The area controlled by the Tlaxcalans comprised some 200 semi-autonomous villages united by their hatred of the Mexica. Zuerst kämpften die Tlaxcalaner bösartig gegen die Konquistadoren, aber nach wiederholten Niederlagen beschlossen sie, mit den Spaniern Frieden zu schließen und sich mit ihnen gegen ihre traditionellen Feinde zu verbünden. When Cortés and the rest of us saw that, out of pity we stopped the Tlaxcalans from doing more harm. 103: Cortés Strikes Off the Hands of Fifty Spies . Der hitzköpfige Prinz Xicotencatl der Jüngere wurde persönlich nach Cortes geschickt, um um Frieden und ein Bündnis zu bitten. The Mexican state of Tlaxcala, with a population of 911,696 people (0.97% of the national population), is one of the smallest and most densely populated states in the Mexican Republic. Unlike Tenochtitlan and other cities, Tlaxcala was not destroyed after the Conquest. The mountain-dwelling Tlaxcalans, bitter enemies of the Aztecs, had to be forcibly convinced to join the Spaniards, but eventually furnished Cortés with thousands of warriors. Obwohl die Spanier schwächer wurden, waren die Tlaxcalaner bestürzt zu sehen, dass sie trotz ihrer überlegenen Anzahl und heftigen Kämpfe nicht die Oberhand gewannen. On August 20th the Spanish crossed the frontier of Tlaxcala, which was a territory independent of the Aztecs (Daniel, 1992, p. 187). Cortes and the Tlaxcalans returned to Tenochtitlan in December of 1520. After sending messages back and forth for a few days with not only the elders of Tlaxcala but also Emperor Montezuma, Cortes decided to go to Tlaxcala. Cortés agreed. Zwei Wochen lang machten die Spanier kaum Fortschritte. This stigma persists today, albeit in a weakened form. When Cortés and Xicotencatl first met, a meeting recorded in this painting, Cortés was an anxious supplicant, eager to enter into an alliance with the Tlaxcalans, who he needed to help fight the Aztecs. In the interim, an epidemic of smallpox had broken out in the city and many people died, one of which was the ruler Cuitlahuac, who had been replaced by … Cortés and his men withdrew and rejoined their allies, the Tlaxcalans. September 1519 die Stadt Tlaxcala. Cortes and the Tlaxcalans returned to Tenochtitlan in December of 1520. Im August 1519 machten sich die Spanier auf den Weg nach Tenochtitlan. 109: Certain Spaniards Wish to Abandon the War III . When this painting was created, towards the middle of the 16th century, the tables had turned. Zur Belohnung erhielten sie vom spanischen König die Zusicherung weitgehender Selbstverwaltung und territoria-ler Integrität (Gibson 1967: 80). Cortés survived a series of harrowing battles. Nearby is a famous Mexican shrine, the Santuario y Colegiata de Ocotlán. On August 20th the Spanish crossed the frontier of Tlaxcala, which was a territory independent of the Aztecs (Daniel, 1992, p. 187). Die Menschen stammten aus drei ethnischen Hauptgruppen: den Pinomes, Otomí und Tlaxcalans, die von kriegerischen Chichimecs abstammen, die vor Jahrhunderten in die Region gezogen waren. Cortes und seine Männer betraten am 18. The image is from the “Lienzo de Tlaxcala”, created by the Tlaxcalans to remind the Spanish of their loyalty to Castile and the importance of Tlaxcala during the Conquest. 100: The Tlaxcalans Boast and Threaten . Four hundred and twenty Spaniards and a mere 17 horses limped into Tlaxcalan territory. After this alliance was established, the Tlaxcalans persuaded Cortes to invade their enemies land. Tagsüber würden die Tlaxcalaner und ihre Otomi-Verbündeten angreifen, nur um von den Spaniern vertrieben zu werden. The encounter with the Tlaxcalans was initially aggressive for the Spanish and they were unwelcomed by the Tlaxcalans. Cortes und seine Männer würden 20 Tage in Tlaxcala bleiben. During the day, the Tlaxcalans and their Otomi allies would attack, only to be driven off by the Spanish. The allegiance of the Tlaxcalans with the Spaniards would become an enduring partnership, lasting several centuries. Cortés agreed. Thousands of warriors and a safe base of support only days away from Tenochtitlan proved invaluable to Cortes and his war effort. How this alliance developed and how their support was crucial to Cortes' success. Inzwischen. 1. It is important to note that the Tlaxcalans were not the only native State to join forces with Cortés in his enterprise to conquest Tenochtitlán. Die Tlaxcalaner würden angeblich die Spanier willkommen heißen, aber ihre Otomí-Verbündeten schicken, um sie anzugreifen. Sie hatten Verbündete, wobei die Tlaxcalaner zu den wichtigsten gehörten. While Cortés held Tenochtitlán through Montezuma, a Spanish force from Cuba landed on the coast of Mexico. May 20, 1519. Tlaxcalans . Even after two weeks of constantly battling the Spanish, the Tlaxcalans still had thousands of warriors, fierce men who were loyal to their elders (and the alliance their elders made) and who despised the Mexica. Later events proved that perhaps this alliance was a mistake, but the worst thing the Tlaxcalans can be accused of is lack of foresight. Were the Tlaxcalans traitors? Come on: can’t you do a simple research on the internet or read history books? Now it was the Tlaxcalans who were eager to reassert their early alliance with the Spaniards. In Zocotlán, they saw a temple with racks for human skulls; then in Tlaxcalans, Cortés tried to negotiate with them but they did not trust the Spaniards, so they attacked. They gave the Spanish food, supplies and 20 women, including an interpreter who was named Malintzin. Tlaxcalans Against Cortés . Cortés and La Malinche meet Moctezuma in Tenochtitlan, November 8, 1519. Christopher Minster, Ph.D., is a professor at the ​Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador. The difficulties he faced against the Tlaxcalans made him begin to doubt that he would be able to subdue the Aztecs, who had much larger armies. The Aztecs were in the midst of a full rebellion. Cortés returned in December with a better-prepared contingent, more reinforcements from Cuba and Jamaica, new ships, cannons, a layout of the city and a siege mentality. They had been sent by Velasquez to unseat Cortés. Dezember 1547 in Castilleja de la Cuesta) war ein spanischer Konquistador. Download this episode or listen online. The initiative in forging the alliance that eventually overthrew Aztec hegemony did not—could not—come from Cortés, who knew nothing of indigenous politics and could not speak any indigenous language. The Tlaxcalans happily joined the Spanish on their march to Tenochtitlan and indeed were staunch allies for them. 100: The Tlaxcalans Boast and Threaten . Three hundred Tlaxcalan girls were given to the conquistadors, including some of noble birth for the officers. While … Der einzige Knackpunkt zwischen den beiden Kulturen schien Cortes Beharren zu sein, dass die Tlaxcalans umarmen Christentum, etwas, das sie nur ungern zu tun. Spätere Ereignisse haben gezeigt, dass diese Allianz vielleicht ein Fehler war, aber das Schlimmste, was den Tlaxcalanern vorgeworfen werden kann, ist mangelnde Weitsicht. The Tlaxcalans in particular were critical to Cortés’s future successes, as they were old rivals of the Aztecs and boasted a sizable army that supplemented the modest force of conquistadores. Posada La Casona de Cortés ist eine Unterkunft in Tlaxcala. 1. The Tlaxcalans refused to greet Cortés and fought against him. The initiative in forging the alliance that eventually overthrew Aztec hegemony did not—could not—come from Cortés, who knew nothing of indigenous politics and could not speak any indigenous language. Now it was the Tlaxcalans who were eager to reassert their early alliance with the Spaniards. In 1519, as conquistador Hernan Cortes was making his way inland from the coast on his audacious conquest of the Mexica (Aztec) Empire, he had to pass through the lands of the fiercely independent Tlaxcalans, who were the mortal enemies of the Mexica. In September 1519, when Hernan Cortés and his soldiers first entered the region on his march to Tenochtitlan, the Tlaxcalans took up arms against him. Historian Charles Gibson published (1952) a path breaking study of Tlaxcala, from the indigenous viewpoint. Cortés allies the Tlaxcalans Leaving a portion of his force as a settlement, Cortés left for Mexico on August 16, 1519. The Tlaxcalans in particular were critical to Cortés’s future successes, as they were old rivals of the Aztecs and boasted a sizable army that supplemented the modest force of conquistadores. A Tlaxcalan prince, Xicotencatl the Younger, came up with a clever plan. In the sixteenth century, the Tlaxcalans were the most numerous people in alliance with the Spaniards, under Hernán Cortés; Gave them their military strength, helping them in the conquest of other indigenous peoples and in the eventual fall of Tenochtitlan and the Aztecs. The warlike Tlaxcalans had been enemies of the Aztecs for generations and had held out against their warlike neighbors. After many battles, including street-by-street fighting in Tenochtitlan itself, the Aztec Empire fell in August 1521. Cortés agreed. 112: Xicoténcatl Ambassador of Tlaxcala . Cortes sicherte diese Allianz, indem er sich regelmäßig mit Xicotencatl the Elder und Maxixcatzin, den beiden großen Herren von Tlaxcala, traf, ihnen Geschenke gab und versprach, sie von der verhassten Mexica zu befreien. Cortés and the Tlaxcalans Regroup. Tlaxcaltec â allies accompany Hernán Cortés during the Spanish conquest of the Aztec empire, 1519, from the History of Tlaxcala. Sie hatten Tausende von Verbündeten und Trägern Cempoalas mitgebracht, angeführt von einem Adligen namens Mamexi. They explained to him that they were human sacrifices. The only sticking point between the two cultures seemed to be Cortes' insistence that the Tlaxcalans embrace Christianity, something they were reluctant to do. Tlaxcalans. Colonial period. With these warriors in tow, Cortés marched on the important Aztec city of Cholula in October 1519. From Zautla, Cortes sent four Cempoalan envoys to Tlaxcala, offering to talk about a possible alliance, and moved to the town of Ixtaquimaxtitlan. One important aspect of their extended stay was that they could rest, heal their wounds, tend to their horses and equipment and basically get ready for the next step of their journey. After this alliance was established, the Tlaxcalans persuaded Cortes to invade their enemies land. 112: Xicoténcatl Ambassador of Tlaxcala . As the battered army made its way into Tlaxcala, they were greeted by their Indian allies and given refuge. When they reached the lands of the Tlaxcalans in August of 1519, Cortes decided to make contact with them. They told him about how they were shown injustice from these neighboring tribes, and sought out vengeance. It was a very productive time for Cortes and his men. They occupied the small town of Zautla and pondered their next move. He ordered them to gather all their men and stay in the field, and they did so, and only the Cempoalans stayed with us. The warlike Tlaxcalans had been enemies of the Aztecs for generations and had held out against their warlike neighbors. The encounter with the Tlaxcalans was initially aggressive for the Spanish and they were unwelcomed by the Tlaxcalans. Tlaxcala is home to three famous bullrings. The Tlaxcalans' hatred of the Mexica ran very deep. The Tlaxcaltecs served as allies to Hernán Cortés and his fellow Spanish conquistadors, and were instrumental in the invasion of Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec empire, helping the Spanish reach the Valley of Anahuac and providing a key contingent of the invasion force. 103: Cortés Strikes Off the Hands of Fifty Spies . Some try to stay neutral. After many battles, including street-by-street fighting in Tenochtitlan itself, the Aztec Empire fell in August 1521. In the city of Cholula, which was loyal to Moctezuma, Cortés’s Spanish and Tlaxcalan forces massacred thousands in the main square, though accounts differ as to whether it … With these warriors in tow, Cortés marched on the important Aztec city of Cholula in October… Read More May 1521: The final assault on Tenochtitlán. You can see the army dressed in their gear, as well as Cortes communicating with the Tlaxcalans. With these warriors in tow, Cortés marched on the important Aztec city of Cholula in October 1519. Cortes saw the injustice in the actions of the Tenochtitlans. During the Night of Sorrows, Tlaxcalan warriors helped the Spanish escape by night from Tenochtitlan. Aber als die Tlaxcalan-Führung anfing, sich Gedanken über ihr Bündnis zu machen, war es zu spät: Zwei Jahre ständigen Krieges hatten sie viel zu schwach gemacht, um die Spanier zu besiegen, was sie selbst mit voller Kraft im Jahr 1519 nicht erreicht hatten . 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