{{Short description|Ethnic group}} {{more footnotes needed|date=December 2025}} '''Matlatzinca'''{{Pronunciation-needed}} is a name used to refer to different [[Indigenous peoples in Mexico|Indigenous ethnic groups]] in the [[Toluca Valley]] in the [[México (state)|state of México]], located in the central highlands of [[Mexico]]. The term is applied to the ethnic group inhabiting the valley of Toluca and to their language, [[Matlatzinca language|Matlatzinca]]. The Matlatzinca people share many cultural similarities to the [[Otomi]] and [[Mazahua people|Mazahua]], who speak related languages.
==Names== The name Matlatzinca is of [[Nahuatl]] origin, being derived from the word {{lang|nah|matlatl}} (net), because the Matlatzinca used nets to shuck corn. An alternative theory suggests it is derived from {{lang|nah|tematlatl}} (sling). Whatever the case, this name has also been spelled Matlalcinga or Matlaltzinga.
When used as an [[ethnonym]], Matlatzinca refers to the people of Matlatzinco. {{lang|nah|Matlatzinco}} was the Aztec (Nahuatl) term for the Toluca Valley. The political capital of the valley was also referred to as Matlatzinco; this was a large city whose ruins are today known as the archaeological site of [[Calixtlahuaca]]. In prehispanic times the Toluca Valley was the home to speakers of at least four languages: [[Otomi language|Otomi]], [[Matlatzinca language|Matlatzinca]], [[Mazahua language|Mazahua]], and [[Nahuatl language|Nahuatl]]. Thus speakers of any of these languages could be called "Matlatzinca" if they resided in the Toluca Valley. When the Aztec native historical sources or the Spanish chroniclers refer to "the Matlatzinca" it is often not clear where they mean speakers of the Matlatzinca language, the peoples of the Toluca Valley, or even the inhabitants of Calixtlahuaca.
Another old name for the Matlatzinca is {{lang|nah|Quata}} (singular)/{{lang|nah|Quaquata}} (plural), derived from the Nahuatl {{lang|nah|quaitl}} (head) and {{lang|nah|ta}} (sling), thus meaning those who wear slings on their heads. This name was hispanized to {{lang|nah|guata}}.
In [[Michoacán]], the Matlatzinca were referred to as Pirinda.
==History== The Toluca Valley is a likely candidate for the homeland of the [[Oto-Pamean languages|Oto-Pamean peoples]]. [[Teotenango]] was a major regional power existing from 750 to 1162 CE associated with the expansion of the Matlatzinca culture. Around 750 CE, the Matlatzinca began to emerge as a distinct culture from the southern Otomi, and beginning in 1150 CE, the two began to consider themselves different peoples. This corresponds with some linguistic studies which date the separation of the Otomi and Matlatzinca languages to between the fifth and eighth centuries CE.
Parts of the Valley of Toluca were conquered by the [[Tepanec]] in the eleventh century, and some Otomi groups migrated into the Toluca Valley as a consequence of [[Chichimec]] migrations. The region was later conquered by the [[Aztec Empire]] in 1475 CE during the reign of [[Axayacatl]], but they soon rebelled as the Aztecs clashed with the [[Purépecha Empire]]. This led to the Purépecha ruler [[Tzitzipandáquare]] enlisting some Matlatzincas as mercenaries in return for granting them lands in his empire, namely [[Charo Municipality|Charo]] and [[Huetamo]].<ref>{{cite journal |last=Delfín Guillaumin |first=Martha |year=2011 |title=Los pirindas de Michoacán: ¿inicio de un proceso de etnogénesis? |language=es |journal=Cuicuilco |volume=18 |issue=50 |pages=145–158 |access-date=5 December 2025 |url=http://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0185-16592011000100008&lng=es&tlng=es}}</ref> However, the Matlatzinca homeland remained under Aztec domination and was repopulated with [[Nahuas]], beginning the decline of the Matlatzinca language.
Besides the Valley of Toluca and Michoacan, Matlatzincas were also found in the [[Valley of Mexico]] ([[Azcapotzalco (altepetl)|Azcapotzalco]], [[Tlacopan]], [[Coyoacán]]), southern Mexico state ([[Tejupilco de Hidalgo|Tejupilco]], [[Tonatico]], [[Amatepec]], [[Tlatlaya]]), Morelos (near [[Cuernavaca]]), and the state of [[Guerrero]] ([[Cocula, Guerrero|Cocula]], Alahuixtlan, [[Tepecoacuilco de Trujano|Tepecoacuilco]], Tlacozauhtitlan). Historical records also mention the "Matlame" in many of the same regions of the state of Guerrero, and they are usually considered a related group, or perhaps an alternative name for the Matlatzinca. However, they were only one of multiple ethnic groups in these regions, alongside the [[Guerrero Chontal language|Chontal]], Nahua groups ([[Coixcas]], Tlahuica-Nahuas, Malinalca), and "Mazatecs" (possibly another name for the Mazahua). The Matlatzinca presence in these regions may have been a consequence of their dispersal from the Toluca Valley after it was conquered by the Aztecs.
==Language== {{main|Matlatzinca language}} The Matlatzinca language is part of the [[Oto-Pamean languages|Oto-Pamean]] subgroup of the [[Oto-Manguean languages|Oto-Manguean]] language family, which also includes [[Otomi language|Otomi]], [[Mazahua language|Mazahua]], [[Pame language|Pame]] and [[Chichimeca Jonaz language|Chichimeca Jonaz]]. Linguistically, the term "Matlatzinca" refers to speakers Matlatzinca.
In ancient, historic, and modern times, Matlatzinca was spoken in the Toluca Valley of central Mexico, west of the Valley of Mexico. Matlatzinca has two subgroups or dialects that are mutually unintelligible: one called [[Ocuiltec language|Ocuiltec]] or Tlahuica and Matlatzinca proper.
While originally one language, they are now so removed that they are often considered separate languages. Matlatzinca is severely endangered and now spoken by only around 100 mostly elderly people in [[San Francisco Oxtotilpan]]. Ocuiltec/Tlahuica is spoken by between 50 and 100 in the municipality of [[Ocuilan]], in the villages of San Juan Atzingo and Santa Lucía del Progreso.
==Religion== The prehispanic Matlatzinca cosmology shows strong similarities with other Mesoamerican religions, such as those of the Otomi and the Nahua.
The universe was divided into four directions and the center divided into upper and lower planes. Reality was divided between these planes according to a dualistic principle, so that the sun, the masculine, sky, the day and man were associated with the upper plane, while the moon, the feminine, the earth, night and woman were associated with the lower plane. They worshipped the sun and moon, emphasizing the former because they were a warlike people. Earth, air, fire and water were associated with protector gods. The number six had a symbolic importance, as seen in the accounts of six lords accompanying [[King Xolotl]] in his conquest of the Toluca Valley, and six Matlatzinca lords who left the Toluca Valley for [[Chalco (altepetl)|Chalco]] in the 12th century.
Deities included Tlamatzincatl (similar to [[Tezcatlipoca]] and [[Mixcoatl]]), Quequex (another name for Otontecuhtli, the Otomi fire god), and [[Oztoteotl]] (compared to [[Tlaloc]] and [[Tezcatlipoca]]).
==References== {{Reflist}} *{{cite book |author-link=Daniel Cazés |first=Cazés |last=Daniel |year=1965 |title=El pueblo matlatzinca de San Francisco Oxtotilpan y su lengua |location=Mexico City |publisher=National School of Anthropology and History}} *{{cite book |last=García Castro |first=René |year=1999 |title=Indios, territorio y poder en la provincia matlatzinca: la negociación del espacio político de los pueblos otomianos, siglos XV–XII |publisher=CIESAS, Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, and El Colegio Mexiquense |location=Mexico City and Toluca}} *{{cite journal |last=García Castro |first=René |year=2000 |title=Los grupos indígenas del valle de Toluca |journal=[[Arqueología Mexicana]] |volume=8 |issue=43 |pages=50–55}} *{{cite encyclopedia |last=García Payón |first=José |year=1974 |title=La zona arqueológica de Tecaxic-Calixtlahuaca y los matlatzincas: etnología y arqueología |at=Part 1 |edition=1936 facsimile |editor-first=Mario |editor-last=Colín |encyclopedia=Biblioteca Enciclopédica del Estado de México |volume=29 |location=Toluca |publisher=Government of the State of México}} *{{cite book |last=Quezada Ramírez |first=María Noemí |year=1972 |title=Las matlatzincas: época prehispánica y época colonial hasta 1650 |series=Serie Investigaciones |volume=22 |publisher=[[Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia]] |location=Mexico City}} *{{cite book |last1=Sugiura Yamamoto<!--name is Spanish in form--> |first1=Yoko |first2=Patricia |last2=Martel |first3=Sandra |last3=Figueroa |year=1997 |title=Atlas Etnográfico de la Cuenca Alta del Río Lerma: Otomíes, Mazahuas, Matlatzincas y Nahuas en los 32 municipios |publisher=Government of the State of México |location=Toluca}} *{{cite book |last1=Escalante Hernández |first1=Roberto |last2=Hernández |first2=Marciano |title=Matlatzinca de San Francisco Oxtotilpan, Estado de México |date=1999 |publisher=[[El Colegio de México]] |location=Mexico City |isbn=9681209028 |pages=7–17 |edition=1st}}
{{Indigenous peoples of Mexico}}
[[Category:Matlatzinca]]