In the pre-Conquest Mesoamerican civilizations, intellectuals usually derived from the priestly caste rather than from the ranks of warriors and statesmen. But Nezahualcóyotl was the exception: a ruler-philosopher who found time to mingle intellectual pursuits with war and statecraft.

Nezahualcóyotl was of the Alcohuan tribe, which became known as Texcocans in the late 12th century after settling at the eastern end of Lake Texcoco. At the time of Nezahualcóyotl's birth the Texcocans were fighting for their very existence against the invading Tepaneco tribe, and in 1418, (when the young prince was 15), Nezahualcóyotl witnessed the butchery of his father by Tepaneco soldiers. He escaped to the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlán, where he was warmly received and devoted the next 8 years to study and other academic pursuits, including instruction in duties befitting his station as heir to Texcoco. He was still determined to regain his throne, which was now part of an expanded Texcocan-Tepanec state. The original Tepanec usurper had died and had been replaced by his son Maxtla. Pretending to be reconciled to Tepanec rule, Nezahualcóyotl went to their capital city of Atzcapotzalco, but Maxtla suspiciously spurned his offering of obesiance and he was forced to slip away back to his native city of Texcoco.

Maxtla had seen enough of Nezahualcóyotl to recognise in him a potential rival however, and put a price on his head. For the next few years Nezahualcóyotl hid out in the high sierra, living in hovels and caves. It is said that though many recognized him in his disguise, such was the marvelous devotion of his people none turned him in. Eventually a number of Maxtla's nobles formed a coalition with Nezahualcóyotl, drove Maxtla's forces out of the Texcocan territories, then marched on Atzapotzalco and offered up Maxtla himself as a human sacrifice to the gods.

Once he had gained his throne, Nezahualcóyotl's first act was to devise a code of laws covering war, finance and justice that was considered so exemplary that it was adopted by his main allies, the Aztecs and the Tlacopanes. In addition to his many other talents, he was also an hydraulic engineer who constructed a nine mile-long dike that alleviated the yearly flooding on the island of Tenochtitlán.

Not least, the "council of music" was created, which was devoted not only to music but also to science, art, literature, poetry and history, and carried out such functions as evaluating the academic qualifications of professors, verifying the accuracy of published works and judging compositions on patriotic and moral themes. Such was the high level of culture achieved that Texcoco became known as "the Athens of the Western World" and not least of all the creative intellects produced was that of Nezahualcóyotl himself, who became one of the most profound of the Aztec poets.

He did at the age of 70, survived by various wives, a horde of concubines and 110 children. He believed he had set up a dynasty and state strong enough to endure for centuries, little aware that in a mere 47 years time his civilization would be snuffed out by Spanish treasure-seekers.

Or perhaps he did know?....

Although you are of jade
you will break
although you are of gold
you will tarnish
although you are the feathers of the Quetzal bird
you will come apart
we are not here for always on this earth
only for a little while...