Fernando de Alva Cortés Ixtlilxochitl
Ixtlilxochitl was born between 1568 and 1580, and died in 1648.
He was a distinguished student at the Imperial College of Santa Cruz de Tlatelolco, where he was educated in both Nahuatl [Aztec], and Spanish. In 1608, he was employed as interpreter by the viceroy, which appointment he received do to his learning and skill in explaining the hieroglyphic pictures of the ancient Mexicans.
He had also a profound knowledge of the traditions of his ancestors, which were preserved in the national songs, and was friends and well acquainted with several old Indians famous for their knowledge of Mexican history. He was also commissioned by the Spanish viceroy of New Spain to write histories of the indigenous peoples of Mexico. His Relación histórica de la nación tulteca (usually called Relación) was written between 1600 and 1608. This was an account of many events in New Spain, and many events of the Toltec, ancient pre-Aztec, people.
----------------------
"Of a truth I have the ancient histories in my hand, and I know the language of the natives, because I was raised with them, and I know all the old men and the principals of this land. . . . It has cost me hard study and work, always seeking the truth on everything I have written." (Ixtlilxochitl, 1600)
----------------------
The writings of Ixtlilxochitl remained unpublished and generally unknown for over 200 years. The entire corpus of Ixtilixochitl's work was first published in 1848 as Vol. 9 of Kingsborough's, Antiquities of Mexico.
----------------------
The "Codex Ixtlilxochitl" is attributed to Ixtlilxochitl. Also sometimes called the "Historia general de la Nueva España".
Alfredo Chavero published Ixtlilxochitl's works in 1891-1892, with the title of Obras Históricas (Historical Works).
Fernando de Alva Cortés Ixtlilxochitl
Obras históricas de don Fernando de Alva Ixtlilxochitl