Hotel Hacienda Cocoyoc, Mexico, November 25, 2000

Year: 2000 (November 25, 2000)

11″ x 8.5″

Media: Canon® Pro Platinum High Gloss Photo Paper

Printers: Canon® PIXMA

Color

Art: Photo

Artist: Luc Paquin

Hotel Hacienda Cocoyoc

Cocoyoc is a Nahuatl word that means “the place of coyotes”. The town of Cocoyoc is many centuries old and existed long before the Spanish conquest. It was founded in the eleventh century by the Tlahuican, another Nahuatl group, two hundred years before the Aztecs became the dominant group of the Nahuatls and established their capital — Tenochtitlan — where Mexico City now stands.

Huitzihuitl, the second king of the Aztecs, conquered Cocoyoc, as he became impressed by its excellent weather, fertile land and lush vegetation, taking as his wife the daughter of the conquered lord. Of this marriage, Moctezuma I was born, who goberned the Aztec Empire from 1440 to 1469. Moctezuma I, attracted by his mother’s land, ordered extensive gardens to be planted near Cocoyoc — bringing flowers, trees and bushes from all over the country. He had royal baths constructed for his own use and would go there to escape from state affairs; to relax in the sun and the peacefull atmosphere of Cocoyoc.

Cocoyoc was part of the vast territory given to Hernan Cortes after the Conquest of Mexico in 1521. He was named Marquis of Oaxaca in recognition of his services to the Spanish crown and then proceed to establish a firm hold on the land. Cortes also married Isabel, daughter of Moctezuma II, who was the Aztec ruler at that time. Soon thereafter, the fertile land of the valley and of all the State of Morelos was planted with sugar cane, which had been introduced by the Spaniards.

Luc