Centuries-old manuscript narrating Aztec history returns on loan to Mexico

MEXICO CITY, Sept 17 (Reuters) - The Azcatitlan Codex, an ancient manuscript chronicling the birth of the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan and the arrival of Spanish conquistadors, has returned to Mexico for the first time since 1840, loaned from France s Bibliotheque Nationale. The 16th-century artifact, a key visual record of Aztec history, was held by the French library since 1898. The two countries are celebrating 200 years of diplomatic relations.

The Azcatitlan Codex combines Mesoamerican pictograms with European script, segmented into three parts. It recounts the Mexica migration from the mythical Aztlan, the birthplace of Aztec civilization, to the founding of Tenochtitlan (modern-day Mexico City). It also details the succession of the city s rulers, the tlatoanis, and portrays the Spanish arrival, conquest, and its aftermath.

Maria Eugenia Castañeda, representing the Mexica peoples, emphasized the importance of these codices in maintaining identity and cultural value during challenging times. "They elevate our morale, our customs, our culture, and our sense of who we are," she said. The Azcatitlan Codex, crafted by an Indigenous craftsman from the Otomi people, will be exhibited at Mexico City's National Museum of Anthropology until December.

As part of the exchange, Mexico will loan France the Codex Boturini, another significant historical document. The fall of Tenochtitlan to Hernan Cortes, the Spanish force leader, marked the beginning of three centuries of Spanish rule after the Aztecs' defeat and the razing of the city.