Iberoamericana, XIX, 71 (2019), 51-76 10/07/2019 22:32:33 an l ajagopa R en n algún momento entre 1565 y 1743, tres folios fueron removidos del manus- removidos folios fueron 1565 y 1743, tres n algún momento entre rr e H a l 51-76 OI: 10.18441/ibam.19.2019.71. nge Resumen: E Conquest; Manuscripts; Colonial; Nahua; Mexico Colonial; Nahua; Keywords: Conquest; Manuscripts; Abstract: S | | thecentral from removed folioswere 1565and1743,three ometime between D A USA The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, [email protected] Leyendo entre líneas: Un relato indígena de la indígena de la Un relato líneas: Leyendo entre desaparecidos del Códice conquista en los folios Azcatitlan Reading Between the Lines: An An Lines: the Between Reading Account of Conquest Indigenous Codex Folios of on the Missing Azcatitlan . Dos de los folios perdidos formaban parte parte formaban crito mexicano conocido como Códice Azcatitlan de los folios perdidos . Dos de un análisis de las imágenes de la sección dedicada a la historia de la conquista. A través de la conquista, este artículo intenta y la comparación con otras relaciones sobrevivientes sa- eventos que representaban y propone el contenido de las páginas perdidas reconstruir crificiales importantes, así como actos de violencia contra los españoles que eran de gran México-Tlatelolco, de indígenas del manuscrito, provenientes trascendencia para los autores | . Two of the missing folios were part- of a sec of the missing folios were Two as Codex Azcatitlan manuscript known . Mexican historyconquest the to of extant ima- analysis an referring tion Through manuscript. this in accounts of the conquest, this study makes an ges and the comparison with other indigenous - the missing folios recor that pages and proposes argument for the possible content on these great of were that Spaniards of violence against the events and acts ded significant sacrificial and their intended indigenous audience. Tlatelolca authors importance to the indigenous Spa- to a offensive most been considered might have This paper argues that those images that Spain. New in rise the on was censorship when time a at excised, were viewer Christian nish | Revista Iberoamericana 71.indd 51 Revista Iberoamericana 71.indd 52 52 Iberoamericana, XIX, 71 (2019), 51-76 ANGELA HERREN RAJAGOPALAN Spaniards thatwere ofgreat totheindigenousauthorsandtheirintended importance the missingleaves recorded significantsacrificial events andactsofviolenceagainstthe in the Florentine, Book Codex 12, and the Annals of Tlatelolco, this study indicates that indigenous and particularly Tlatololca accountsoftheconquest,suchasthosefound sourceThrough material, comparison withothersixteenth-andseventeenth-century quest andthereception ofthesehistoriesby bothintendedand unintended audiences. ourunderstandingofindigenous perspectives onthecon- images) mayhelptofurther to makesomereasonable propositions. Thisactof reading between thelines(or torial andscriptedaccountsoftheconquestMexica allow us migrationhistory analysis oftheextantimagesandcomparisonwithexistencenumerous pic- isdecidedlydifficultandinherently speculative.Codex Azcatitlan Nonetheless,careful 23r, 23v, and24rincomplete(figs.2-5). in theconquestsectionofmanuscript,leavingfourextantimagesonpages22v, between theextantfolios4vand5r(fig.1).tion history Two ofthemissingleaves were to beread originallyacross atwo-pagespread. One leafwasremoved from themigra- missing leaves hadimagesontherecto andverso sidesthatcompletedpaintingsmeant render twenty-eight paintedleaves. Thus,three leaves are missing. In eachcase,the foliosofEuropeanuscript asoriginallyconsistingoffourteen paper, foldedinhalfto between 1521 and1527-1528.Michel Graulich (1995,16)hasdescribed theman- ry, anaccountoftheconquest,andarecord ofpost-conquestevents thatoccurred Mexica from to Aztlan migrationhistory Tenochtitlan-Tlatelolco, animperialhisto- Tlatelolca descent, 1 uscript known. asCodexAzcatitlan Sometime between 1565and1743,three leaves were removed from thepaintedman- INTRODUCTION periodo enquelacensurasehacíamásestrictaNueva España. posteriormente porque podíanresultar ofensivas aloslectores españolescristianos,enun y parasusaudienciasindígenas.Se propone porelloqueestasimágenesfueron suprimidas
Palabras clave: Conquista;Manuscritos; Colonial,Nahuas; México. The task of considering what might have been present on the missing leaves of (Peñafiel 1890,56-68). Benaducci becausehis1743catalogueentries describethemanuscriptashaving“twenty-five sheets” that theleaves were removed from themanuscriptpriortoentering thecollectionofLorenzo Boturini dicates thatthemanuscriptwascreated aftertheManila galleonsbegan circulating in1565. We know The presence 1995b, ofparasolsAsianmanufacture (page25v)(CodexAzcatitlan 152,n.100)in- nationale deFrance, where desManuscrits itiscataloguedintheDépartement asMexicain 59-64. , alsoreferredThe originalCodexAzcatitlan toastheHistoire mexicaine,islocatedintheBibliothèque ’sCodex Azcatitlan twenty-five extant leaves record anaccountof 1 Painted inNew Spain of by indigenousartists 10/07/2019 22:32:34 READING BETWEEN THE LINES 53 Iberoamericana, XIX, 71 (2019), 51-76 10/07/2019 22:32:34 Codex Codex AzcatitlanCodex not do ) worked on worked tlacuilome) tlacuilo (artist-scribe,pl. nationale de France. ’s narrative, especially the very narrative, I suggest that Codex Azcatitlan’s 2 , addresses the con- , addresses España de las cosas de Nueva general Codex, or Historia Book 12 of the Florentine Tlatelolco; the text was was in de Sahagún 1555 when Bernardino quest and was written around Tlatelolco Cruz in of the Colegio de Santa Tlatelolco leaders and students compiled with the aid of text of to the images and Nahuatl are here otherwise noted, references 2014, 219). Unless (Terraciano Tlatelolco (comprised Annals of The Laurenziana. Medicea the manuscript housed in the Biblioteca nationale de France. in the Bibliothèque 22bis) is archived of Ms. 22 and a later copy, Although more than one one than more Although
cater to a Spanish audience; I argue that those images that might have been considered been considered that might have audience; I argue that those images cater to a Spanish half perhaps in the second excised, were Spanish Christian viewer to a most offensive and that the Spain, of the sixteenth century when censorship was on the rise in New with the late addition of pigmentation. may be coeval excisions indigenous-centric account of the conquest, was modified after or late in production production modified after or late in was of the conquest, account indigenous-centric preservingof a means as in images The extant manuscript. the 2 indigenous audience. (Herren 2012, 1-13; Rajagopalan 2019, 43-68), a primary 2012, 1-13; Rajagopalan Azcatitlan hand produced (Herren of the manuscript, conceptual scope the overall the images under consideration and do I material, this approaching In singular. the in individual this to refer will I thus glosses and Arabic numerals in Codex Azcatit- not take for granted that the Nahuatl I take the glosses into the primary added by this study, tlacuilo. Throughout lan were the pictorial content. Like in contained meaning to the primacy give but account, incomplete. They appear pri- the glosses are the compositions and the pigmentation, fewa partearly the in entries brief of are there and segment migration the in marily runs the through consistently While the sequence of year-bearers the imperial history. cartouchesThe fashion. hybrid a in glyph- and recorded are they segment, migration in style. However, pre-Hispanic are and Flint Rabbit, Reed, of House, ic renderings , Pages 4v (left) and 5r (right). Courtesy of the Bibliothèque 4v (left) and 5r (right). Courtesy of the Bibliothèque 1: Codex Azcatitlan, Pages Fig. Revista Iberoamericana 71.indd 53 Revista Iberoamericana 71.indd 54 54 Iberoamericana, XIX, 71 (2019), 51-76 ANGELA HERREN RAJAGOPALAN rulers Moteuczomarulers and Cuitlahua had bothdied. The final sceneonpage24rdepicts banner from conquistador Pedro de Alvarado. By this point in time, the Tenochca (also calledMartín, hisChristianname,orEcatzin, anhonorific)captures the Spanish along the northern Tacuba causeway. In the upper register, the Tlatelolca noble Ecatl by conquistadors,beingrescued by theindigenouslord Ixtlilxochitl from thewater quest inthelatesummerof1521(fig.4).The lower sceneshows surrounded Cortés, Spaniards at thatoccurred attheendofcon- Tlatelolco, anindigenous victory May orJune of1520 (fig.3).The reverse ofthispage,23v, shows the routofthe Toxcatl and,more importantly, itsaftermath;theevents ofthisdayoccurred inlate conquest account.On page23r, thetlacuilodepictsmassacre duringtheFeast of onNovember ontheIxtapalapa causeway party 8,1519.Thissceneinauguratesthe hestandsreadyconquistadors andindigenousporters, togreet Moteuczoma andhis first time(fig.2). Accompanied byhistranslator Malinche,anAfricanslave, Spanish of thesixteenthcentury. On page22vthetlacuilodepictsHernando forthe Cortés of Nahuas of Tlatelolca descentlivinginthecapitalofNew Spain inthesecond half historical narrative designedtoappealanindigenousaudience,mostlikelyagroup 2005, 2009a,2009b; Navarrete 2004; Rajagopalan 2019). Theextantpages record a ’sdex Azcatitlan content reflects Tlatelolca interests (Castañedade la Paz 1997,1999, rative components (Navarrete 2004,155).Asseveral authorshave demonstrated,Co- positional layout ofthemanuscriptsetsconquestmaterialofffrom theothernar- 3 through 24r. The PAGES 22V-24R – AN INDIGENOUS ACCOUNT OF THE CONQUEST after theleaves were excised. text,perhapseven atthesametimeor andaddingoccasional explanatory cartouches historian, orcollectorwhoattemptedtoemendthedocumentby completingthedate engaged in.Thus,itisequallypossiblethattheglosserwasanother Nahua tlacuilo, reconciling of years and of multiple sources that the indigenous chroniclers frequently numerals. However, are thehybridyear cartouches alsocharacteristicofthekind dots, theyear-bearers wouldnotbecomprehensible tosomeoneunableread Arabic audience more versed inEuropean methodsoftimekeeping;becausetheylackthe novative ofatlacuilointentoncommunicatingtoanindigenous approach onthepart addition ofyears correlated totheEuropean calendar. It ispossiblethatthisanin- example, inthepre-Hispanic CodexNuttall), we findArabicnumeralsandthefurther withcirclesinstead ofaddinginthenumbersonethrough ordots(asfor thirteen
palan 2019). arguments presented inPortraying Past: theAztec and Azcatitlan, TheCodicesBoturini, Aubin (Rajago- My interpretation ofthepictorialcontent intheconquestandpost-conquesthistoriesderives from Codex Azcatitlan 3 AshistorianFederico Navarrete Linares hasnoted,ashiftinthecom- tlacuilo painted his briefaccount of the conquest on folios 22v 10/07/2019 22:32:34 READING BETWEEN THE LINES 55 Iberoamericana, XIX, 71 (2019), 51-76 10/07/2019 22:32:34 - tlacuilo may wish to regis is located in the Biblioteca firme the Biblioteca in located is tierra la de e islas España de Nueva Indias las de Historia Even in Francisco López de Gómara’s history, an account by Cortés’ secretary Cortés’ an account by history, López de Gómara’s in Francisco Even 4 Like the Annals of Tlatelolco author, the Codex Azcatitlan Tlatelolco author, Like the Annals of He [Cortés] reached Tenochtitlan very month of] [in the quickly; he arrived on Tenochtitlan Quecholli, [Cortés] reached He eggs, turkey hens, him turkey gave we Tenochtitlan, reached he When Wind. a day Eight deer as delivering as well water, and white tortillas,providing as shelled white maize, as well Tlatelolca and the Tenochca made their contributions separately, fodder and wood. The made their contributions separately (Lockhart 2004, 257). A passage in the Annals of Tlatelolco, however, suggests a slightly different reading. a slightly different suggests Tlatelolco, however, A passage in the Annals of Diego Durán’s Durán’s Diego Nacional de España. Nacional
that was designed to aggrandize the conquistador’s role, the indigenous allies on this the indigenous allies on this role, the conquistador’s that was designed to aggrandize 1965, (López de Gómara troops the Spanish outnumbering described as vastly day are full of supplies. indigenous men bear tumplines party, of Cortés’ rear the 138). At those allies, as most scholars assume. represent may These figures the author writes: a brief description of the encounter, In 4 highlights indigenous participation. the tlacuilo highlights indigenous On history, the conquest Throughout of the head At the Cortés flank 2). party, (fig. men his and figures indigenous 22v, page rather occupies a place of importance. frontally, Like Cortés,Malinche she is shown composi- at the center of the two-page appeared and she would have than in profile, page and the opposite toward looks She party. Moteuczoma’s to closest standing tion contrast to In points to Cortés, that she is in the act of translating his words. indicating de Historia Durán’s the very appears on folio 208v of Diego similar composition that that his readers firme reminds , the tlacuilo e islas de la tierra España de Nueva las indias ruler Cortéssupporton indigenous depended Mexica with the an encounter to stage (fig. 2). A FOCUS ON INDIGENOUS PARTICIPATION IN THE CONQUEST IN PARTICIPATION A FOCUS ON INDIGENOUS Tecuichpotzin, wife of the ruler Cuauhtemoc, evacuating the city along with other no- the city along evacuating of the ruler wife Cuauhtemoc, Tecuichpotzin, account, and another closes the conquest final page formally (fig. 5). This ble women history post-conquest a begins that 24v, reverse, its on format compositional in shift episodes that chose conquest the tlacuilo Notably, or 1528. 1521-1527 the years covers in living audience an to appeal presumably would that and capital the in place took take place in scenes, those on pages 23v and 24r of the Half decades later. this region practices and narrative aesthetic, compositional, analysis of the tlacuilo’s An Tlatelolco. missing pages. understanding of the content on the helps to shape our ter this indigenous contribution, since the porters on page 22v hold, from left to right,portersleft to since the contribution, this indigenous ter from 22v hold, on page that has noted hens, tortillas, 136). Navarrete turkey and eggs (Codex Azcatitlan 1995b, line (2004, the horizon the speckled path and some float above stray from these figures these received indigenous allies who have Cortés’ 155). The tlacuilo may wish to record Revista Iberoamericana 71.indd 55 Revista Iberoamericana 71.indd 56 56 Iberoamericana, XIX, 71 (2019), 51-76 ANGELA HERREN RAJAGOPALAN 5 Lienzo de Tlaxcala alsodepictsfoodgifts. encapsulatedinCell11oftheLienzoand Cortés moments intoasinglerepresentation ofanevent. Theencounter between Moteuczoma it isnotuncommonfortheCodexAzcatitlan exchangedteuczoma andCortés necklacesandothergoods,but,asdiscussedbelow, items. Scriptedaccountssuggestthatfooditemswere onlydelivered later, afterMo- gifts, orperhapsthevisualseparationismeanttoshow the Tlatelolca delivering the On page23r, onlyindigenousfigures represent theevents surrounding themassacre
Fig. 2:(Above), Page CodexAzcatitlan 22v. oftheBibliothèque Courtesy nationale de France. (Below) Historia delasIndias deNueva España eislasdelatierra, firme Lienzo de Tlaxcala canbefoundinAlfredo Chavero’sImages oftheLienzo Antigüedades mexicanas(1892). The nextthree conquestscenesare filledwithindigenous protagonists andheroes. Folio 208v. oftheBibioteca Courtesy Nacional deEspaña, Madrid. tlacuilo tocollapsedifferent temporal 5 10/07/2019 22:32:35 READING BETWEEN THE LINES 57 Iberoamericana, XIX, 71 (2019), 51-76 10/07/2019 22:32:35 emphasize the presentation of gifts. of presentation the emphasize Codex Florentine The text goes on to name some of the additional Tenochca noblemen. Both the The text goes on to name some of the additional And as to each of the rulers who went with him, they were: first, Cacamatzin, ruler of And as to each of the rulers with him, they were: who went - Tlacochcalcatl Itzquau the Tlacopan; third, ruler of Tetlepanquetzatzin, second Tetzcoco; Tlatelolco. in storekeeper Moteucçoma’s Topantemoctzin, Tlatelolco; fourth, htzin, ruler of went (Lockhart the ones who 2004, 118). were These This trend suggests that we might expect to see a strong indigenous presence on presence indigenous strong a see to expect might we that suggests trend This Annals of Tlatelolco and the and Tlatelolco of Annals to Cortés, as in he would present held the necklace or flowers may have Moteuczoma on Spaniards (fig. 2). The oddly spotted terrain beneath the image Durán the related the missing pages. For example, the page opposite 22v probably featured Moteuczoma Moteuczoma featured example, the page opposite 22v probably the missing pages. For of the composition, like Cortésnear the seam of the book, in the center and Malinche. - Cortés. Ma positioned with his head turned toward been frontally have too may He the as she points to Cortéslinche appears in the act of translating toward and gazes would One proximity. close in depicted been have would surely he so page, opposite perhaps made up of the Moteuczoma, entourage behind expect to find a similar size text of the Nahuatl high-ranking individuals listed in other accounts. The well-known Codex, for example, states that: Florentine during the Feast of Toxcatl. Nobles, ritual participants, right the extant fill and warriors Nobles, Toxcatl. of Feast during the pulling indigenous man the tlacuilo depicts an 23v, page battle scene. On half of this and Oudijk Paz Castañeda de la 140; Cortés (Codex Azcatitlan the water from 1995b, Cortés accounts describe be- the Spanish While 78). Rajagopalan 2019, 2012, 10-12; Durán 2012, 406; del Castillo (Cortés 238-239; Díaz 1986, a Spaniard by ing rescued 1965, 281), the Codex Azcatitlan1994, 554; López de Gómara imageryseems to align grandfather Ixtlilxochitl, claim that his great-great Ixtlilxochitl’s de Alva with Fernando to Alva 2015, 49-50). According Cortés Ixtlilxochitl saved had (Alva Texcoco, ruler of Tlatelol- on the main door of the monastery a painting Ixtlilxochitl, at Santiago church the subject would have location, (49-50); in this prominent co depicted this subject de Juan Fray and consecrated under was rebuilt the church before known been well and Oudijk 140; Castañeda de la Paz in 1610 (Codex Azcatitlan 1995b, Torquemada 2019, 78). The complementary2012, 10-12; Rajagopalan - image on this page also high Spanish banner from the Ecatl captures Tlatelolca warrior The lights indigenous valor. - de Alva Pedro who carries a solar shield as identified the figure his adversary; Barlow 1949, 130). Alvarado (sun) (Barlow Tonatiuh rado, because the indigenous called him during this attack (Rajagopalan 2019, 76-83). avant-garde was also leading the Spanish elite companions, and the men who transport her them dom- Tecuichpotzin, Finally, reflects, of indigenous figures The predominance inate the composition of page 24r. in individuals like in part, taken an interest the intended audience, who would have and don Ixtlilxochitl, de Montezuma), as Isabel (later known Tecuichpotzin Malinche, each of whoseTlatelolco), of (described in some accounts as a governor Ecatzin Martín Spain. and descendants continued to impact life in New lives Revista Iberoamericana 71.indd 57 Revista Iberoamericana 71.indd 58 58 Iberoamericana, XIX, 71 (2019), 51-76 ANGELA HERREN RAJAGOPALAN part ofacoherentpart sceneencapsulating anevent inatwo-pagecomposition,we might ner from Alvarado. Since theextantimagesonpages22vand23rimplythat eachformed Tlatelolco. Ixtlilxochitl from saves near death Cortés and Ecatl captures the Spanish ban- the battle, each one experiencesa moment of successduring the rout of the Spaniards at oftheretaliation 2004,257,259). been part (Lockhart governor) in Tlatelolco, were already being held by the Spanish andwouldnothave to theAnnalsof Tlatelolco, Moteuczoma andItzquauhtzin, thetlacochcalcatl as warningMoteuczoma oftheambush(Rajagopalan2019,Appendix 2).According composition opposite23raswell. CodexAubin describesthe Tlatelolca generalEcatl composition. Ecatl battlesAlvarado on23vandmayhave appeared inthemissing Alvarado ispictured onpage23v, hemaywell have figured ofthe inthemissingpart concur thatPedro deAlvarado instigatedtheattackinCortés’ absence,andbecause the missing page must also have depicted Spanish conquistadors. Since most accounts or, andavengeful retaliation thatwouldultimatelydrive theSpanish from thecity, nature oftheevent, asurpriseambushduringsacred ritualevent atthe Templo May- and thisisinkeepingwiththetlacuilo’s Given focusonindigenousparticipation. the dence alongtheseamindicatesthatmissingpagefeatured Cortés’ indigenousallies Feast of Toxcatl wore 2004,130,132,257,259). suchgarments(Lockhart Visual evi- the Annalsof Tlatelolco andtheFlorentine Codexindicatethatdancersduringthe a netcape,helikelyrepresents aMexica whohascaptured theSpanish banner;both Spanish 1995b, (Codex Azcatitlan 138, n. 92). However, because this individual wears allies. Graulich interpreted thefigure holdingthebannerasa Tlaxcalteca allyofthe at thebottomofseamwears indigenousdress andrepresents oneoftheSpanish face foesthatwere ignominiouslyplacedalongthebook’s located seam.The adversary have registered theMexica foes.Thethree Mexica warriors engagedinactive combat Mexica spectators,victims,andwarriors,thepage oppositesurely performers, must point toCortés’ andhorse. Africanservant Tenochca ruler’s eliteattendantsandfeathered litterwouldhave provided acounter- been absentonMoteuczoma’s Perhaps sidetocontrasttheirmeansoftransport. the causeway anddepictstheroundcauseway marks leftbehindinanimageonfolio429v: the causeway. TheFlorentine creatures Codexdescribestheimpactofthesenew onthe page 22vmayrepresent themarks leftby themanyhorsesthatpreceded on Cortés Plate 23v depicts two triumphant indigenous nobles. Although on opposite sides of Plate 23vdepictstwotriumphantindigenousnobles.Althoughon oppositesidesof Since thedepictionofmassacre duringtheFeast of Toxcatl onpage23rfeatures If thisiswhat theCodexAzcatitlan 2004,110). (Lockhart placed them.Separate holesformedwherever theywent placingtheirhindlegsandforelegs throwing stones.Theirhooves madeholes,theydugholesintheground wherever they soapsuds splatting.Astheywent theymadeabeating,throbbing, andhoof-poundinglike deal; waterseemedtofallfrom them.Andtheirflecksoffoamsplattedontheground, like The horses,thedeer, neighed,there wasmuchneighing,andtheywouldsweat agreat tlacuilo recorded, thetrampledterrainmayhave (military (military 10/07/2019 22:32:35 READING BETWEEN THE LINES 59 Iberoamericana, XIX, 71 (2019), 51-76 10/07/2019 22:32:35 and his death is given prominent coverage coverage prominent tlacuilo and his death is given Folio 211r. Courtesy of the Bibioteca Nacional de España, Madrid. Nacional Courtesy of the Bibioteca 211r. Folio Historia de las Indias de Nueva España e islas de la tierra firme, e islas de la tierra España de Nueva de las Indias Historia (Below) de France. , Page 23r. Courtesy of the Bibliothèque nationale Courtesy of the Bibliothèque 23r. Codex Azcatitlan, Page 3: (Above) Fig. assume the same for page 23v. Immediately following the capture of the Spanish banner, banner, of the Spanish the capture following Immediately assume the same for page 23v. part the on losses theof devastating the document sources indigenous and Spanish both Spanish conquistadors, along with their sacrifice of and the ensuing Mexica Spaniards subject matter likely filled the page opposite 23v. indigenous allies and horses. Related in the at this time, appeared forces who was heading the Mexica Cuauhtemoc, Perhaps 2014, 224-225) he was of par- (Terraciano Tlatelolca descent composition. As a ruler of to the Codex Azcatitlanticular interest pictorial88). The 24v-25r (Rajagopalan 2019, the center of the composition on pages in 1 of with the account in Document of his death has much in common representation deTlatelolca ruler (Anales as a is presented Cuauhtemoc Tlatelolco, where the Annals of 2014, 224-225). Terraciano Tlatelolco 1999, 28-47; Rajagopalan 2019, 93-99; Revista Iberoamericana 71.indd 59 Revista Iberoamericana 71.indd 60 60 Iberoamericana, XIX, 71 (2019), 51-76 ANGELA HERREN RAJAGOPALAN canoes filledwithhispossessions,family, andwomen.Afterhiscapture andsurrender: mentions Cuauhtemoc’s wife.He describesCuauhtemocto escape inseveral astrying Gómara 1965, 292).Theaccountofconquistador Bernal Díaz delCastillospecifically co to surrender 1986, 264-265; Díaz (Cortés de del Castillo 2012, 430-433; López capturing Cuauhtemoc from hisboatandtakinghimtoarooftop locationin Tlatelol- Cuauhtemoc Spanish Sixteenth-century toCortés. accountsdescribeGarcía Holguín ofthesameevent, themostlikelysubjectmatterissurrenderded anotherpart of the evacuation ofthenoblewomenon24r. If we assumethatthepageoppositerecor- narrativelan-Tlatelolco, leaving few possibilities for the final missing page opposite of the war at Amaxac: “When itwasdone,when was over,of thewaratAmaxac:“When Coyohuehuetzin, To- sources present hissurrender asvoluntary. TheAnnalsof Tlatelolco describetheend (Olko 2005,228;Rajagopalan2019,83-85). tilmatli in isidentified by herhuipilli surrender andawaitevacuation. In,Cuauhtemoc’s CodexAzcatitlan wife Tecuichpotz- including Tecuichpotzin whoisnamedwithaglyph,astheywitnessCuauhtemoc’s Fig., Page 4:CodexAzcatitlan 23v. oftheBibliothèque Courtesy nationaledeFrance. The events on23voccurred toward endoftheconquest the very Tenochtit- While Spanish sources claimthatCuauhtemoc was captured, someindigenous Similarly,de Tlaxcala depictsseveral elegantwomenonarooftop, cell48onLienzo arranged forthemtogoimmediatelyCoyoacan… (Díaz delCastillo2012,432-433). best foodtheyhad in the camp, andthen,because it waslateandbeginningto rain, Cortés came toseewhatMalinche ordered. sent forthematonceandordered Cortés themgiven the begged Gonzalo deSandoval andGarcía Holguín toallow themtostayinthecanoeswhilehe him camewithGuatemuz [Cuauhtemoc]. Guatemuz himself replied and said thathe had askedafterhiswifeandtheothergreat Cortés ladies,wives oftheothercaptainstheytold (turquoise-tied mantle) design, associated with rulers inthe (turquoise-tied mantle)design,associatedwithrulers Valley ofMexico (blouse; pl.huipilme)thatincorporatesthexiuhtlalpilli 10/07/2019 22:32:35 READING BETWEEN THE LINES 61 Iberoamericana, XIX, 71 (2019), 51-76 10/07/2019 22:32:35 , Pages 24r. 24r. 5: Codex Azcatitlan, Pages Fig. Courtesy of the Bibliothèque nationale de France. Courtesy of the Bibliothèque (folio 433r), when Cortés meets Moteuczoma in Codex Azcati- Codex (folio 433r), when Cortés meets Moteuczoma Florentine The page opposite 24r probably provided a continuation of the aquatic scene and provided The page opposite 24r probably Then they took Quauhtemoctzin [Cuauhtemoc] in a boat. In it were only two people were In it in a boat. Quauhtemoctzin [Cuauhtemoc] Then they took and Iaztachimal, a seasoned warrior, Tepotzitoloc, accompanying him, going with him: When page, with one person who poled them along, named Cenyaotl. Quauhtemoctzin’s goes the lord saying, “There the people wept, all about to take Quauhtemoctzin, they were (Lockhart 2004, 244). himself to the gods, the Spaniards” going to give Quauhtemoctzin, may have shown Cuauhtemoc approaching Amaxac by boat or surrendering to Cortésto surrendering or boat by Amaxac approaching Cuauhtemoc shown have may in the Codex Azcatitlan indigenous roles the at Amaxac. Since emphasizes on a rooftop indigenous witnesses to the surrender. depicted conquest, the tlacuilo may have Another thematic tendency that should inform our understanding of Codex Azcatit- in an unflattering the Spanish pages is that the tlacuilo opts to present missing lan’s scenes in the Lienzo contrast to related light. In (cell 11) and Book 12 of de Tlaxcala the or seated on a throne his hat and he is not as he removes tlan, he appears deferential (fig. 2), he is Historia image in Durán’s comparison to the related In chair. Spanish no feathers in his hat to add are space and there not allotted as much compositional AN UNFLATTERING VIEW OF THE SPANISH VIEW OF AN UNFLATTERING pantemoctzin, and Temilotzin went and delivered Quauhtemoctzin [Cuauhtemoc] [Cuauhtemoc] Quauhtemoctzin delivered and went Temilotzin pantemoctzin, and (Lockhart were” and Marina de Alvarado, the Captain, don Pedro to the place where at the end Codex names these and other rulers as present 2004, 269). The Florentine and states that: Revista Iberoamericana 71.indd 61 Revista Iberoamericana 71.indd 62 62 Iberoamericana, XIX, 71 (2019), 51-76 ANGELA HERREN RAJAGOPALAN appears onthelower ofpage 25v. part a greedy, treasure-seeking Spaniard overseeing the torture anddeathof twofigures mentioned this,ineffect, Cortés’ third expulsionfrom thecity. Finally, theimageof that supplementedorread between thelinesofpictorialcontent,maywell have , one presented1965, 383-384).Anoralrecitation inCodexAzcatitlan ofthehistory who hadbeenrecently appointedasactinggovernor ofNew Spain deGómara (López with thedateofCortés’ forced exilefrom thecityathandsofAlonsoEstrada, of Fray Julián Garcés, bishopof Tlaxcala, inMexico CityinOctober 1527coincides occurred during his absence on the Honduran expedition. On page 25v, the arrival Honduran expedition. On page 25r, the (of Tenochtitlan), Coanacoch(of Texcoco), and Tetlepanquetzal (of Tlacopan) onthe records theconquistador’s Cuauhtemoc assassinationin1525oftheindigenousrulers spective, againpositionhiminanunfavorable light.On pages24v-25r, thetlacuilo pages, buttheevents recorded alludetohisactionsand,from anindigenousper- first Bishop of Mexico, isdocumentedonpage25v. isnotpictured Cortés inthese Christianity andbaptismonpage24vthearrival in1527ofFray Julián Garcés, ligious figures are shown ina relatively neutralfashion.Thetonsured friarsintroduce the post-conquestpages(seeRajagopalan2019,87-127).On pages24v-25v, there- Cortés’ maneuvers are manysuccessful martial recorded. there isnoevidenceofthedevastation chronicled insomanyotheraccounts.None of capture. Thewomenevacuatinginvoluntary thecityare well dressed andcoiffed and as achoicemadeby Cuauhtemoc andhismen(albeitunderduress), ratherthanan dignity andprobably followed otherindigenoussources inpresenting thesurrender sented aSpanish triumph, but thetlacuilolikelyexpressed theindigenouslosswith before Cuauhtemoc’s surrender. Thesurrender oppositepage24r, wouldhave repre- intion. Thisvictory Tlatelolcomarked thesecondandlastexpulsionofCortés’ troops Alvarado in defeat.Images of theensuingsacrificeswouldhave furthered thehumilia- rout ofthe Spaniards at Tlatelolco onpage23v, and thetlacuilopaintedbothCortés downplayed and the acts of vengeance take center stage (fig. 3). In his record ofthe (fol. 211r) and the Triste. In contrast to indigenous scripted accounts andimagesinDurán’s Historia in Axayacatl’s timetotheirdisastrous retreat palaceandwithinashort ontheNoche 2004,21).It ofthewar(Lockhart start true leadstotheimprisonmentofSpanish the missing page,depictedtheretaliation. According totheFlorentine Codex andthrough of thefallen,butcentercomposition,andpresumably ofthe agoodportion recording thedeathofavisitingruler, theattackondrummers, andthetreatment upper hand.Thetlacuiloshows themassacre duringtheFeast of Toxcatl onpage23rby and theAfricanservant. prestige. Theuseofpigmentdrawstheviewer’s attentionequallytoCortés, Malinche, A reading ofthesepagesisalsoinformedby therepresentation oftheSpanish in The nexttwoscenesmark twomomentsintheconquestwhen Mexica gainthe Codex Azcatitlan Florentine of the massacre Codex (fols. 440r-440v), the brutality is tlacuilo’s choiceofnarrative content,thisretaliation marked the tlacuilo records that the plot against Cortés 10/07/2019 22:32:36 READING BETWEEN THE LINES 63 Iberoamericana, XIX, 71 (2019), 51-76 10/07/2019 22:32:36 Although the Although the 6 of Tecuichpotzin to signal her relationship to Cuauhtemoc (24r). Justyna Olko Olko (24r). Justyna to Cuauhtemoc to signal her relationship Tecuichpotzin of While the post-conquest images arguably present an unflattering representation representation an unflattering arguably present post-conquest images While the While this figure has sometimes been interpreted as the fallen Moteuczoma Xocoyotzin (Codex Azca - Xocoyotzin Moteuczoma as the fallen has sometimes been interpreted While this figure his ruler receiving Mexica the describe sources most 156), 2004, Navarrete 92; n. 138, 1995b, titlan 2014, 452). The xiuhtlalpilli tilmatli rather than a temple (Graulich rooftop, a flat fatal wounds from In Codex Azcatitlan it Moteuczoma. to his high status, but is not exclusive wears marks this figure appears on Axayacatl (18v), and it is (21v), a poorly painted version is associated with Moteuczoma used on the huipilli notes that this mantle was associated with Mexica rulers, but also worn by other Valley of Mexico of Mexico Valley rulers, other but also worn by notes that this mantle was associated with Mexica rulers (2005, 228).
of the Spanish and of Cortés, as viewed from an indigenous perspective, they do not they do and of Cortés, perspective, an indigenous from as viewed of the Spanish showing opposite 23r, that the pages I suspect imagery. controversial overtly show showing and 23v, Toxcatl, of the Feast after the Spaniards violence against Mexica late in the problematic more considered were Spaniards, of numerous the sacrifice was these pages on content and pictorial the narrative suggest that I century. sixteenth for their excision. the reason 6 The pages in question, 23r and 23v, are characterized by the artist’s use of simulta- use of by the artist’s characterized are 23r and 23v, The pages in question, 138, n. 92; 8; Codex Azcatitlan 2012, 1995b, de la Paz (Castañeda neous narrative, composition a unified each extant page, he creates 69-86). On Rajagopalan 2019, the tlacuilo depicts 23r, page temporal moments. On discrete several that records The Toxcatl. of during the Feast during the day of the massacre that occurred events on a day Mayor, Templo the main plaza before attack began in the morning, in the at the beginning of the ritual month set aside to honor the deity Huitzilopochtli, vio Tlatelolco describe the- Codex and the Annals of Both the Florentine Toxcatl. of the drummerslence as beginning with the attack on of their hands and the severing drummer hands of one the mark the severed (Lockhart 23r, 2004, 133-5, 259). On yet perished. he has not are open and eyes very start the conflict. The of drummer’s cut off the the Spanish Both accounts describe how is not pictured. assailant His of the unarmed an unimpeded massacre four entrances to the plaza and commenced Tlatelolco ritual participants (Lockhart Annals of 2004, 126-136, 257, 259). The hours and that some of the visiting noblemen on for three state that the attack went who was shot with Cohualpopocatzin, the ruler killed, including of Nauhtla were his through the fallen ruler then burned alive; and on 23r with an arrow arrows (Lockhart this elite guest 2004, 257, 259). represents leg probably THE USE OF SIMULTANEOUS NARRATIVE THE USE OF SIMULTANEOUS Annals of Tlatelolco make it clear that Moteuczoma and Itzquauhtzin were already already were and Itzquauhtzin Tlatelolco make it clear that Moteuczoma Annals of to pleas for the Spanish attack began, it describes their verbal the before incarcerated imme- proceeds compact account of the massacre relatively cease the violence. This forces bested his and the Mexica days later when Cortésdiately to twenty returned Triste. on the Noche Revista Iberoamericana 71.indd 63 Revista Iberoamericana 71.indd 64 64 Iberoamericana, XIX, 71 (2019), 51-76 ANGELA HERREN RAJAGOPALAN when thetidehasturned.AsFlorentine Codexinformantsdescribe: pears inthehandsofaMexica warrior, theCodexAzcatitlan would have appeared somewhere inthecomposition.Since theSpanish bannerap- right halfofthe missing pagemusthave had scenes ofarmedconflictand Spaniards that allormostofthefigures onthemissingoppositepagewouldhave facedright.The missing oppositepage.Allofthelivingfigures on23rfaceleftandonecanimagine day, we mightexpect toseeadditionalmomentsassociatedwiththemassacre onthe mingbird costumeappropriate fortheveneration ofHuitzilopochtli). two wear clothing associatedwith the ritualactivities of theday(anetcapeandahum- shieldswithdown balls(associatedwiththeMexica)of thebookcarry andtheother retaliation thatoccurred several hoursafterthemassacre. Thethree closesttotheseam 2004,150-153).Thearmedfigures(Lockhart represent Mexicawarriorsintheactof ma andIxquauhtzin atthefootoftemples atCopolcoand Tlatelolco respectively site ofcremation. Similarly, theFlorentine Codexdepictsthecremation ofMoteuczo- are stillcostumedinritualattire. Thelocationatthefootoftemple reflected the suffix). The deceased figures next tothis sign reference thevictims to be cremated;two made upofaneagleandavessel: cuauh[tl] (eagle) +xical[li](vessel) +-co(locative and thefigure bearingthebanner(Rajagopalan2019,74-75). It ismarked by aglyph 23r, thecuahxicalcoappearsatfootof Templo Mayor, between thedrummers ica heldtheSpaniards hostageinthepalaceandcutoffsuppliesoffoodfresh water. responded withderisionandshotarrows totherooftop. In thefollowing days,the Mex- rooftop terraceandconveyed Moteuczoma’s desire forthemtoceasefighting;the Mexica cations. On thatsameday, atsunset,Itzquauhtzin addressed theMexica warriorsfrom a bodies at the It alsodescribestheMexica identificationofthebodies,mourning,andburning palace,andshackling continuing theirattackfrom withinthefortified Moteuczoma. Spaniards eventually retreating tothePalace ofAxayacatlwhere theyhadbeenstaying, out, there wasacalltoarmsandtheretaliation began.Thetextandimagesdescribethe 2004,136-142). ditional events ofthe day (Lockhart When word of the massacre got his two-pagecomposition.In theFlorentine Codex , thecorresponding image onfolio Since the composition on page 23r combines events that occurred throughout the depictssomeoftheseevents thatfollowedCodex Azcatitlan themassacre. On page at them.Acloudofyellow reeds spread over theSpaniards 2004,136). (Lockhart withbroad obsidian points spears,andtridents,theyhurleddarts them withbarbeddarts, outfitted, bunchedtogether, arrows at carrying andshields.Thenthefighting began; theyshot there were warcries,shouting, andbeatingofhandsagainstlips.Thewarriorsquicklycame riors are dying;theyhave died,perished,beenannihilated,oMexica warriors!”Thereupon get outfitted withdevices, shields, and arrows,come running, hurry,running, thewar- come And whenitbecameknown criedout,“Mexica [whatwashappening],everyone warriors, In contrast, the lengthy account in Book 12 of the The Codex Azcatitlan cuauhxicalco (a round circular platform used for cremation) and other lo- tlacuilo privilegesthismomentby placingit at thecenterof Florentine Codex describes ad- tlacuilo depictsamoment 10/07/2019 22:32:36 READING BETWEEN THE LINES 65 Iberoamericana, XIX, 71 (2019), 51-76 10/07/2019 22:32:36 Nacional de España, Madrid. Nacional Lienzo the Lienzo (folio 213v). In Historia , armed and costumed warriors de Tlaxcala , Book 12, Florence, The Biblioteca Medicea Biblioteca The Codex, Book 12, Florence, 6: (Left) Florentine Fig. ’s missing opposite page likely added the additional temporal Codex Azcatitlan’s Historia de las (Right) Historia any means is prohibited. by reproduction Further MiBACT. , folio 213v. Courtesy of the Bibioteca Courtesy of the Bibioteca firme, folio 213v. e islas de la tierra España de Nueva Indias Laurenziana, MS Med. Palat. 220, vol. 3, folio 441r. Reproduced with permission of Reproduced 3, folio 441r. 220, vol. Palat. MS Med. Laurenziana, component of the Spanish retreating to their fortified depicted palace and may have retreating component of the Spanish pictorial images ap- Related the Mexica. addressing and Moteuczoma Itzquauhtzin (folios 443r-443v), the Lienzo Codex (cell 14), and de Tlaxcala pear in the Florentine Durán’s and their allies huddle mounted Spaniards, the palace walls, while Malinche, surround 441r is one of the few pigmented images in Book 12 (fig. 6). As in the retaliation the few of 441r is one the 12 (fig. 6). As in in Book images pigmented with warrior garb contrasts the colorful (folio 213v), Mexica Historia scene in Durán’s spear of the Codex image the the Florentine In armor. gray of the Spanish the uniform - Span second a death, his prefiguring opponent, his of face the crosses warrior Mexica below. is trampled and a third falls to the ground, iard Revista Iberoamericana 71.indd 65 Revista Iberoamericana 71.indd 66 66 Iberoamericana, XIX, 71 (2019), 51-76 ANGELA HERREN RAJAGOPALAN the day: this timeasledby Tlatelolca forces andtheyclaimcredit forthevictoriousactions of documented innumerous accounts.TheAnnalsof Tlatelolcodescribethefightingat chroniclers, thesubsequentsacrificesprofoundly impactedbothsidesand are well racks. totheindigenous While thecapture importance ofthebannerwasparticular Spanish, theirallies,andhorsesthemountingofvictims’ headsonskull ble activitiesfollowing thecapture ofthebannerwere theseizure andsacrificeofthe narrative by recording additionalevents ofthatday. Without doubt,themostnota- banner twice(folios473rand474r)(fig.7). In additiontoscriptedreferences, theFlorentine depictsEcatl’s Codex capture ofthe de Tlatelolco1999,45). 2004, 212,216,265,267,n.30;Anales555-556; Lockhart Sahagún, andtheAnnalsof Tlateloclo (Alva Ixtlilxochitl 2015,49;Durán 1994, is describedinmultiplesources, including theaccountsofAlva Ixlilxochitl, Durán, near theterminusofcauseway, aplacelaterknown asSan Martín. Thisevent the Tlatelolca warriorEcatl captured theSpanish standard onthe Tlilhuacan road occurred whento indigenoussources, oneofthedefiningmomentsvictory ambush. For theMexica, thebattlerepresented atremendous success.According bridge thatfailed.Unable toretreat, theSpanish-led troops succumbedtoaMexica to Tlatelolco’s center. The rout occurred whenAlvarado advanced over a poorly filled wasleadingtherearCortés guard andAlvarado wasinthevanguard, pushingcloser along thenorthern Tacuba atsomedistancefrom causeway oneanother. On thatday, 12; Rajagopalan 2019, 76-83). Both events depicted took place on the same day poral momentsandgeographicspaces(CastañedadelaPaz andOudijk 2012,10- might have hadcomponentssimilartothearcade onpage23r. would have beenoneofthosearcaded structures. ace, todayfoundontheCalleMonte dePiedad oppositethe Metropolitan Cathedral, events theydepicted(fig.3). In thelatesixteenthcentury, thesiteofAxayacatl’s pal- viewersplacethehistorical ed walls,ananachronism thathelpedtheircontemporary depicted thestructures thatlinedthemainplazaof Templo Mayor witharcad- violent successoftheMexica warriors.BothDurán’s Historia andCodexAzcatitlan within. Thesevered thatlittertheinteriorofenclosure bodyparts documentthe 7
As with page 23r and its opposite, page 23v’s missing page probably continued the The rout ofthe Spanish at Tlatelolcoonpage 23valsocombinesdifferent tem- Mundy (2015,76). A mapofthePlaza Mayor ofMexico City from 1563depicts thesearcaded wallsreproduced in the secondplacewasin Yacacolco, where theheadsofourlords were alongwiththe strung, the templecourtyard at Tlillan, where theheadsofourlords [theSpaniards] were strung; were exclusively responsible forit. well as all the people from the various altepetl. Two thousand died there, and the Tlatelolca And whentheyreached Yacacolco here, Spaniards were captured onthe Tlilhuacan road, as At thistimewe Tlatelolca setup skullracks;rackswere inthree places.One wasin 7 Thestructures onthemissingpage 10/07/2019 22:32:36 READING BETWEEN THE LINES 67 Iberoamericana, XIX, 71 (2019), 51-76 10/07/2019 22:32:37 Reproduced with permission of MiBACT. with permission of MiBACT. Reproduced Further reproduction by any means is prohibited. by reproduction Further MS Med. Palat. 220, vol. 3, folio 474r; 474v; and 475r. 475r. 3, folio 474r; 474v; and 220, vol. Palat. MS Med. , Book 12, Florence, The Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, Medicea Laurenziana, Biblioteca The Codex, Book 12, Florence, 7: Florentine Fig. Revista Iberoamericana 71.indd 67 Revista Iberoamericana 71.indd 68 68 Iberoamericana, XIX, 71 (2019), 51-76 ANGELA HERREN RAJAGOPALAN severed heads asaterrorizing tactic: I have mentioned” (2012,408).His accountsuggeststhattheMexica then usedthe later, theywere andmuchblood from our companionstotheidols offeringtenhearts atadistance,writingthat“atdoleful soundofthedrums thatmoment,aswe learned del CastillowasfightingalongsideAlvarado inthe vanguard and hearingthe reports 2004,267). once andforall(Lockhart the great Tlatelolca warriorswere entirely vanquished. With thatthefightingstopped warriors intothemarketplace and,asthe Annalsof Tlatelolco putit,“Thatwaswhen in Book12andtheymark thefinal Mexica victory. Thereafter, the Spanish drove the top and horse heads on bottom (folio 475r) (fig. 7). These are some of the last images iards andindigenousallies(folio474v);theskullrackdisplayingSpanish headson to taking ofcaptives, andthetransport Yacacolco (folio474r);thesacrificeof Span- Yacacolco andthenthesacrifice: abundance were captured andkilled,” thetextdescribesusheringofcaptives to of thembefore theirformergods” 2004,214).Afterdescribinghow (Lockhart “a great Tlaxcalans andpeople of Tetzcoco, Chalco,andXochimilco” andthat“they killedall 30). TheFlorentine Codex claims that fifty-three Spaniards were taken, “as well as many atzin captured”, thereby 2004,313,n. intimatelylinkingthesetwoevents (Lockhart adds “and there theyplacedthebannerthattlacatecatlEcatzin tlapanecatlPopoc- 2012, 408-409). from eachother, away…(Díaz andwhere wasfarther delCastillo theydefeatedCortés We couldnotknow anythingaboutthembecausewe were battlingabouthalfaleague Malinche andalltheteulesthattheywere goingtokillusin that waysameday. us, whichtheyheldby theirhairandbeards; andtheysaidhadalready killed been killedordefeated,astheMexicans told uswhentheythrew thefive headsbefore andSandovalthing ofCortés andtheirarmies,we didnotknow whetherornottheyhad Because we were inthatcondition,greatly distressed andwounded,weno- knew The Spanish accountsdescribetheevents ofthis dayingrave terms. Bernal Díaz The pictorialimagesintheFlorentine Codexshow Ecatl’s capture ofthebanner, the 2004,216,218). (Lockhart far away. There were fifty-three ofthe Spaniards theycaptured, alongwithfourhorses up facingeast.But theydidnotstringuptheheadsofallvarious [other]peoplefrom horses’ heads. They placedthem below, andthe Spaniards’ heads were above them,strung over, theSpaniards’ theystrung upthe headsonpoles[ontheskullrack];theyalsostrung people ofallthedifferent altepetljustfollowed, cominglast.Andwhenthesacrificewas tform, where The thesacrificewasperformed. Spaniards wentfirst,going inthelead; When they got them to Yacacolco, they lined them all up. Each one went to the altar pla- Just afterthementionofskullrackat Tlillan, theMs.22biscopyofAnnals ple]. It wastheexclusive accomplishmentofthe 2004,265,267). Tlatelolca (Lockhart heads of two horses; the third place was in Çacatla, facing the Cihuateocalli [Woman-Tem- 10/07/2019 22:32:37 READING BETWEEN THE LINES 69 Iberoamericana, XIX, 71 (2019), 51-76 10/07/2019 22:32:37 He also describes how the Mexica “carried about and displayed” the heads of Christians the heads about and displayed” “carried the Mexica also describes how He Once they had gained their victory, the people of the city, in order to terrify the alguacil ma- in order the people of the city, victory, they had gained their Once - Tlate to dead or alive captured they had took all the Spaniards de Alvarado, and Pedro yor naked, them sacrificed there are which towers high some on and market, the is which lulco, of Spaniards heartsout their and tearing opening their chests The the idols. to as an offering those recognized fighting, and they were where camp could see this clearly from Alvarado’s by their white naked bodies (Cortés sacrificed as Christians being 1986, 241). who were He later goes on to state that the Mexica successfully employed the same tactic against the same employed successfully that the Mexica later goes on to state He vast num- the use of the heads, describing the offer a similar account, letters Cortés’ and horses among the subject provinces as proof of their victory as proof (Cortés 1986, 242).and horses among the subject provinces Cortés’ troops, throwing down four more heads, streaming with blood, and claiming with blood, heads, streaming four more down throwing troops, Cortés’ 2012, 409). del Castillo (Díaz Díaz Bernal and Sandoval, Alvarado, de Pedro they were Castillo 2012, 410). del (Díaz Sandoval before thrown Likewise, were six heads sacrificial acts (Cortésbers killed, and the 1986, 240-241): THE CONQUEST AND COSMIC TIME of the conquest, Federico representations his study of Andean and Mesoamerican In and sacrifice, massacre conceptual links between has discussed Mesoamerican Navarrete (cell 42), Tenochtitlan depiction of the siege of arguing that in the Lienzo ’s de Tlaxcala as an act of sacrificial violence that led to the destruction of conquest is presented “the to the founda- and, implicitly, on Mexico-Tenochtitlan, centered the old cosmic order, (2008, 67). Codex Azcatitlan too presents tion of a new political and Christian order” 81-83),2019, (Rajagopalan argued elsewhere I have cosmic terms. As conquest in the The tlacuilo depicts him page 23v links the past and the future. Ecatl on of the figure Suns, or Eras, previous four the of a symbol pattern, quincunx bears a that a shield with Ecatl battles the be living in. to Mexica understood themselves Era the and the fifth tunic His domination, in the form of Alvarado. the new era of Spanish coming Sun, springs found descriptions of the sacred of water that characterize bears the twin flows omen of the eagle on a nopal cactus sites of origin and that accompanied the at Mexica re- This Tlatelolco. and Tenochtitlan ancestors founded the twin cities of when Ecatl’s ensuing the and Ecatl, of figure the directly connects also springs sacred the to ference sacrifices, to page 4v of the manuscript, the site of another missing page. The first missing leaf occurs between pages 4v and 5r in the account of the Mexica and 5r in the account of the pages 4v The first missing leaf occurs between - an anthropomor 4v features Page Tenochtitlan-Tlatelolco. Aztlanmigration from to glossed Chicomoztoc, and a scene of Caves, of the Seven of the Place rendering phized THE FIRST MISSING LEAF – THE PRECEDENT FOR HUMAN SACRIFICE THE PRECEDENT FOR HUMAN THE FIRST MISSING LEAF – Revista Iberoamericana 71.indd 69 Revista Iberoamericana 71.indd 70 70 Iberoamericana, XIX, 71 (2019), 51-76 ANGELA HERREN RAJAGOPALAN in the guise of an eagle, conferring upon the Aztecs a new identity as“Mexica” anew in theguiseofaneagle,conferring upontheAztecs with turini onplate4.On plate4,theCodexBoturini (glossed 1171-1178). eight year-bearers ontheupperrightof page 4v record the years 4Reed to 11 Rabbit the femalepointsinthisdirection, signalingthereading order ofthe narrative. The temple andthree housesthatindicatetheirsettlement.Allofthefigures facerightand in thegloss. To therightof stream, twomalesandafemalesitsurrounded by a reed matsthatfloatnexttoeachfigure maysignaltheirhighstatusand are referenced male figures floatface down inthestream, alongwithasetofspiralingentrails.The furcated by twodifferent colorsofpigmentflows from thebaseofa tree. Twosacrificed above abow andarrow 1995b, (CodexAzcatitlan 58). To theright,aspringthatisbi - of a male, adorned with a ball of heron feathers that signal his Mexica identity, appears fifty-two years during offering below. In histalons,thedeityholdsfire drillusedtosparknew fire every pochtli (as ahybridhuman-hummingbird figure) overlooks the results ofasacrificial (place of theseven caves). Perched halfway up thehill, a representation of Huitzilo- the mawitself, suggestcaves, aninterpretation reinforced by thegloss“Chicomoztoc” our reading ofthisasaphysicalspace.Theopeningsbetween the sixpaws,andperhaps rounding it withanexteriorlineintheshapeofaplaceglyph,tlacuiloreinforces crescent eyes. By placingtwobiznagacacti on thelower ofthefigure part andsur- rendering ofanabstractedanimalfigure withatoothyopenmawandtwonarrowed identity astheMexica people.Theleftsideofthepageisdominated by theprofile oftheirgodHuitzilopochtli, throughwhen theAztecs, intervention takeonanew narrative contentinasimilaraestheticstyle. amplifiedthe thepageopposite4vwouldhavepainterly landscape.Likewise, further opposite 5rwouldhave hadasimilarnarrative content(theperilsofthejourney)and ofthemanuscript.Itnot occuronfacingpagesinotherparts seems likelythatthepage sense ofperspective andrecession intospaceonpage5r. Such amarked contrastdoes if seenfrom above. In contrast,heusescolor, scale,andfiguralpositioningtocreate a the derably larger. Pages 4vand5ralsodifferintheir representation ofspace. On page4v are locatedatapproximately thesameplaceonpage,thosepage 5rare consi- painterly contouring of page 5r are not present on page 4v. Though the female figures 1995b,the extantpages(CodexAzcatitlan 60,n.22).Theelaboratelandscapeand page 5rappearstobecompletedon4v, itislikelyalateradditionmeanttounify first indicationsthatapageismissing.Althoughthebundleofleftmostfigure on rous landscape.Thelackofunityinthecompositionspages4vand5risone several Mexica travelers andtwofemalegodbearers traversing awindinganddange- the Left).Page 5r, oneofthemosthighlypigmentedscenes inthemanuscript,depicts sacrifice presided over by the deity Mexica tutelary Huitzilopochtli (Hummingbird of ’sCodex Azcatitlan page 4v approximates the pictorial content found in CodexBo- Page moment in the migrationnarrative depictsacrucial 4vofCodexAzcatitlan tlacuilo combines profile perspectives with landscape elements that are depicted as Toxhiuhmolpilia (the New Fire Ceremony). Below him,thehead tlacuilo depictsHuitzilopochtli, here 10/07/2019 22:32:37 READING BETWEEN THE LINES 71 Iberoamericana, XIX, 71 (2019), 51-76 10/07/2019 22:32:37 In Codex Azcatitlan, 8 (the instrument used to light New Fire). In both man- In Fire). (the instrument used to light New seems to indicate that the “tribute” in question was the was question in “tribute” the that indicate to seems Boturini Codex depicts the three most important ones, naming Xiuhneltzin Codex Boturini depicts the three Plate 4 of 4 Plate Later, as they continued on their way, they came to the devils of the barrel cactus; they they came to the devils of the barrel as they continued on their way, Later, named they whom those of seven some lay mesquites the of foot the at And it. beside lay the third was named Mimichtzin; man was named Xiuhneltzin; the second One Mimixcoa. devils whose four more were and there Teoxahual; named was a woman, their elder sister, Azteca god-carriers… Huitzilopochtli spoke to the aforesaid There not known. names are in been dwelling who had the ruler of the Azteca Mexitin And also he spoke to the leader, name it, Aztlanwe Aztatlan, as the very altepetl and city of Aztlan Chicomoztoc or, great Aztlan perhaps is Chicomoztoc Aztlan.as Now known is it Hence herons. of abode the call New now that the Spaniards riverbank the great or near the very shore, right by great those who are Take said to them: spoke to the god-carriers. He Huitzilopochtli Mexico… I-73). cactus. They will be the first to pay tribute (Chimalpahin 1997, the barrel by is located in the British Museum. is located in the British Codex Aubin Fernando de Alvarado Tezozomoc’s “History or Chronicle with Its Calendar of with Its “History or Chronicle Tezozomoc’s de Alvarado Fernando
8 uscripts, Huitzilopochtli introduces the practice of human sacrifice; when the the practice Aztecs introduces uscripts, Huitzilopochtli - and the prom a new identity, engage in this act, they garner the support of their deity, greatness. ise of future Muñon Antón de San Domingo scholar the Nahua by recorded Years”, Mexica the partearly the in Chimalpahin) the of (hereinafter Quauhtlehuanitzin Chimalpahin plate 4 to the pictorial content on Codex Boturini’s links closely century, seventeenth page 4v: and Codex Azcatitlan’s attendant privileges and obligations. The four god-bearers lead the way; from right to lead the way; from god-bearers The four privileges and obligations. attendant The figure female Chimalma. and the Apanecatl, Cuauhcoatl, Tezcacoatl, are left, they Tezcacoatl carried by (god-bundle) the tlaquimilolli from emerges of Huitzilopochtli the scene, the following In scrolls. the speech indicated by as directives and issues associated with sign reed-water Aztlan bearing the carried out. A figure are directives out are stretched victims that enacting a heart on the first of three sacrifice is shown animal skin clothing, these figures in rough Shown cacti and a mesquite. barrel over and mosaic bear name glyphs (a turquoise Two embody rugged ancestry. Chichimec the sacrifice, Once they enact register. to the upper moves then a fish). The narrative success. new of future them with a identity and the promise provides Huitzilopochtli associ- feathers in his hair and is no longer now appears with balls of The male figure bag for gathering a net and arrow, a bow receives for Aztlan.ated with the glyph He food, and a xiuhmamalhuaztli loss of their life at the hands of the Aztecs. Of the seven referenced in the passage in the referenced the Aztecs. the seven of life at the hands loss of their Of above, the face Olivier, Guilhem to According (fish). mosaic) and Mimichtzin (turquoise the need for a name obviating Teoxahual, may identify her as figure paint on the third two men figures, three plate 5v, ’s Codex Aubin 2015, 483-484). On glyph (Olivier cacti and a mesquite. lying near barrel shown and a woman, are Revista Iberoamericana 71.indd 71 Revista Iberoamericana 71.indd 72 72 Iberoamericana, XIX, 71 (2019), 51-76 ANGELA HERREN RAJAGOPALAN owned by thescribethatproduced thewrittentextofother two manuscripts. , it seems likelythat incidental in Codex Azcatitlan the functionoflattertwo documents,whiletheglossesare unfinishedand more is thesame(Castañedade la Paz 2009, 86).Because scriptedwritingisintegralto , Codex Cozcatzin, andCodex Ixhuatepecthat the handwriting inCodexAzcatitlan was bannedfrom circulation in1577.María CastañedadelaPaz hasdemonstrated toria were considered suspect(Rajagopalan2019,123-126).The lattermanuscript Spain, book censorship was on the rise after1560 and even works like Sahagún’s overt imagesofviolenceagainsttheSpaniards andimagesofhuman sacrifice. In New ries describedhere, themissingleaves mayhave beenexcised becausetheydepicted fellintothenarrativeIf catego- thecontentofmissingpagesCodexAzcatitlan CONCLUSION lopochtli whogave themthename. emerged from theywere Aztlan called“Aztecs,” butlaterthey became“Mexitin”: their sacrifice.Themissingpageopposite4vlikelydepictedadditionalactsof mesquite. Thelargebarrel cactionChicomoztocmayalso refer tothevictimsand two sacrificed figures float inthe water near aspring or riverbank that flows from a era ofnegotiatingSpanish hegemonywillbegin. rifices are imminent. By page24r, Huitzilopochtli haswithdrawnhisfavor andanew , onpage23v,Codex Azcatitlan Ecatl battlestoprotect theFifth Sun andthefinalsac- Ceremony (andthereckoning oftime)begantooccur. In theconquestsectionof enable andcreate Mexica identity. It ispresented asthemomentwhenNew Fire anditsopposite,thetlacuiloshowspage 4vofCodexAzcatitlan thefirstsacrificesthat migration, thisrepresents thefirstsacrificeto Sun,or Huitzilopochtli.Thus,on intended forthedwelling oftheSun (Olivier 2015,492).In thenarratives ofMexica Guilhem Olivier has suggested that those who were sacrificed onthebiznagas were indicates thattheyleftQuinehuayan Chicomoztoc ina12Reed year. Mexitinthe Azteca and thepromise of great, thetext wealth. AsinCodexAzcatitlan Next, itdescribesHuitzilopochtli’s of toChalchiuhtlatonac,theruler exhortations And thuswere theygiven theirname:astheancientoneshave said,itwasHuitzi- Tezozomoc’s accountfollows immediatelythereafter by explainingthatwhenthey In hisstudyofthesacrifice Mimixcoa duringthe Mexica migrationhistory, Just asinCodexBoturini,thesacrifice leadstothegiftsthatwillease theirway. the Mexitin couldshooteasily(Chimalpahin1997,I-73). gave themthearrow andthebowWhatever andthenetcarrying-bag. went [flying]above, when theytooktheirnameasMexitin. Hence theyare now calledMexica. Andhethenalso ger isyouryou nameAzteca: are now Mexitin. There theyalsoappliedfeatherstotheirears And then and there hechanged the Aztecas’ name for them. He said to them: Now no lon- was accessed or Codex Azcatitlan His - 10/07/2019 22:32:37 READING BETWEEN THE LINES 73 Iberoamericana, XIX, 71 (2019), 51-76 10/07/2019 22:32:37 modified Codex Azcatitlantlacuilo(me) himself, or a later Nahua custodian, custodian, a later Nahua or tlacuilo himself, The scripted glosses on pages 4v and 5r, perhaps added after or at the time of the or at the time of perhaps added after 4v and 5r, glosses on pages The scripted was one of preservation, it is possible that some the leaves goal of excising the If The style of the pictographic content in each varies, indicating different painters. painters. different varies, indicating content in each of the pictographic The style possible that the Codex Azcatitlan is It removed the offending pages as a way to preserve the manuscript from the increased the increased a way to preserve pages as the offending from the manuscript removed scrutiny of the Inquisition. page 4v On content. non-consecutive the over smooth or belie pages, the of excision nauhxihuitl. onca and “omca motetzahuique (their water) “ymauh,” the glosses read, they ” (There, petlatl onca quincauh ynteuh yntlaca cuitlaxcolli quissaia ssin. / tocoian There / maize dried the plant to left they There bewitchedbeen years. four for have on god left them the human entrails the corn is planted. Their they left the place where 3v ymauh also appears on page settlement; the word references the mat). The former food, constructing houses, and gathering preparing shown are of figures a group where The latter gloss suggests temporarily. them to settle water that has allowed the fresh eight year-bearers, at Chicomoztoc, but for four years “bewitched” that they were While page. or 1171-1178, appear at the top of the to 11 Rabbit 4 Reed representing Codex Boturini depicts the AztecCodex Azca leader enacting the sacrifice, the gloss in - carried out the violence (their god left them the hu- titlan implies that Huitzilopochtli (quimama inteo), the god-bearers 5r identify The glosses on the mat). man entrails on in lost among the mountains, in the forests, they were “here, describe the hardships, (homca mixpolloque tepetla it led” their path wherever followed spots, the Mexica rocky “among terrain, physical varied label the ), and cani neneca mexica can texcallco cuauhtla ). (texcallco spots” (cuauhtla); and “in rocky (tepetla); “in the forests” the mountains” The appli- same time and for the same reason. of the pigmentation was added at the than more cation of pigment in Codex Azcatitlan and was clearly applied by is varied Azcatitlan Codex does not cater to a Spanish described above, I have As one person. the who excised the same person or persons content. Perhaps audience in its narrative on cloak of a devil to Acamapichtli’s added the image leaves potentially dangerous Likewise, that the it is possible a Christian perspective. to introduce in order page 13v, banners (22v and 23r) of the Spanish on two Spirit of the Holy inclusion of the dove with the coming of the Spaniards the arrival was a late addition designed to associate from the others in the conquest section; the The banner on 22v differs of Christianity. border red and the pigment is applied with an uneven is wavy and uneven borderline banner does not appear in the related A corresponding interior. and an orangey-red Durán image uses similar shades of orange and the However, image (fig. 2). Durán with all of the com- Together brushstrokes along the border. and similar uneven red Durán’s if wonders one parallelisms, positional firme, e islas de tierra España de Nueva de las Indias for Historia while using it as a source 1581. Certainlycompleted around Codex Azcatitlan been accessible to appears to have or early eighteenth cen- indigenous artists into the late seventeenth and historians well Techialoyan convincing connections to the has shown since Castañeda de la Paz tury, the 2009, 91-92). If (Castañeda de la Paz Granados manuscript called Codex García Revista Iberoamericana 71.indd 73 Revista Iberoamericana 71.indd 74 74 Iberoamericana, XIX, 71 (2019), 51-76 ANGELA HERREN RAJAGOPALAN .” Castañeda delaPaz, María. 1997.“Loscódiceshistóricosmexicas.El.” CódiceAzcatitlan Barlow, Robert, andMichel Graulich. 1995.“Comentario.” InCommentaire, CodexAzcatitlan. Barlow, Robert. 1949.“El.” CódiceAzcatitlan de Tlatelolco.1999.Anales de Anales Tlatelolco: Losmanuscritos22y22bisdelaBibliothèque de Alva Ixtlilxochitl, Fernando de.2015.The Native Conquistador: Alva Ixtlilxochitl’s Account ofthe REFERENCES suggeststhattheendsjustifiedmeans. circulation ofCodexAzcatitlan missing leaves were removed for the reasons and stated here, the continued survival . 1995b. CommentaireCodex Azcatitlan CodexAzcatitlan. . Introduced by Michel Graulich, with Fac-similé. 1995a.CodexAzcatitlan. Codex Azcatitlan , Paris: Bibliothèque Nationale deFrance Chimalpahin Quauhtlehuanitzin. 1997.CodexChimalpahin:SocietyandPolitics inMexico Chavero, Alfredo. 1892.Antigüedades mexicanas.CiudaddeMéxico: LaJunta Colombina de Castañeda delaPaz, María, andMichel Oudijk. 2012.“LaConquistaylaColoniaenelCódice — 2013. — andthework of Codex Azcatitlan “ Torquemada. Ahistoriographicpuzzleinthe — 2009a. — — — 32-153. 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10/07/2019 22:32:37 - RES: Anthro Pagden. New Haven: Yale University Press. University Yale Haven: New Pagden. Hackett. Indianapolis: Humphrey. Ted and Burke Janet Press. of Oklahoma University Norman: Heyden. e Historia. de Antropología Nacional Era/Instituto Ediciones Ciudad de México: Brisac. des Américanistes. and Société de France bliothèque Nationale 56, nº. 4: Issue Annals Latin Americanist, Spain.” New in Early Colonial Workshop ter’s 1-13. - online: http://www.codi [Published e Historia. de Antropología Nacional xico: Instituto ceboturini.inah.gob.mx.] Press/UCLA of California University 1. Berkeley: Columbianum, vol. Repertorium Mexico. - Publi and Stock Wipf Eugene: [Reprint: Studies. and Renaissance Center for Medieval shers.] of California Press. University Berkeley: Simpson. Lesley Byrd and translated by Press. Texas sity of pology, nº. 45: 155-158. and Aesthetics - of the Spa Representations Andean and Mesoamerican and Massacres: 2004. “Beheadings RES: Anthropology, nº. 45: 59-78. and Aesthetics nish Conquest.” Económica. de Cultura Fondo Ciudad de México: de Nube.” “Serpiente and for Latin American Studies Society Polish Warsaw: . Colonial Mexico in Aztec and Early Warsaw. of University Tradition, on the Classical for Studies Centre A. Asher. butos y monumentos. Berlin: Press. Texas of University Texas: . Aubin , nº. 47: 211-235. Nahuatl Cultura is an Associate Professor of Art History at the University of of Art University History at the Angela Herren RajagopalanProfessor is an Associate Dr. | Translated by Translated Spain. New HistoryTrue of of the Conquest The 2012. Bernal. del Castillo, Díaz Doris by translated and Spain. Edited New Indies of History The 1994. the of Diego. Durán, Tessa by Azteca. Translated del Imperio y Caída Apogeo 2014. Moctezuma: Michel. Graulich, - Bi , 8-31. Paris: Codex Azcatitlan. In Commentaire 1995. “Introducción”. Michel. Graulich, - Codex Azcatitlan and the Pain Histories: Collaborative “Writing 2012. Angela Marie. Herren, - Ciudad de Mé de la Peregrinación. Tira 2015. Códice Boturini, Patrick. Kerudren, Johannson of of the Conquest Accounts Nahuatl Here: People (ed. and trans.). 2004. We Lockhart, James Edited Secretary. His by Life of the Conqueror 1965. Cortés: The Francisco. López de Gómara, - Univer Austin: City. Mexico Life of Tenochtitlan, the Death of 2015. The Aztec Barbara. Mundy, Hidden Codes of the Codex Azcatitlan.” 2004. “The Federico. Linares, Navarrete — Mixcóatl, las huellas de Tras Mesoamérica: Poder en y Sacrificio 2015. Cacería, Guilhem. Olivier, Power of Insignia and Costume Elite Office: of Staffs and Diadems Turquoise 2005. Justyna. Olko, del arte mexicano antiguo: ornamentación, mitología, tri- 1890. Monumentos Antonio. Peñafiel, Codices Boturini, Azcatitlan, and the Aztec Past: 2019. Portraying Rajagopalan, Angela Herren. de Estudios la Conquista de Mexico.” Tlatelolco sobre de 2014. “Narrativas Kevin. Terraciano, Edited and translated by Anthony by and translated Edited Mexico. 1986. Letters from [Hernán]. Cortés, Hernando Manuscript received: 31.10.2018 Manuscript accepted: 04.03.2019 | and early colonial she teaches courses on pre-Columbian at Charlotte where Carolina North Revista Iberoamericana 71.indd 75 Revista Iberoamericana 71.indd 76 76 Iberoamericana, XIX, 71 (2019), 51-76 ANGELA HERREN RAJAGOPALAN orcid.org/0000-0002-2457-8523>. andCodexAubinCodex Azcatitlan, (University of Texas Press, 2019).ORCID ID: