Macuilxochitzin (born c. 1435), also referred to in some texts as Macuilxochitl,[1] was a poet (cuicanitl[2]) during the peak years of the Aztec civilization. She was the daughter of Tlacaélael,[3] a counselor to the Aztec kings and the niece of the Tlatoani warrior Axayacatl.[1] She lived through the height of the Aztec civilization's expansion.[4] Her life and works are an example of gender parallelism in pre-Hispanic Mexico, where women were given the same opportunities enjoyed by men.[5]

Life

There is little information about the life of Macuilxochitzin.[6] The poet was born about 1435 to a prominent family of Aztec nobility through her father Tlacaélael,[7] who was a famous politician and served as adviser to the Tlatoanis. She was also the daughter (or the second in command) to the powerful female figure called Cihuacoatl (Woman Snake).[2] She had twelve siblings, each born to a different mother.

Tlacaélael may also have adopted her from a tribe called Chichimeca after it was destroyed by nomadic incursions, and then given her the name "Macuilxochitzin."[8] Her name probably means "Madam Five Flower," based on the Aztec, having been born on a 5 Flower day on the Aztec calendar. However, other scholars argue that her name could be derived from the name of a goddess of the arts, songs and dance, once she was already a recognized poet. In addition to poetry, Macuilxochitzin was skilled in embroidery and loom weaving.[9]

Works

According to Miguel León Portilla in his book Fifteen Poets of the Aztec World,[10] Macuilxochitzin lived in Mexico-Tenochtitlan during the pinnacle of the Aztec civilization. Portilla states that she lived her life at court and was "as wise and as competent as the king."[5] Her poetry was also described as reflective of her insider knowledge of the king and Aztec politics.[5] The majority of her poetic work focused on the battles and confrontations that her father waged during the expansion of the Aztec empire across Mesoamerica. Only one poem that survives from that legacy can be attributed to her authorship and pertains to the decisive actions of a group of Otomi women who, through their prayers, saved the life of Tílatl, the Otomi captain who had been injured by a Mexica sovereign. This campaign, which was planned by her father,[11] happened during the conquest of Axayácatl where the indigenous groups, the Matlatzincas and Otomies, had settled in the Toluca Valley in 1476.[12] Most of the poetry, however, extolled the Aztec forces and the leadership of their sovereign.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 Díaz, Mónica; Quispe-Agnoli, Rocío (2017). Women's Negotiations and Textual Agency in Latin America, 1500–1799. Oxon: Routledge. p. 89. ISBN 978-1-138-22504-6.
  2. 1 2 Jestice, Phyllis G. (2004). Holy People of the World: A Cross-cultural Encyclopedia. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO. pp. 525. ISBN 1-57607-355-6.
  3. ↑ Leon-Portilla, Miguel (1992). Fifteen Poets of the Aztec World. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. p. 175. ISBN 978-0-8061-3291-4.
  4. 1 2 Pennock, Caroline Dodds (2008). Bonds of Blood: Gender, Lifecycle, and Sacrifice in Aztec Culture. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 83. ISBN 9780230003309.
  5. 1 2 3 Sturman, Janet (2016). The Course of Mexican Music. New York: Routledge. p. 30. ISBN 9781138843080.
  6. ↑ Amozorrutia, Alina (2008). 101 mujeres en la historia de México. Grijalbo. ISBN 978-9708103282.
  7. ↑ Campańa, Mario (2012). "En el largo amanecer indígena". Guaraguao. El Centro de Estudios y Cooperación para América Latina (CECAL). 16 (39): 183–185. JSTOR 23266397.
  8. ↑ "Poeta mexicana Macuilxochitzin". Isliada | Literatura Cubana Contemporánea (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  9. ↑ Consulting, Mellow (21 June 2018). "Macuilxochitzin – mujeres de México". VEME Digital (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  10. ↑ Portilla, Miguel León (1992). Fifteen Poets of the Aztec World. University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 9780806124414.
  11. ↑ Portilla, Miguel Leon (1980). Native Mesoamerican Spirituality: Ancient Myths, Discourses, Stories. Paulist Press. ISBN 0809122316.
  12. ↑ Recinos, Adrián (1991). Literatura maya (Biblioteca Ayacucho series, vol. 57) (2nd ed.). Fundación Biblioteca Ayacuch. ISBN 978-9802761746.


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