The pipiltin were the hereditary nobility of Mexica society, and they were descended from the founders of the Mexica state and from the most successful warriors and officials. The pipiltin held the highest offices of state, including the Tlatoani and the Cihuacoatl, and they were granted large estates in the form of tribute from the subject provinces. The pipiltin lived in stone houses in the wealthier neighborhoods of Tenochtitlan, and they wore distinctive clothing, including cotton garments, feathered headdresses, and gold and jade ornaments.
The Privileges of the Pipiltin
The pipiltin enjoyed a wide range of privileges that distinguished them from the common people. The most important of these privileges included the right to own land, the right to collect tribute, the right to hold the highest offices of state, and the right to wear distinctive clothing and ornaments. The pipiltin were also granted special honors at the religious ceremonies, and they were attended by servants and retainers in their daily lives.
The pipiltin were organized into a hierarchy of ranks, with the highest rank reserved for the descendants of the ruling dynasty. The ranks were distinguished by their privileges, their clothing, and their access to the gods. The highest rank had the right to wear the most elaborate ornaments, to live in the largest houses, and to be attended by the largest retinues.
The Education of the Pipiltin
The pipiltin received a distinctive education in the calmecac, the school for the sons of the nobles. The calmecac provided advanced training in religion, writing, mathematics, astronomy, and oratory, and it prepared its students for careers in the priesthood, the bureaucracy, and the higher ranks of the military.
The calmecac was a demanding institution, and only the most able students were able to complete its full course of study. The students of the calmecac were required to memorize large bodies of material, including prayers, songs, and historical traditions, and they were subjected to harsh physical discipline. The calmecac was also responsible for the training of the most important religious specialists, and it shaped the Mexica system of social and political organization.
The Role of the Pipiltin
The pipiltin shaped the political, religious, and economic life of the Mexica state. The pipiltin held the highest offices of state, including the Tlatoani and the Cihuacoatl, and they were responsible for the administration of the empire. The pipiltin also held the highest positions in the priesthood, and they were responsible for the maintenance of the temples and the performance of the major religious rituals.
The pipiltin were also the principal beneficiaries of the tribute system, and they received a large share of the goods that were collected from the subject provinces. The pipiltin used the tribute to maintain their estates, to support their retinues, and to fund the religious and political life of the state. The pipiltin were also the principal patrons of the arts, and they commissioned the creation of elaborate works of art and architecture.
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- What was the role of slaves in Aztec society? — the slaves
- Education in Aztec Civilization — the calmecac
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