Macuilxochitzin

She lived through the height of the Aztec civilization's expansion. Her life and works are an example of gender parallelism in pre-Hispanic Mexico, where women were given the same opportunities enjoyed by men. There is little information about the life of Macuilxochitzin. The poet was born about 1435 to a prominent family of Aztec nobility through her father Tlacaélael, who was a famous politician and served as adviser to the Tlatoanis. She was also the daughter (or the second in command) to the powerful female figure called Cihuacoatl (Woman Snake). She had twelve siblings, each born to a different mother. Tlacaélael may also have adopted her from a tribe called Chichimeca after it was destroyed by nomadic incursions, and then given her the name "Macuilxochitzin." Her name probably means "Madam Five Flower," based on the Aztec, having been born on a 5 Flower day on the Aztec calendar.