The Spanish Conquistador's Hidden Indigenous Army

We often imagine the conquest of Mexico as a small band of Europeans overwhelming a vast empire, but the reality was far more complex and politically nuanced. In this episode, we explore the crucial role of the Tlaxcalteca, the indigenous allies who provided tens of thousands of warriors for the siege of Tenochtitlan. We examine how centuries of rivalry with the Mexica turned former enemies into indispensable partners for Hernán Cortés. The conversation delves into the diplomatic maneuvering at Cempoala, the brutal battles at Otumba, and the political realities that forced city-states to choose sides. By looking through the lens of the Lienzo de Tlaxcala and the Florentine Codex, we see how indigenous agency shaped the outcome of the conquest, revealing a narrative not just of European triumph, but of indigenous survival and strategic alliance in the face of an existential threat.

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