Tlaxcalan

Tlaxcalan was a pre-Columbian indigenous city-state located in modern-day Mexico. It was a significant power in the region of Mesoamerica at the time of the Spanish conquest. The Tlaxcalans were known for their fierce independence and their distinct culture, which differed from the dominant Aztec Empire. Their territory was surrounded by Aztec lands, and they had a long-standing and often violent rivalry with the Aztecs, frequently engaging in warfare.

When the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés arrived in 1519, the Tlaxcalans initially resisted the newcomers. However, after several battles, they recognized a common enemy in the Aztecs. The Tlaxcalans formed a crucial alliance with Cortés and the Spanish. This alliance proved instrumental in the eventual downfall of the Aztec Empire. Tlaxcalan warriors provided a substantial fighting force, logistical support, and vital intelligence to the Spanish. Their intimate knowledge of the terrain and Aztec military tactics was invaluable.

Following the Spanish victory, Tlaxcalan maintained a degree of autonomy and its people were granted certain privileges by the Spanish crown, partly in recognition of their crucial role in the conquest. The city of Tlaxcala became an important center during the colonial period. The Tlaxcalan alliance with the Spanish is a complex and often debated aspect of the conquest, highlighting the internal divisions within Mesoamerican societies that contributed to the Spanish success.