Tlaxcalans

The Tlaxcalans, or Tlaxcaltecs, are an indigenous ethnolinguistic group from the central Mexican region around Tlaxcala. They formed a political and cultural confederation of allied altepetl in pre-Columbian times, maintaining their own institutions within the Tlaxcalan confederacy. They spoke Tlaxcaltecan, a variant of Nahuatl, and practiced agriculture and traditional religious life, with rulers and councils organizing defense and governance.

They were long-time rivals of the Aztec Empire and largely avoided incorporation into the Aztec Triple Alliance, resisting conquest until the arrival of Spaniards. Upon contact with Hernán Cortés, the Tlaxcalans joined the Spanish in their campaign against Tenochtitlan, contributing military forces and local knowledge. The alliance was decisive in the fall of the Aztec capital in 1521, and the Tlaxcalans gained recognition and privileges within the new colonial framework.

Under Spanish rule, Tlaxcala was administered as part of New Spain, yet Tlaxcalan nobles often retained leadership roles and enjoyed certain immunities and exemptions. The encomienda system and forced labor practices affected the Tlaxcalans as they did many indigenous peoples, while Catholic missionary efforts facilitated syncretic religious practices. The Tlaxcalan language and cultural traditions persisted, though heavily influenced by Spanish rule and later mestizo society.

Today, the Tlaxcalans are associated with the modern state of Tlaxcala and surrounding areas. They are studied for their unique role in the conquest of the Aztec Empire and their enduring legacy in central Mexican history.