Mexico it is the name of our country, for which we all feel pride and emotion when we hear it. Almost as a consensus, we usually say that Mexico is made up of the Nahuatl words «Mexico“, What does it mean “the navel of the moon» and that would be formed by the words «metz(tli)” (Moon), “xic(tli)» (navel, center) and «-co» (locative). Currently it would be pronounced “méshico”, and there is no doubt that its origin is in the ancient pre-Hispanic city of Mexico-Tenochtitlantoday Mexico City.
Mexico and Huitzilopochtli
However, the meaning of the word Mexico is far from controversial. According to Bernardino de Sahagun, the adjective is a derivative of the name of the guide of the Mexicas on their way out of Aztlán. The Mexicas, who wanted to flee from the oppression of the Aztecs, would have followed the leader known as Mexican and that he is related to the god Huitzilopochtli, not distinguishing if it is the same character or if it is a case of apotheosis (divinization). In this regard, Sahagun mentions:
this name mexicatl it used to be said mecitlibeing made up of IWhat is it metl for the maguey, and citli by the hare, and so it should be said mecícatland moving the c in x corrupt yourself and tell yourself mexicatl. And the reason for the name, according to the old folks, is that when the Mexicans came to these parts they brought a caudillo and lord who was called Mecitlwhich soon after he was born they called citli, Hare; and because instead of a cradle they raised him in a large maguey stalk, from then on he was called mecitli…and when he was already a man he was a priest of idols, who spoke personally with the devil (Huitzilopochtli), for which he was held in high esteem and highly respected and obeyed by his vassals, who, taking his name from their priest, were called Mexicaeither mexicanas told by the ancients.
For his part, Francisco Xavier Clavijero, who lived in the 18th century, suggests that the place name Mexico should be interpreted as «[en el] place of Mexihtli»What does it mean “Huizilopochtli’s place”. The argument for this thesis is that Mexihtli was one of the alternative names for Huitzilopochtli.
Who was Mexi, the leader who inspired the name Mexico?
Although there is no doubt that the toponym Mexico is inspired by the capital of the Mexica, it is important to go back to its history to understand why they called themselves Mexica. According to historians, the Mexicas would have initially lived in Aztlán, where they were known as Aztecs. However, due to oppression they left that region to found the city of Mexico-Tenochtitlán in 1325. During the trip, this Aztec group changed its name to “Mexicas”, in honor of the Mexi leader, who could have been the same god who was known as Huitzilopochtli and who guided them during his pilgrimage.
This legend or idea is also corroborated in the Pilgrimage Strip either Boturini Codex, a Mexica codex dating from about the 12th century that recounts the migration, not pilgrimage, of the Mexica. The document recounts the departure of the Mexicas from Aztlán, which means “the place of the herons”, to the Anahuac, where they founded Mexico-Tenochtitlán.
In the Pilgrimage Strip It is also related that it was the god Huitzilopochtli, who summoned the Mexicas to leave Aztlán. The god would also have instructed them to found the city where they found an eagle perched on a nopal. Likewise, it is narrated that there were eight groups that accompanied the Mexicas, but that later they separated.
Was Mexi a human?
As Bernardino de Sahagún mentioned, it is probable that Mexi is a derivation of the word Mecihtli, whose literal meaning is “burrowing hare”. Likewise, it would be the nickname of the caudillo who guided the Mexicas from Aztlán.
To affirm that Mexi and the god Huiztilipochtli were the same being is risky. Nevertheless, Fernando de Alvarado Tezozomocwho lived in the 16th century, links it in his Mexicayotl Chronicle:
“The Aztlan of the ancient Mexicans is what is now called New Mexico; the so-called Moctezurna reigned there. This king had two sons, and at the time of his death he establishes his mentioned sons as lords. The name of the firstborn, who was to be the king of the Cuextecas, is not well known. The minor, who was Mexican, was called Mexi, his name was Chalchiuhtlatonac, and the Mexicans had been awarded to him, the aforementioned Chalchiuhtlatonac would have to be his lord.”
According to Alvarado Tezozómoc, Mexi or Chalchiuhtlatonac hated his older brother, so he said “only one will be king of the Mexicans; Only I will govern all Mexicans.” Because of this, he called the Mexicas to emigrate until they finally settled in Mexico-Tenochtitlán, a city founded under the patronage of Huitzilopochtli, whom the Europeans identified as the devil.
An almost divine human
According to the Chronicle, Mexi would have served as a caudillo under the orders of Huitzilopochtli. In the text it is mentioned:
And according to what the old people say when the Aztecs came from there for that reason they were not yet their Mexican names, even for that reason they are called Aztecs, and later we say this they took their names, then they are already called Mexicans . And so when it was given to them, as the old people say, he gave them the name, Huizilopotchtli. […] and Huitzilopochtli said to Chalchiuhtlatonac: “Come, oh Chalchiuhtlatonac, and arrange with care and method what is necessary for you to take the many people who will go with you.”
In addition to Alvarado Tezozómoc, other Novohispanic authors who support that by the 12th century there was already a group called Mexitin are Chimalpain and Tovar. The difference with mexicah or mexica would be a matter of chronology, mexitin being used before the founding of Mexico-Tenochtitlán.
For his part, the historian Rafael Antonio Rosales Guzmán comments that the sources say that Mexi, who is also represented as a hummingbird, died until he was 77 years old. After his death, the Mexicas would have called themselves Mexitin. Rosales Guzmán also suggests that Mexi was deified until he became the god Huitzilopchtli.
“The Tira de la Peregrinación and the Codex of 1576 specify that the adoption of the new name happened between the year 1 Tecpatl (1116) and 2 Calli (1117).”
Explains Rafael Antonio Rosales.
Finally, how was the word Mexico formed and what is its meaning?
As already mentioned, it is very unlikely that the translation from Mexico is “navel of the moon”. This interpretation would have arisen as a consequence of belatedly reading I What metztliwhich means moon.
Various authors from the early Novohispanic era rescued the meaning of Mexica as a derivation of Mexi.
They were walking with their ark where their idol was guiding them, leading one named Mexi as their leader, from whom he takes the name of Mexicans.”
Juan de Tovar (1543-1623)
The natives say that their first founders brought that name from Mexico, and they were called Mexiti; and even after some time the inhabitants of it were called Mexitin. They took this name from their main god or idol, which had two names, namely, Vitzilipuchtli and the other Mexitli, and from this Mexitli they called themselves Mexiti.“
Friar Toribio de Benavente Motolinia (1482-1469)
In conclusion, no early source refers to Mexico as “navel of the moon”, so the most accurate meaning would be “Place of the mexitin” or “Place where Huitzilopochtli lives”.
Although with the conquest the current national territory was named New Spain, the viceroyalty was also known as Mexico, and even the peninsulars called themselves Mexicans. The name continued to migrate to the current official name of our country: United Mexican States.
Rodrigo Osegueda Philosopher by training. Contemplate the soul and imagination of Mexico.