The Codex Azcatitlán, a 16th-century manuscript chronicling Aztec civilisation and its collapse following the Spanish conquest, is being displayed in Mexico for the first time in 186 years. The document has been held in France's Bibliothèque Nationale since 1898 and is considered one of the most significant historical records of Aztec history, making its return to Mexico a significant cultural moment for the country's ongoing efforts to recover its historical heritage.

The temporary loan is part of a cultural exchange marking 200 years of Franco-Mexican diplomatic relations, agreed between Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and French President Emmanuel Macron. In return, Mexico has agreed to lend the Codex Boturini to France; the latter depicts the Aztec migration to Lake Texcoco and the founding of Tenochtitlán. The loan reflects Mexico's broader campaign to repatriate historical artefacts, with the country's ministry of foreign relations reporting that over 2,000 objects were successfully returned last year. The Codex Azcatitlán will be exhibited at the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City from Thursday.