnl.plWayeerss,eeextuhbderramnitllmtuisriycpioanwse,rpaisoutshepyriveasntsq,niadnidddleyspaifsbeedr rnoorutghhelaystfrIotmmingohrtthh,eteoxpweecstte,dttohastotuhteh,20a2ndvanoqnuitsohetdhedtcya-ssttaatneds
cit\'toextendtheirdominionfartherandfartherafield.Subse- drawninCodexMauiozii\eonquesthistorywouldallreappear
quendy,weviewthevasttributestheydemandedfromthosethey am<K)gthe371tribute-payingcenters,butthisisnotquitetlie
oonqnered:shimmeringfeathersandsparldinggreenstones,bowls case.Somecommonttieslistedasconquestsinpart1(suchas
ofgolddustandaxesofcopper,reamsofp;iperam!loadsoffire- Yztcpcc)donotsccrntohavebeenincorporatedintothecin|>ireon
owfoofeda,thbeirnsedowfamrariizoeraatntdireb.osWke;tsalosfocnhiiolteisi,tolroatdhseiorfptreoxgtrileessrainoBdfprioliens |aecrtesg,uelmarertgreibdumteo-rpeayaisngclbiaesnitss.pIanysitnegad"gtihfetys,"lainkdeomfafneryinogtshterratseugbi-c
cradletograve,followingtheavenuestakenby"good"and"bad" servicessuchaslK)r(lerlanflwarfareorniiitt-si-ruritvforthemipe
Mexicaastlieypassthroughlife'sprescribedstages.Childrenare rialpowers.Butmanydty-stateswithperiodictributeobligations
reared,marriagesaresealed,priesdynovicesaredisdpltned,wan (seeCadnrAf«mfear,part2)donotappearatallintheconquest
amraendyeddairmeeda,siaonndsituodgMmeexnitcsaarliefeh,aannddedCodtoUwxn.MeCnledaorzlay,ttohuecrheewseorne chiiasltohreyadoftpo.iwrnts1o.TfhMeasliencaoicmom,unCíilhuÍaed$aÍnn,duTdoechttheepiemcp,oarntdanOtxpirtoivpiann-^
mostofthem. allknowntohavebeenconqueredandincorporatedintotheimpe-
rialsmimire.
THECONTENTANDCONSTRUCTION Parts1and2areiliercforeeoinplenieniarybutnotnecessarily
OFCODEXMENDOZA completeaccountsofmilitaryconquestandeconomiccontrol.
Placedbetv^'eeniliehistoryandtributesectionsaretwoenigmatic
TheCodexMendozacontainsseventy-twoannotatedpictorialleaves foUos.Theydepictelevenlakesidecommunitiesandelevenimpe-
andsfaegr-tfareepagesofrelatedSpanishoommeniBiy.Thesefeiioa rialoutposts,thelatRralldistantfromtheVall^ofMexicaTliese
ZÍ
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transiticmfoliosrektepartlytothehktoryofooaqnests,andpartly mi0MeriooCSty,vicacgalseatofSpam^weaMiydominianof
tothetributan,'oblipntionsnfsuhsi-nicncc. NewSpain ItwastherethattheCodexMendozawascompiledat
CodexMendos£%conquesthistoryandtributetalliesbothappear thebehestoftheSpanishcrown(Charles andunderthesuper-
tohsvcbccncopiedinireexmtprahliiMinicdocnmentsiincontent visionofSpanishfiriars.Nathwscijbesandmterpretersweresolic-
andstyletheyarereasonablyfaithfulreflectionsofthe.\lt\ic.i's itedfromagcncr.ttion;hatooofalStilldafanfirsthandImouiedgeof
ownview-oftheirimperialstrengthandvttaliqr.Part3,however, preconquestAztechie.
'TheDailylifeYeartoYear,**wasanovel,postconquestcreation TheCodtxMtndozaappropriatelycametocarrythenameofthe
withnoknownprehispanicproton-pc.C'nntainingfifteenpictorial then-viceroyofNewSpain,.AntoniodeMendma,whoma\'well
pages,thissectionprovidesanethnographicaccountofModca havecommissionedthemanuscripLThedociUDentwasproduced
daflyexisKnoe.ItbeginswithcoloriulimagesdepictingiiifiuiGy inabitofaflmry,bytheSpennhcommentator^ownadmission
andchildhoodasMexicachildrenirennmrd,diíripÜncH,;inrledu- (secfolio71v).IIcwasnishinetomeetthedepartureoftheannual
cated.Thehfcpathsoftheseyoungpeoplearethentraced.Males flota,theSpanishtreasuretlect.Themanuscriptwashastilyhn-
atnndfbmulschools,gainpriestlytraining,captureenemieson iriied,packed,andthendiqntchedbymuletrainn>bouncealong
thel);itt!efielcl,engageinpublicworLs,marry,becomeentangledin roughserpentineroadsthatdescendedover",nnofeettotheGulf
Lugaiion,learncrafts,andachievehighsocialrank.Some,how- ofMexiooportof^i^ncraz.Thedocument'sdcsunedvo)'ageto
ever,goawryandarepuoisliedforadulteryOfOtherctiows.The Spam,however,wasabtupdymtemipiedwImiFirenchprivateers
membersof;imorediM-ipIinedI'roiipgainesteemandultimately attackedtheSpanishflotilla.mili-.irricditsrichbofitv'tothecoffers
becomeelderlymodelsofcommunit)'moralityandreaptheatten- ofHenriIIofFrance.Fortunately,CodtxMendozasurvivedthat
dantrewards,includingtherighttoimbibeunlimitedquantitiesof transferunharmed.AttheFrendicourt,theking'scosmographer,
intoxicatingpiile/iif. AndréThevet,himselffascinatedwithexoticlandsandpeoples,
Femalesmarryyoung,Uterally"tyingüiekiux"aroundagefif- gainedcontrolofthemanuscript;indeed,hisnameappearsinfive
teen.Afewcareless,lessconventioaalwomenaresubsequently places,twicewidithedate1553(onfolios1rand71v).
showninliaisonswitherrantyoungmen,inlegaldisputes,oras ThedocumentcontinuedtochangehandsafterThevct'sdeath.
partnersincrime.Righteousagedmatrons,however,conclude ThenextownerwasRichardIlakluyt,chaplaintotheI'.nglisham-
theirdisciplinedlivesexercisingthecovetedprivikgeofunre- bassadortoFrance,whowasalsoanaficionadoofgeographicaland
strictedaccesstopulqttr. culturale.\otica.Heacquireddiedocumentfor20Frenchcrowns
WeseelittleofthepervasiveAztecreligioninMendoza,although andcarriedittoEngland.FromHakluyiitpassedtoSamuelPur-
theethnographicsectionofthepictorialwouldseemthelogical chassometimeafter1616,thentoPurchas'sson,andsubsequently
liackdropforthetopicWedoglimpsepriestsperformingafewof toJohnSelden,anavidcollectorofWesternHemispheremanu-
theirduties,includingthetrainingofayoungnoviceshowninone scripts.In1659,fiveyearsafterSelden'sdeath,theMendozafinally
colorfulvignette.Beyondthat,onlytheraredeitypeersatusfrom cametorestinOxfordUniversity'sBodleianLibrary,whereitre-
aplace-nameglyph,oranoccasionaltempleloomsintheback- mainstothisday.Intheinterveningyears,thedocumentfellinto
ground,orcertainobscureelementsofreligioussymbolismare eclipseasitwasquiteforgottenfor172years,notemergingfor
codedintotextilesandwarriorattire.Buttheseareonlysubtleref- scholarlyperusaluntilViscountIQngtbonmghbroughtittolight
erencestoreligion;theflamboyantceremoniesthatsoforcefully in1831.
punctuatedAxtecdailyeaistenoeareconspicuoudyabsent IntheyearssinceKingsbonnigh'b"discoveiy"ofCtdaeMtadna
AlthooghdiepaperonwhichCoiixMaiia»wascompiledwat aatangtheBodlcian'sholdings,thedocumenthassoimpressed
ofEuropeanorigin,displayingwatermariacharacteristicofSpan- scholarsandpublishersthatithasappearedinseveraleditions.
ishpapcrmakers,thecomposersofthepictorialwerethemselves Kingsboniugh'sAmi^éidadadeMexico(1831-1848)andJames
experiencednativescribes.Andwhethertheycopiedfromextant OwperClark'sCndexMendoza(1 ?vols.)atethemostnotable
pictarialcodices(asinpara1and2)ordevisedanewformat(asin precursorstotheUniversityofCaliibrnia^delwMandpaperback
part3),theytendedtofellowindigenousartisticcanonsandstyles; editions.
theonemajorLvcLptimiistheratherawkwardatten\ptatperspec-
tiveonfolio6Vr.throughoutthedocument,thehandofasingle THESIGNIFICANCEOFCODEXMENDOZA
masterpainterisevident;otherskillednativesworkedwithhim,
preparingthepigmentsandapplyingthecolorsinflatwashes.They TheCodexMendozacombinesAztecpictorialandghphicimages
andknowledgeableelderlyA^&iecsinterpretedtheglyphsandpaint- withwrittentextinNáhuatlandSpanishtoprovideakindofRo-
ings,apparentlydiscussingparticularmeaningsamoogifaenuelves setiastoneforMesoamericanstudies.ThelevelofdetailavailaUe
inNáhuatl.Tlic\dv!ivit iK'.r.src;>'lili^v Jirreement(seefolio inthedotuiiientisgrciulvenhancedbvitspresentationintliese
7Iv).Finally,thisindigenousmiorni.iinüiu.istranslatedintoSpan- ditterenttortiiats,allowingittoscr\casareferencepointtorthe
ishbyabilingualfriarwhothenwroteiheaccompanyingexplana- interpretationofother.Mesoamericancodicesandcultures.
ttoorriyalSppaangies—hcaosmmweelnltaarsietsheSwphaincihshforgltohsesemsostthaptaanpfpleicaereadcirhecpticl-y knoGwilveedngeitdsbasreaadmtahjoorfscoounrtceentf,orC/sutluedxieMsaoifdK.Ajzitehcahsisltoonrgy,bgeeeongraac--
alongsidethepictorialimages. plqr,economy,socialandpoliticalorganization,glyphicwriting,
costumes,textiles,militaryattire,andindigenousartstyles.This
ABKILFHISrORYOFTHECODEXMENDOZA inclusivemanuscriptnotonlydocumentsexpectedpatternsofim-
perialorganization,artisticsymbolism,anddiedailyroundbutre-
TheCodexMendoza'%adventurousearlyhistoryisascolorfulasits vealsunexpectedvariationsaswell:city-stateswereincorporated
prehispaniccontent.Itwasdraftedsometwentyyearsafterthetur- intotheempireincreativelydiverseways,scribesmadeuseofalter-
bulentandtraumaticSpanishconquestoftheMexicaofTenochti- nativeglvphicandartisticdevices,andindividualsfollowedmark-
tlan.By1541theMexica'simperialcapitalhadbeentransformed edlydhrcrsepathsastheymadetheirwaythroughlife'smaze.
rii • INTROUUCllON
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