A significant 16th-century document signed by Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés has been returned to Mexico after being missing for decades. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced the repatriation of this invaluable cultural artifact on August 13, 2023, during an official ceremony attended by representatives of the Mexican government.
The document, originally dated February 20, 1527, is an important manuscript page that outlines financial transactions related to Cortés’ explorations. Special Agent Jessica Dittmer of the FBI’s Art Crime Team indicated that this page is particularly significant as it reflects the logistical planning for expeditions during a pivotal period in history. The manuscript is believed to have been stolen from Mexico’s national archives during the 1980s or 1990s.
Details of the Theft and Recovery Process
According to the FBI, the General Archive of the Nation in Mexico had documented the manuscript as part of a broader collection of historical documents signed by Cortés. While microfilming the collection in October 1993, archivists discovered that 15 pages, including the one returned, were missing. The wax numbering system employed by archivists during the mid-1980s proved crucial in both identifying the theft and assisting investigators in the recovery process.
In 2024, the Mexican government sought the help of the FBI’s Art Crime Team to locate the missing manuscript page. Investigators identified that the document was likely in the United States and subsequently collaborated with the FBI Atlanta Field Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York to trace its whereabouts.
The FBI has confirmed that, due to the numerous transactions and ownership changes since the theft, no individuals will face charges related to this case. The agency is still working to locate the remaining pages of the manuscript and has urged the public to provide any information that may assist in their investigation.
The Significance of the Document
The manuscript page contains detailed records of payments made in pesos of common gold for supplies needed during Cortés’ expeditions. Dittmer emphasized its historical significance, stating that it provides vital insights into the planning and preparation for uncharted territories at that time.
Cortés arrived in what is now Mexico in 1519, where he formed alliances with local groups opposing the Aztec Empire. His military strategies led to the capture of the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan, in 1521. The year 1527, when this document was signed, was crucial for establishing royal and religious institutions that governed the indigenous peoples of Mexico until the War of Independence.
This return marks the second time the FBI has repatriated a document associated with Cortés to Mexico. In July 2023, the agency returned a letter dated April 1527, in which Cortés authorized the purchase of rose sugar.
The ongoing efforts to repatriate cultural artifacts have been a significant focus for the Mexican government, which has sought the return of various historical items, including a feather headdress believed to belong to Moctezuma II that is currently housed in an Austrian museum.
The return of this manuscript not only represents a recovery of Mexico’s cultural heritage but also underscores the importance of international collaboration in preserving historical artifacts.
