The Pipiltin (sg. ''pilli'') were the
noble social class
A social class or social stratum is a grouping of people into a set of Dominance hierarchy, hierarchical social categories, the most common being the working class and the Bourgeoisie, capitalist class. Membership of a social class can for exam ...
in the
Mexica Empire. They are the lowest nobles in the civilization's social structure and above the commoners who achieved noble status due to an outstanding deed in war. These people were members of the hereditary nobility and occupied positions in the
government
A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a State (polity), state.
In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive (government), execu ...
as ambassadors and ministers, the army and the
priesthood. Pipiltin often headed their own noble houses, called
tecalli, with their own lands and dependent labourers. The subclasses within the ''Pipiltin'' were: tlahtohcapilli (a
tlahtoani's son), tecpilli or teucpilli (a
teuctli's son), tlazohpilli (son of a legitimate wife), and calpanpilli (son of a
concubine
Concubinage is an interpersonal relationship, interpersonal and Intimate relationship, sexual relationship between two people in which the couple does not want to, or cannot, enter into a full marriage. Concubinage and marriage are often regarde ...
).
Children of the ''Pipiltin'' were given extensive education in preparation for the role they would play in their adult life. They were sent to the ''
calmecac'', which was the center for higher learning, to study the ancient wisdom as well as "elegant forms of speech, ancient hymns, poems and historical accounts, religious doctrines, the calendar, astronomy, astrology, legal precepts and the art of the government."
Origin
As the
Aztecs
The Aztecs ( ) were a Mesoamerican civilization that flourished in central Mexico in the post-classic period from 1300 to 1521. The Aztec people included different ethnic groups of central Mexico, particularly those groups who spoke the ...
began settling what would later become their homelands, an elite emerged (the ''Pipiltin'') that claimed descent from the
Toltecs
The Toltec culture () was a Pre-Columbian era, pre-Columbian Mesoamerican culture that ruled a state centered in Tula (Mesoamerican site), Tula, Hidalgo (state), Hidalgo, Mexico, during the Epiclassic and the early Post-Classic period of Mesoam ...
, the former empire of Central
Mexico
Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...
. The new hereditary elite unified the clans that had been the center of
Aztec
The Aztecs ( ) were a Mesoamerican civilization that flourished in central Mexico in the Post-Classic stage, post-classic period from 1300 to 1521. The Aztec people included different Indigenous peoples of Mexico, ethnic groups of central ...
life and paved the way for a conquest empire. Some sources describe the ''Pipiltin'' as the offspring of ''tlahtohqueh'' and ''teteuctin'', which were different social classes within the ruling nobility.
The name was also where the
Pipil people of western El Salvador get their name, as they are descendants of Toltec people who migrated and settle in El Salvador.
The authority and prestige of the ''Pipiltin'' were based on the belief that they descended from the original migrant founders of the Aztecs and came from a mythical place.
Due to this heritage, they enjoyed privileges such as special family dispensation, the use of privilege goods and dwellings that were appropriate to their station.
See also
*
Macehualtin, the commoners
References
irows.ucr.edu course 122
{{Nobility by nation
Aztec society