Biography.guide
Home › People › Poet › Nezahualpilli
Portrait of Nezahualpilli

Nezahualpilli

1463 – 1515

Tlatoani of Texcoco

Don't just read it — keep itBiographies to ownE-book · Audio · Video From $7 →

About Nezahualpilli

Lived 1463 – 1515 (aged 51–52). Nezahualpilli was a Mexican poet and writer.

Nezahualpilli (Nahuatl for "fasting prince"; 1464–1515, ) was king (tlatoani) of the Mesoamerican city-state of Texcoco, elected by the city's nobility after the death of his father, Nezahualcoyotl, in 1472. Nezahuapilli's mother was Azcalxochitzin, who married Nezahualcoyotl after the death of her first husband, King Cuahcuauhtzin of Tepechpan.

Like his father, he was a poet, was considered a sage, and had the reputation of being a fair ruler. Only one of his poems survives: "Icuic Nezahualpilli yc tlamato huexotzinco" ("Song of Nezahualpilli during the war with Huexotzinco"). His court was a haven for astronomers, engineers, and soothsayers. During his reign, he abolished capital punishment for a number of crimes and struggled to keep the political independence of Texcoco during the increasing centralization of Aztec power in Tenochtitlán.

When he told Moctezuma II that the Texcocan wise men had foretold foreign dominion over the Valley of Mexico, the emperor challenged him to a ball game. Moctezuma considered the loss of the game a negative omen.

Nezahualpilli was said to have taken numerous consorts and fathered 144 children. He was succeeded by his son Cacama.

Biography shop

Don’t just read it —
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop — from $7

Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

Born
1463
Birth century
Died
1515
Occupation
Positions held
Tlatoani of Texcoco

Family & relationships

Child
Cacamatzin
Parent
Nezahualcoyotl (tlatoani)

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Nezahualpilli's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Nezahualpilli?

Tlatoani of Texcoco

When was Nezahualpilli born?

Nezahualpilli was born in 1463.

When did Nezahualpilli die?

Nezahualpilli died in 1515.

What was Nezahualpilli's occupation?

Nezahualpilli was a poet and writer.

What nationality was Nezahualpilli?

Nezahualpilli was Mexican.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Nezahualpilli

· Wikidata: Q522788

· DBpedia: Nezahualpilli

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Nezahualpilli. https://biography.guide/nezahualpilli/

MLA: "Nezahualpilli." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/nezahualpilli/.

Chicago: "Nezahualpilli." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/nezahualpilli/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:18 UTC