Centuries-old Aztec manuscript returns to Mexico on loan from France after 186 years

Bilateral loan and exhibition

The 16th-century Codex Azcatitlan went on public display at the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City on 17 September 2026. The 50-folio manuscript arrived on loan from the National Library of France, where it has been preserved since 1898. The temporary transfer marks the first time the document has returned to Mexico since its departure in 1840. The exchange was arranged to mark 200 years of diplomatic relations between Mexico and France. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to the arrangement in November 2025 during bilateral talks. Under the terms of the agreement, Mexico is loaning the Codex Boturini to France in return.

Content and origins of the 50-folio manuscript

Drawn in color on European paper and bound as a book, the Codex Azcatitlan combines Mesoamerican pictograms with European writing. According to historian Maria Castañeda de la Paz from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, the document was created by an Otomi craftsman. The text is divided into three sections that document the migration of the Mexica from the mythical origin point of Aztlan to the founding of Tenochtitlan. It also details the succession of the city's rulers, the 1519 arrival of Spanish forces led by Hernan Cortes, the subsequent conquest, and the introduction of Christianity and the colonial caste system. Baltazar Brito Guadarrama, director of the National Library of Anthropology and History, noted that the inclusion of Spanish words helps confirm the locations referenced in the founding accounts.

Ownership history across four centuries

The manuscript passed through several private and institutional collections before reaching Europe. Its earliest recorded owner was Fernando de Alva Ixtlilxochitl, a colonial politician descended from Nezahualcoyotl of Texcoco. Following his death, the codex passed to scholar Carlos de Siguenza y Gongora, who later bequeathed it to a Jesuit library. Italian historian Lorenzo Boturini purchased the collection in 1737 before the colonial viceroyalty confiscated his archive and placed it in university custody. The codex was removed from Mexico in 1840 by boat before entering the collection of the National Library of France in 1898.

Indigenous response and restitution demands

The temporary display has renewed public discussions regarding the permanent repatriation of Mexican cultural artifacts held in European institutions. Mexico has repatriated more than 16,200 cultural objects since 2018, according to figures released by the National Institute of Anthropology and History. Members of indigenous communities attended the opening in Mexico City, where two folios are currently visible inside a protective glass display. Mexica representative Maria Eugenia Castañeda addressed the cultural significance of the document for indigenous identity.

“These codices are extremely important to us because they continue to give us identity and value as human beings during these very special times we are experiencing.”

Emilia Mendoza, a member of the Hnahnu community who campaigns for the return of indigenous manuscripts, expressed hope for broader restitution.

“This is a battle won, a first step toward the restitution of these books that reside in other countries.”

Mexican Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco formally opened the exhibition, stating that the event connected citizens directly with their collective heritage.

“The pictograms represent our history, the written voice of our ancestors, and the deep root of our identity.”

The manuscript will remain on display in Mexico City through December 2026 before returning to Paris.