Nezahualpilli

Nezahualpilli (Nahuatl for "fasting prince"; 1464–1515, modern Nahuatl pronunciation ) was ruler (tlatoani) of the Mesoamerican city-state of Texcoco, elected by the city's nobility after the death of his father, Nezahualcoyotl, in 1472.

Nezahualpilli
Tlatoani of Texcoco
A non-contemporary depiction of Nezahualpilli from the Codex Ixtlilxochitl.
Reign1473–1515
PredecessorNezahualcoyotl
SuccessorCacama
Born1464
Died1515
IssueCacama
Many other children
FatherNezahualcoyotl

Like his father, he was a poet, was considered a sage, and had the reputation of being a fair ruler. Only one of his poems survives: "Icuic Nezahualpilli yc tlamato huexotzinco" ("Song of Nezahualpilli during the war with Huexotzinco"). His court was a haven for astronomers, engineers, and soothsayers. During his reign, he abolished capital punishment for a number of crimes and struggled to keep the political independence of Texcoco during the increasing centralization of Aztec power in Tenochtitlán.[1]

When he told Moctezuma II that the Texcocan wise men had foretold foreign dominion over the Valley of Mexico, the emperor challenged him to a ball game. Moctezuma considered the loss of the game a negative omen.[2][3]:15

He married a daughter of Ahuitzotl only to later have her executed. Her public improprieties and high social status qualified her for a punishment that would not have been applicable to someone of a lower status. He was said to have taken numerous consorts and fathered 144 children.

Nezahualpilli was succeeded by his son Cacama.

Notes
  1. Miguel León-Portilla (1967). Trece poetas del mundo azteca [Thirteen poets of the Aztec world] (in Spanish) (2nd 1978 ed.). Mexico City: Universidad Nacional Autonoma de México. pp. 77=87.
  2. Fehrenbach (1973), p.103
  3. León-Portilla, M. 1992, 'The Broken Spears: The Aztec Accounts of the Conquest of Mexico. Boston: Beacon Press, ISBN 978-0807055014

References
Preceded by
Nezahualcoyotl		 Tlatoque of Texcoco
1473–1515		 Succeeded by
Cacama
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