NEZAHUALCÓYOTL: BIOGRAPHY, GOVERNMENT AND WORKS, POETRY - ARTE - 2025

Nezahualcóyotl was a tlatoani (monarch) of the city-state of Texcoco, one of those existing in pre-Columbian Mexico. During his government, Texcoco became the main ally of the Mexica. He has gone down in history for the infrastructures he ordered to build, for the stability he achieved for his people and for his facet as a poet.

Although at birth he received the name of Acolmiztli, various circumstances that occurred during his adolescence caused him to change it to Nezahualcóyotl, which means "fasting coyote." However, remains discovered in recent years have led some historians to claim that, in reality, the correct translation would be "fasting wolf."

Illustration of Nezahualcóyotl from the Ixtlilxochitl Codex, 16th century - Source: Scanned by Aztecas (ed. Eduardo Matos Moctezuma and Felipe Solis Olguin), p. Four. Five.

The monarch was born in 1402, in Texcoco itself. Destined to reign by inheritance, he was forced to flee when the Tepanecs besieged and occupied the dominions of Texcoco. Nezahualcóyotl spent the next few years in exile, eight of them in Tenochtitlan. After forming an alliance with various lordships, he was able to regain his father's throne in 1429.

His reign lasted until 1472, the year of his death. During this period, Texcoco was the most important military ally of the Mexica. Among the most outstanding works that he ordered to build are the Nezahualcóyotl dam and an aqueduct erected in the Chapultepec forest that brought drinking water to Tenochtitlan.

Biography

In the early years of the 15th century, the Tepanecs were the most powerful civilization in the Basin of Mexico. With its capital in Azcapotzalco, this manor was ruled by Tezozomoc, a monarch who had imposed a political regime with tyrannical overtones.

The Tepanecs were trying to expand their territories through the military conquest of Texcoco, at that time ruled by Ixtlilxóchitl, father of Nezahualcóyotl.

The son and successor of the king had been born on April 28, 1402, although some historians claim that he came into the world on February 4 of that same year. During his early years, Nezahualcóyotl received an education consistent with his social position.

His first studies were carried out in the palace itself, with tutors chosen by his father. Later, he continued training at the calmécac, a type of school for the upper classes that offered higher education.

In that center, Nezahualcýotl learned to read and write. Likewise, his teachers taught him the rites and traditions of his Toltec and Chichimec ancestors. Finally, he also received training in history, the arts of war, the fundamentals of politics, and the doctrines that the Mexica had brought to the Valley of Mexico.

All these subjects were what, as it was thought, the young man needed to be able to govern his town effectively.

Siege of the Tepanecas

The affluent and luxurious life, as corresponded to the heir to the throne, ended when his people had to defend themselves from the attacks of another manor in the area, the Tepanecs, who sought to expand their territorial dominions.

In 1418, the city of Texcoco was besieged by Tepanec troops for 30 days. The top Tepaneca leader, Tezozomoc, had threatened to kill Nezahualcóyotl's father, Ixtlilxóchitl, who was then 54 years old.

This threat forced Ixtlilxóchitl to flee the city along with his son and some loyal soldiers. Although they managed to hide in nearby caves, the pressure of the Tepanecs who were looking for them caused them to leave their refuge.

Faced with this situation, Ixtlilxóchitl ordered Nezahualcýotl to flee to try to save himself. The king and some of his men clashed with the Tepanec soldiers, giving the heir time to move away.

Hidden among the branches of a tree, Nezahualcóyotl witnessed how his father fought against enemy soldiers until he was pierced by several spears.

Exile

After the murder of his father, Nezahualcóyotl, then 16 years old, was able to escape from the Tepanec troops. Before fleeing, he ordered the Texcoco soldiers to surrender and submit to the invaders, with the intention of preventing a massacre from taking place.

In this way, the Tepanecs took over the city. Tezozomoc, their king, offered a reward for the capture, alive or dead, of Nezahualcóyotl, since he knew that if he continued in freedom he could become a threat to his kingdom.

For the next two years, Nezahualcýotl had to avoid harassment from his pursuers. In that period he toured various towns, always looking for information about what was happening in his invaded manor and trying to find allies to recover it.

One of the places where he spent some time incognito was Tlaxcala, where he posed as a peasant. After leaving that city he moved to Chalco and enlisted as a soldier in its army. However, his real identity was discovered and the Chalca president sentenced him to death with the intention of pleasing Tezozomoc.

Fortunately for Nezahualcóyotl, the brother of the Chalca monarch, Quetzalmacatzin, took pity on their situation and helped them escape from their prison. The heir to the throne of Texcoco was thus able to save his life and return to Tlaxcala. His savior received worse luck, as he was executed for treason.

Return to Texcoco

Nezahualcóyotl continued his wandering life until 1420. That year, his mother's sisters, married to the rulers of Tenochtitlan and Tlatelolco, convinced the Tepanec king to spare the life of their nephew. Tezozomoc agreed on the condition that he go to live in Tenochtitlan.

The legitimate heir to the Texcoco throne was warmly received in Tenochtitlan, where he remained for eight years. During that stage, Nezahualcóyotl supported himself thanks to the support of his maternal relatives and was able to resume his education and military training. Likewise, he also showed a great interest in science and the arts.

In time, the Tepanec king granted him a palace in Texcoco and granted him authorization to move between Tenochtitlan and his city of origin.

Despite this change, Nezahualcóyotl was still determined to regain the throne and began to plan the best way to achieve it.

Death of Tezozomoc

Apart from his advanced age, the Tlatoani Tepaneca, Tezozomoc, was seriously ill. On the verge of dying, he commissioned his three sons, Maxtla, Teyatzin and Tlatoca Tlitzpaltzin, to kill Nezahualcóyotl.

Upon learning of the intention of his enemies, Nezahualcóyotl sought refuge with his uncle, King Chimalpopoca of Tenochtitlan. A year later, Tezozomoc died and his son Maxtla came to occupy the throne of Azcapotzalco.

Nezahualcóyotl, although he was aware of the new king's intention to assassinate him, decided to attend the funeral of his old enemy. Maxtla then planned to capture Chimalpopoca as punishment for helping his rival and, at the same time, commissioned a group of mercenaries to kill the heir to the Texcoco throne.

Despite the risk, Nezahualcóyotl went to Azcapotzalco to request the freedom of Chimalpopoca. Maxtal greeted him warmly to lower his guard and then tried to treacherously kill him. The throneless prince managed to escape and go to Texcoco.

Maxtla then prepared a new trap to assassinate his enemy. The Tepanec king convinced a half brother of Nezahualcóyotl to invite him to a banquet with the intention of surprising him there.

The plan did not work because a friend warned Nezahualcóyotl of what Maxtla was up to. The prince sent a peasant to pose as him. Once at the banquet, his double was beheaded and the head sent as a trophy to Maxtla.

When he discovered that he had been deceived, he became enraged and ordered his captains to go to Texcoco to assassinate once and for all with Nezahualcóyotl.

Maxtla attack

Once again, Nezahualcóyotl had to flee to avoid his enemies. They pursued him, but the prince managed to avoid several of his ambushes.

Maxtla, unable to finish off his enemy, decided to take revenge by murdering Chimalpopoca. This decision turned against him, since the indignant Mexica broke their alliance with Azcapotzalco. The new Aztec leader, Itzcoatl, sent his army to besiege the Tepaneca capital.

Meanwhile, Nezahualcóyotl convinced other cities dissatisfied with the tyranny established by the Tepanecs to support him. Thus, he was able to form a large army that defeated the Tepanec troops in several battles.

Finally, in 1429, that same army entered Texcoco victorious. Nezahualcóyotl did not stop the war there, but continued to face the Tepanecs to liberate Tlatelolco and destroy Azcapotzalco. Maxtla died at the hands of Nezahualcóyotl himself.

The first steps of Nezahualcóyotl after being able to occupy the throne that corresponded to him was to seal an alliance with Tenochtitlan and Tlatelolco. His purpose was for the Valley of Mexico to experience a time of splendor.

Death and heir

Nezahualcóyotl's reign lasted until 1472, the year in which he died in Texcoco. His heir was his son, Nezahualpilli, who maintained the same policies as his father until 1516. C.

Government and works

The alliance created against Azcapotzalco was maintained after achieving victory. In 1431, it was renamed the Triple Alliance and Nezacualcýotl was crowned lord of Texcoco.

His stage as president of the manor was characterized by his great achievements and by territorial annexations.

According to historians, his government was distinguished by its justice and prudence. During it, numerous civil and penal laws were enacted. In addition, Nezahualcóyotl promoted the construction of several schools for the study of medicine, history, language, painting and astronomy.

The ruler of Texcoco ordered the reorganization of urban planning in the city, which he divided into neighborhoods. Each of them had its own industry in order to improve the economy of its inhabitants.

In addition to this division by neighborhoods, Nezahualcóyotl ordered the construction of numerous infrastructures, from palaces to aqueducts, through gardens and monuments.

Lord of Texcoco

Nezahualcýotl was sworn in as lord of Texcoco in the year 1431, the "4 cane" in the Nahui acatl chronology. He was 29 at the time and had spent 17 trying to regain the throne taken from his father.

In accordance with what was included in the alliance agreement with Tlacopan and Tenochtitlan, it was the monarch of the latter dominion who crowned Nezahualcóyotl in the ceremony that was held for this purpose.

The newly appointed tlatoani of Texcoco dedicated his first efforts to bring order to his territory. To begin with, he divided the capital into six zones and entrusted the residents of each with their government. Likewise, it distributed the trades by neighborhoods.

In addition to the temples, gardens and palaces that he ordered to build, Nezahualcýotl also ordered the construction of 400 houses and palaces for the upper class.

Administratively, the president formed four councils: the Government, the Criminal Council, the Music and War Sciences Council and the Finance Council. At the head of each one he placed relatives of proven legality.

The reign of Nezahualcóyotl provided the manor with a period of prosperity and stability.

Beautification of the city

Nezahualcóyotl had always been a lover of nature. For this reason, the beautification and improvement of the forests of Chapultepec and Tezcutzingo was one of its most outstanding activities.

The monarch ordered measures to preserve the springs and the flora of those places. In addition, he carried the water through the mountains and built infrastructure so that it could be irrigated. In addition to preserving what already existed, Nezahualcóyotl introduced new animal and plant species.

Building a zoo, a botanical garden and the gardens of his palace were some of his decisions, to which must be added an aqueduct built in the Chapultepec forest that supplied drinking water to Tenochtitlan.

Nezahualcóyotl Dam

The most important engineering work built under the mandate of Nezahualcóyotl was a large stone and wooden dam that the Spanish denominated "the great albarradón".

This dam was built at the request of Moctezuma I. With a length of 16 kilometers, it was designed to avoid the floods that used to affect the city. In addition, it prevented the fresh water from the lake from mixing with the salt water.

This construction was the cause that Nezahualcóyotl was considered the best architect on the continent.

Poetry

Another of the facets through which Nezahualcóyotl has gone down in history is that of the author of poetry. The monarch wrote numerous pieces that, according to the chroniclers, were kept in the Old Library of Texcoco.

Although there are doubts about the authorship of some of them, at present some 30 compositions attributed to the "poet king" are preserved. These pieces stand out for their depth of thought, in addition to taking advantage of the aesthetic possibilities offered by the Nahuatl language.

The theme of the compositions is varied, without missing autobiographical and historical references. The tlatoani also celebrated spring and nature, although, in some, it denoted their affliction with the ephemeral nature of the mundane.

Some poems of Nezahualcóyotl

- At last my heart understands:

I hear a song, I

contemplate a flower:

I hope they do not wither!

- I, Nezahualcóyotl, ask:

Do you really live with roots in the earth?

Not forever on earth:

just a little here.

Even if it is made of jade it breaks,

even it is made of gold it breaks,

even if it is plumage of quetzal it tears.

Not forever on earth:

just a little here.

- I love the song of the cenzontle,

bird of the four hundred voices.

I love the color of jade,

and the unnerving perfume of flowers,

but what I love the most is my brother,

the man

References

1. Martínez, José Luis. Nezahualcóyotl, "hungry coyote." Obtained from arqueologiamexicana.mx
2. Ruiza, M., Fernández, T. and Tamaro, E. Biography of Nezahualcóyotl. Obtained from biografiasyvidas.com
3. Neomexicanisms. Fall in love with the short and most beautiful poems of Nezahualcóyotl. Obtained from neomexicanismos.com
4. Olvera, Alfonso. Nezahualcoyotl: The Emperor Poet. Obtained from inside-mexico.com
5. The Biography. Biography of Nezahualcóyotl (1402-1472). Retrieved from thebiography.us
6. Poem Hunter. Nezahualcoyotl. Retrieved from poemhunter.com
7. Klimczak, Natalia. The Golden Age of Texcoco, Powerful City of King Nezahualcoyotl. Retrieved from ancient-origins.net
8. Tuck, Jim. Nezahualcoyotl: Texcoco's philosopher king (1403–1473). Retrieved from mexconnect.com