Pre-Columbian nobility , or Emperor
Moctezuma II of the
Mexica The
Mexica,
Maya,
Olmec,
Zapotec,
Mixtec,
Purépecha,
Tlaxcaltec, and many other
Indigenous peoples of present-day Mexico developed strong hierarchical societies based on hereditary privileges and obligations which were passed down to individuals in regards to the historical roles played by their ancestors in politics, war and religion. Society was firmly divided between the ruling elites and the governed masses, often making use of specific royal titles like
Tlatoani,
Tlatoque or
Cazonci, in reference to rulers and members of ruling families. The organization of members of noble families in military orders (as the
eagle and
jaguar warriors), as well as in political functions (as
calpixques), derived in the establishment of a hereditary aristocracy with similar characteristics to those found in other parts of the World, often using titles like that of
Pipiltin or
Pilli in reference to individuals of noble lineage.
Indigenous nobles under Spanish rule " was commissioned by
Tlaxcaltec rulers to demand the recognition of their privileges by the new regime. , Lord of
Coyoacán under
Spanish rule. When the Spanish first arrived in present-day Mexico (1518), indigenous rulers and nobles headed the defense of their territories against the invaders, soon after signing
peace treaties and alliances to ensure the survival of their people. In this process, many indigenous peoples ended up participating in the military conquests of the
Spanish Empire, gaining recognition of their ancient privileges as well as earning new ones due to their merits in the conquest of the Americas. In accordance to Spanish tradition under the
Habsburg dynasty, the
Crown of Castile recognized the pre-existing social organization of the native peoples and assimilated their ancient elites to the new regime, often offering them the same conditions as nobles of Spanish extraction. In this way, the Spaniards respected the native systems and added to them, sometimes resulting in many unions between Aztec and Spanish nobility. One example is the marriage between Agustin Moctezuma,
cacique of Chilapa and a direct descendant from
Moctezuma II. and several other
Mexica kings, with María Antonia Guerrero Dávila, the heiress of the
Mayorazgo of Guerrero, and aunt of the
Marquesa de Villar del Águila. To this day, Mexican aristocrats take pride not only in their noble Spanish ancestors but also in being descendants of the ancient kings of their country. During Spanish domain, indigenous nobles were referred to as
caciques (term imported from the
Antilles), maintaining political relevance as rulers of the
repúblicas de indios (self-governed indigenous states), as well as receiving access to educational institutions (such as the
Jesuit colleges and the
Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico), as well as accessing Spanish institutions of organized nobility (like the
Spanish military orders). At the time, religious convents were intended for specific social and ethnic groups, being the convents of
indias cacicas some of the most privileged (such as the
Corpus Christi convent in
Mexico City). Nevertheless, the succession laws of Spanish tradition slowly permeated the
Amerindian traditions, altering access to this elite class to patrilineal descendants of ancient rulers, in opposition to the mixed-lineal descent of their ancient traditions. While numerous indigenous families and individuals were recognized as nobles by the
Crown of Castile, certain populations who were specially active in the conquest and colonization of what was later known as the
New Spain were also distinguished with collective nobility, this included the
Tlaxcalan and
Quauhquecholan peoples, who collectively gained the condition of
hidalgos, a privilege that had only been received by the
Basque people of the
Iberian Peninsula. Many of these nobles resettled into western and northern Mexico to help pacify tribes there. Some
Amerindian nobles, like the
Mixtec Villagómez family, were among the richest landowners in the
New Spain, retaining their Mixtec identity, speaking the Mixtec language and even keeping a collection of valuable Mixtecan documents. Nevertheless, most indigenous nobles lost their privileges at the fall of the
Spanish Empire, losing all recognition, as with all Mexican nobles, with the birth of the modern
Mexican Republic. " depicts the conquest of
Guatemala by the alliance between the
Quauhquechollan rulers and the forces of Don
Jorge de Alvarado.
The Imperial House of Moctezuma , carved into the
Royal Palace of Madrid in Spain. Amongst the descendants of the
pre-Columbian rulers of present-day Mexico who received special distinctions under Spanish rule, none were more privileged than the descendants of Emperor
Moctezuma II of the
Mexica. The Emperor's son,
Don Pedro de Moctezuma Tlacahuepan, formed a
mayorazgo and settled in
Seville, where his eldest grandson received the titles of
Count of Moctezuma (later elevated to
Duke of Moctezuma,
Grandee of Spain, becoming part of the
Spanish nobility),
Viscount of Ilucán,
Lord of
Monterrojano, as well as the investiture as
Knight of the
Order of Santiago. In 1696, the husband of the 3rd Countess of Moctezuma was named
Viceroy of the
New Spain, being created
Duke of Atrisco (or
Atlixco) in 1704. Other historical members of the family include Doña
Isabel de Moctezuma, Doña
Francisca de Moctezuma, Princess of
Ecatepec, Don Manuel Holgado-Moctezuma, 1st
Marquess of Moctezuma, Doña María Isabel de Moctezuma, 1st
Marchioness of La Liseda, Don Vicente de Moctezuma, 9th
Marquess of Cerralbo, Don Pedro Tesifón de Moctezuma (knight of the
Order of Santiago), Don Joaquín Gines de Oca Moctezuma y Mendoza (who received the
Grandeza de España from
Charles III of Spain), amongst others. It is noteworthy that the
House of Moctezuma came to be counted with the great noble houses of Spain, establishing family relationships with them; as an example, from Doña María Isabel Francisca de Zaldívar y Castilla, a descendant of the Tlatoani as well as
Pedro I of Castile. Only they and the
Inca royal house (with the
Borja-Loyola Inca) would come to have these strong levels of prestige in the high nobility of the
Spanish Empire. The modern-day
Kingdom of Spain still legally recognizes all of these titles, despite the
Mexican Republic opposing all recognition. In addition to the titles and other privileges the King
Charles I of Spain (also Emperor
Charles V of the
Holy Roman Empire) offered the descendants of Emperor
Moctezuma II a compensation of five-hundred
ducats to be paid every year in
perpetuity for the use by the capital city of water sources and lumber in their private estate in
Mexico City. This payment was only interrupted in 1938 during the presidency of
Abelardo L. Rodríguez, being contested until this day by the
Countess of Miravalle and other notable descendants. The present Ambassador of Mexico to the United States of America,
Esteban Moctezuma, is descended from this family. ==Nobility of the Viceroyalty of the New Spain==