Indian ConquistadoresIndian Conquistadores

Megan BeaverMegan Beaver

History 27 History 27

Professor ArguelloProfessor Arguello

Mesoamerican Conquistadores In The Sixteenth CenturyMesoamerican Conquistadores In The Sixteenth Century

The paintings depicting the Kislak Conquest The paintings depicting the Kislak Conquest of Mexico omit the presence of black of Mexico omit the presence of black soldiers and marginalizes the role of the soldiers and marginalizes the role of the Tlaxcalteca and other native allies of the Tlaxcalteca and other native allies of the Spaniards. Spaniards. Conquest as a miracles vs. relative military Conquest as a miracles vs. relative military technologies. The later has won out over technologies. The later has won out over time. time. Matthew Restall’s Seven Myths of the Matthew Restall’s Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest explains three factors Spanish Conquest explains three factors that gelled and that made the Spanish that gelled and that made the Spanish Conquest possible. These factors were Conquest possible. These factors were epidemic disease, native disunity or micro epidemic disease, native disunity or micro patriotism, and finally metal weapons and patriotism, and finally metal weapons and guns and horses are not exclusive. guns and horses are not exclusive. It is undisputed that the Tlaxcala assisted in It is undisputed that the Tlaxcala assisted in the siege and ruin of Tenochtitlan.the siege and ruin of Tenochtitlan.Starting in 1519 and spanning through the Starting in 1519 and spanning through the sixteenth century the natives supported and sixteenth century the natives supported and influenced the actions of the Spanish influenced the actions of the Spanish Military.Military.

The overwhelming number of natives that The overwhelming number of natives that aligned with the Spanish was crucial. A aligned with the Spanish was crucial. A large amount of native warriors fought large amount of native warriors fought against the Mexica from 1519-21 and against the Mexica from 1519-21 and against others at later dates. This against others at later dates. This demonstrates how dependant the Spanish demonstrates how dependant the Spanish were on the native warriors who also were on the native warriors who also outnumbered them. outnumbered them. Even Cortes relied on the natives to boost Even Cortes relied on the natives to boost his numbers.his numbers.The reported number of cuadrillas were The reported number of cuadrillas were usually grossly underreported. usually grossly underreported. Armies that consisted of “Indian Friends” Armies that consisted of “Indian Friends” numbers dwindled after 1521 due to numbers dwindled after 1521 due to disease. disease. Accounts, letters, and proof of merit reports Accounts, letters, and proof of merit reports are what gave conquistadores rewards, are what gave conquistadores rewards, privileges, and benefits. Natives had to privileges, and benefits. Natives had to submit reports as well, and often painted submit reports as well, and often painted themselves as conquistadores and often themselves as conquistadores and often exaggerated the numbers participating in exaggerated the numbers participating in the conquest. the conquest.

Mesoamerican Conquistadores In The Sixteenth CenturyMesoamerican Conquistadores In The Sixteenth Century

Mesoamericans and the Spanish suffered Mesoamericans and the Spanish suffered greatly during war. The Mesoamericans greatly during war. The Mesoamericans were often devastated by casualties.were often devastated by casualties.

Don Joachin whose grandfather was Don Joachin whose grandfather was Moctezuma wanted exemption from tributes. Moctezuma wanted exemption from tributes. He testified Cortes paid tribute to his He testified Cortes paid tribute to his grandfather and his testimony changed the grandfather and his testimony changed the sequence of events in the conquest of sequence of events in the conquest of Tenochtitlan. Tenochtitlan.

Spanish allies were taken out of Spanish allies were taken out of Mesoamerica. Many fought in the Andes. A Mesoamerica. Many fought in the Andes. A pension request reveled natives participated pension request reveled natives participated in the conquest of the Philippines and the in the conquest of the Philippines and the abuse of native Americans. abuse of native Americans.

Natives had to serve as porters and carriers.Natives had to serve as porters and carriers.

The natives fed Cortes men when they were The natives fed Cortes men when they were hungry on their way to Tenochtitlan. The hungry on their way to Tenochtitlan. The Calkini rulers offered titulo as well. The Calkini rulers offered titulo as well. The Spanish now expect to be fed this leads to Spanish now expect to be fed this leads to the natives not having enough food.the natives not having enough food.

The Spanish were dependant on natives as The Spanish were dependant on natives as guides, spies, and messengers. Guides guides, spies, and messengers. Guides would often warn the Spanish of dangers would often warn the Spanish of dangers and were sent in first to hostile or and were sent in first to hostile or dangerous territories.dangerous territories.

Mesoamerican interpreters and cultural Mesoamerican interpreters and cultural brokers usually had higher social standing. brokers usually had higher social standing.

Native allies during the conquests forged Native allies during the conquests forged multi-city alliances, pursued sequential multi-city alliances, pursued sequential conquests, the heavy sue of trade routes. conquests, the heavy sue of trade routes. granted lordships and lands to coerce and granted lordships and lands to coerce and motivate natives into joining alliances. motivate natives into joining alliances.

The stronger or closer an alliance was the The stronger or closer an alliance was the more likely intermarriage would take place more likely intermarriage would take place this pattern become more prevalent over this pattern become more prevalent over time.time.

The Spanish often inadvertently inserted The Spanish often inadvertently inserted themselves in Mesoamerican sociopolitical themselves in Mesoamerican sociopolitical patterns, which affected the relations patterns, which affected the relations between the natives and the Spanish.between the natives and the Spanish.

Whose Conquest?Whose Conquest?

The chronicles of Bernal Diaz del Castillo The chronicles of Bernal Diaz del Castillo and Francisco Antonio Fuentes y Guzman and Francisco Antonio Fuentes y Guzman are often cited about the conquest of are often cited about the conquest of Central America. Central America. The conquest of Guatemala began in 1524 The conquest of Guatemala began in 1524 led by about an equal number of Spanish led by about an equal number of Spanish and native allies from central Mexico. Led and native allies from central Mexico. Led by Pedro de Alvarado they arrive in K’iche by Pedro de Alvarado they arrive in K’iche territory and were met with resistance.territory and were met with resistance.The Kagchikel eventually become The Kagchikel eventually become submissive and comply with Alvarado. The submissive and comply with Alvarado. The Spanish capital is established in the Valley Spanish capital is established in the Valley of Guatemala. Here the Spanish and native of Guatemala. Here the Spanish and native allies prepare to conquer the rest of Central allies prepare to conquer the rest of Central America. This account is incomplete and America. This account is incomplete and ignores the efforts of other Spaniards that ignores the efforts of other Spaniards that came to their aid. It also simplifies the role came to their aid. It also simplifies the role of the natives. of the natives. Probanzas were petitions from Probanzas were petitions from conquistadores sent to the crown. conquistadores sent to the crown.

In 1564 a probanza written by Nahuatl In 1564 a probanza written by Nahuatl speaking conquistadores from Ciudad Vieja speaking conquistadores from Ciudad Vieja also represented Nahua and zapoteca also represented Nahua and zapoteca warriors and settlers. A legal battle resolved warriors and settlers. A legal battle resolved in the 1620’s petitioned that their in the 1620’s petitioned that their compatriots and descendants should be compatriots and descendants should be exempt from tributes. exempt from tributes. The Justica 291 and the native attestations The Justica 291 and the native attestations changed the historical record. This suggests changed the historical record. This suggests that native conquistadores had different that native conquistadores had different goals, methods, and experiences than the goals, methods, and experiences than the Spanish chronicled, these records also revel Spanish chronicled, these records also revel mounting frustrations. mounting frustrations. In Guatemala the region of Xoconosco was In Guatemala the region of Xoconosco was cacao rich, had a regional market for the cacao rich, had a regional market for the port trade. Obsidian, salt, and other local port trade. Obsidian, salt, and other local goods were traded in the Guatemalan goods were traded in the Guatemalan highlands in the Pipil regions. highlands in the Pipil regions. Alvarados conquest was one of the first Alvarados conquest was one of the first long-distance campaigns by allies since long-distance campaigns by allies since Tenochititlan. Tenochititlan.

Whose Conquest? Whose Conquest?

The first campaign had soldiers organized The first campaign had soldiers organized into squadrons by altepetl and led by their into squadrons by altepetl and led by their own captains. own captains.

The captains traveled through their own The captains traveled through their own provinces and assembled warriors, who provinces and assembled warriors, who marches in military procession. They carried marches in military procession. They carried their own weapons and wore traditional their own weapons and wore traditional warrior garb showing their altepetl affiliation. warrior garb showing their altepetl affiliation.

Alvarado's campaign in Oaxaco relived Alvarado's campaign in Oaxaco relived heavily upon native forces. Many auxiliaries heavily upon native forces. Many auxiliaries were picked up during the journey were picked up during the journey thousands of natives mainly from southern thousands of natives mainly from southern and central Mexico accompanied Alvarado. and central Mexico accompanied Alvarado. Alvarado could not have defeated the K’iche Alvarado could not have defeated the K’iche Maya without the Kaqchikel Maya allies and Maya without the Kaqchikel Maya allies and slaves. slaves.

A campaign into Pipil territory caused many A campaign into Pipil territory caused many casualties and did not fully subdue the area. casualties and did not fully subdue the area. Other campaigns resulted in high Other campaigns resulted in high casualties. casualties.

Alvarado founded the Spanish capital of Alvarado founded the Spanish capital of Santiago ant Iximche on July 25,1524 and Santiago ant Iximche on July 25,1524 and he distributed the first ecomiendas. he distributed the first ecomiendas.

Smaller campaigns were led by other Smaller campaigns were led by other Spaniards and native allies from central Spaniards and native allies from central Mexico toward Central America from 1524-Mexico toward Central America from 1524-1542. 1542.

The conquest of Central America would not The conquest of Central America would not have been possible without non Maya allies have been possible without non Maya allies who helped defend them from the French.who helped defend them from the French.

In the sixteenth century indigenous In the sixteenth century indigenous conquistadores petitioned from privileges. conquistadores petitioned from privileges. The Queen made some exempt from The Queen made some exempt from tributes. Sadly some were slaves used to tributes. Sadly some were slaves used to perform manual labor. Many wrote to the perform manual labor. Many wrote to the crown to report the unfair treatment. Abuse crown to report the unfair treatment. Abuse and violence followed. and violence followed.

The crown was unhappy with the interracial The crown was unhappy with the interracial relationships and saw the bloodline as being relationships and saw the bloodline as being polluted. polluted.