Genealogy and Land Record of Juan Tepetzin (Fragmento de las Mujeres)

The Genealogy of Juan Tepetzin records the distinguished heritage and landholdings of a member of the Tlaxcalan elite, who appears at the bottom dressed in a dark tilmatl, or cloak. Such genealogies were important for land transfers in Tlaxcalan society, in which the nobility were prohibited from selling land to commoners. As a member of the indigenous elite, Tepetzin could also claim privileged status within the Spanish colonial system, which distinguished Indian nobles from their common brethren.


La Genealogía de Juan Tepetzin registra la distinguida herencia y los terrenos de un miembro de la élite de Tlaxcala, que aparece en la parte inferior vestido con un tilmatl oscuro, o capa. Tales genealogías eran importantes para los traspasos de tierras en la sociedad de Tlaxcala, en la cual la nobleza tenía prohibida la venta de tierras a plebeyos. Al pertenecer a la élite indígena, Tepetzin podía reclamar sus derechos y privilegios dentro del sistema colonial español, que distinguía a la nobleza indígena de sus hermanos comunes.