A centuries-old pictorial record documenting the Aztec civilisation and its eventual downfall following the arrival of Spanish forces has gone on public display in Mexico for the first time in 186 years. The illustrated manuscript, recognised worldwide as the Codex Azcatitlán, chronicles crucial chapters of Mesoamerican heritage and has spent generations preserved across the Atlantic.
From the French National Library to Mexico City
The manuscript has been held in France at the Bibliothèque Nationale since 1898. Even prior to entering the national collection in Paris, the codex had already spent several decades outside Mexican territory. Researchers date the creation of the document to the 16th century, drawn only a few years after Spanish conquistadors landed in the territory that forms modern-day Mexico.
Because of its early post-conquest origins, scholars regard the Codex Azcatitlán as one of the most authoritative and visually compelling historical accounts of the Aztec people. Its detailed pictograms illustrate pivotal moments, including the arrival of Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés and the desperate defence mounted by local defenders to protect their capital of Tenochtitlán.
Marking 200 Years of Bilateral Relations
The temporary return of the manuscript was arranged by France to commemorate 200 years of Franco-Mexican diplomatic relations. In exchange for the loan of Codex Azcatitlán, Mexico agreed to send another irreplaceable pre-Hispanic treasure, the Codex Boturini, to France for exhibition.
The pictographic narrative inside the Codex Boturini tells the story of the ancestral migration undertaken by the Aztec people, also known as the Mexica. It tracks their arduous journey from their traditional homeland to the shores of Lake Texcoco, where they laid the foundations of the metropolis Tenochtitlán. The reciprocal loan arrangements were finalised by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and French President Emmanuel Macron during Macron's diplomatic visit to Mexico last year.
Restitution Efforts and Exhibition Details
The display comes amid ongoing international efforts by Mexico to secure the repatriation of antiquities and cultural records taken abroad over the past centuries. According to figures released by Mexico's ministry of foreign relations, the country succeeded in repatriating more than 2,000 cultural artefacts over the course of last year alone.
Visitors will now be able to view the returned Codex Azcatitlán in person. The manuscript is being mounted for exhibition at the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City, opening to the public starting this Thursday.
