Introduction
Despite the efforts of the messengers of Moctezuma
to prevent the Spaniards from approaching Mexico-Tenochtitlan, the
people of Cortez decided to start the trek. The two native texts
transcribed in this chapter, first of the native informants of Sahagún
and second of the History of Tlaxcala by Muñoz Camargo, tell about the
arrival of the Spaniards to Tlaxcala and Cholula.
The section of the native informants tells of the first combat of the
Spaniards with a group of otomies coming from Tecoac. It then tells
about how the tlaxcaltecas decided to receive the foreigners peacefully.
When the Spaniards arrived, immediately the tlaxcaltecas began to
intrigue against the people of Cholula and the Mexicas.
It is interesting to see the double version about the reasons for the
slaughter perpetrated by the Spaniards in Cholula that we have, on the
one hand the informants of Sahagún and on the other one the author of
the History of Tlaxcala. According to the first, it all was because of
the intrigues of the tlaxcaltecas "whose hearts burned against those of
Cholula". However, the version of the History of Tlaxcala is different:
it says that the Cholultecas provoked their own destruction, for not
submitting to the Spaniards and assassinating Patlahuatzin, the
tlaxcalteca ambassador, that urged the Cholultecas to ally with the
Spaniards. This version, invented perhaps by the Tlaxcaltecas to excuse
their participation in the slaughter of Cholula, has no corroboration,
neither in the History of Bernal Diaz Del Castillo, nor in the Letters
of relation of Cortez.
Then finally they come, the Spaniards are coming
here.
A man of Cempoalla, called the Tlacochcalcatl, also first picked up by
the Spaniards when they came to land, also came speaking nahuatl. This
one comes preparing the way, this one comes making shortcuts for them,
this one comes giving them the true way. He guided them, he brought
them, leading them.
And when they arrived at Tecoac, in territory of the Tlaxcaltecas, some
Otomies were settling there. Then those Otomies came to their encounter
armed and warlike; with shields and lances they welcomed them.
But they ruined the Otomies of Tecoac very well, totally defeated them.
They divided them in bands. They shot at them with cannons, they
surrounded them with swords, they shot them with their bows. And not
just a few, but all of them perished.
And when Tecoac was defeated, the Tlaxcaltecas heard about it, they knew
it, they were told. They were very intimidated, a great fear came upon
them, and were filled with terror.
Then they congregated, in assembly met. The chieftains met, the captains
met. They told the fact to each other, and said:
"How will we be? We go to their encounter? Very brave and very warrior
is the Otomi: as nothing they had them, as nothing they saw them!"
Then now, we go to their side; let's become their friends, we are their
friends. Those below are ruined!
Then immediately they go to them, the lords of
Tlaxcala. They took food with them: Earth hens, eggs, white tortillas,
fine tortillas.
They said to them:
"You have tired yourselves, our lords."
They responded:
"Where is your house? From where have you come?"
They said:
"We are from Tlaxcala. You have tired yourselves; you have arrived and
you entered your land: Tlaxcala is your house. The City of the Eagle,
Tlaxcala, is your house.
Because in the old days it was called Texcala: "On the cliffs", and its
inhabitants were called Texcaltecas.
They lead them, they took them, they guided them. They had them enter
their royal house.
They honored them much, provided everything to them that was necessary
to them, they were in union with them and soon they gave them their
daughters.
Then they asked:
"Where is Mexico? How far is it?"
They responded to them:
"It is not far. Perhaps in three days it you can arrive, it is very good
place. And very brave, very warriors, conquerors. They walk and conquer
every place."
The slaughter of Cholula
When they arrived, there were shouts, the word
spread: the guards, and also the people.
There was a meeting in the hall of the God.
Then when all had met, the entrances were closed.
Soon there is fighting, there are deaths, there are blows - Nothing in
their heart feared those of Cholula!
With no swords, with no shields they faced Spaniards.
Very badly they died, like blind men they died, without knowing it they
died.
And while all this happened, everything got to him, was said to him, was
heard by Moctezuma.
As for the envoys, they come here, and they go away; they are coming and
going. In many ways it is heard, the story is known.
On the other hand, the poor people are full of fright. They do nothing
more than feel worry. It was as if the Earth shook, as if the Earth
turned around. All was admiration.
And after the slaughters of Cholula happened, they started again, or
they go towards Mexico. They go in circle, go in are of conquest. They
go raising the dust of the ways. Their lances, their banners, that
resemble bats, move like shining. Thus they also make an uproar. Their
mail coats, their iron helmets, they sound as they march.
Some are wearing iron, adorned of iron, are shining. This is why they
were seen with great fear, are instilling fright in everything: they are
very frightful, are horrible.
And their dogs go in front, are preceding them; they have their noses
high, they race ahead, drooling as they go.
So from then on, there was no other talk (among the
Spaniards) than to raise people against the Mexican Culhuas, which
happened in very brief time so as not to give them time to confederate
with the Tlaxcaltecas. And to avoid bad thoughts and other new occasions
and intentions, Cortez decided not to let go the hand of his new
friends and allies, making use as always of his cleverness of astute
captain, making good of the good occasion that presented itself.
Once gathered his people they began to march and to move their Spanish
and tlaxcalteca armies with much order of his military, number and
enough copy of people and provisions for so great company. With very
famous captains experienced in war according to their use and old way.
They had as captains Piltecuhtli, Acxoxeatl, Tecpanecatl, Cahuecahua,
Cocomitecuhtli, Quauhtotohua, Textlipitl, and many others that being so
many and so much the variety of their names, are not mentioned, only the
most famous and that had deep fidelity to Cortez until the end of his
conquest.
The first entry was made by one side of Cholula, where two lords called
Tlaquiach and Tlalchiac governed and reigned, and always those that held
these positions were called by these names, that mean Mayor of the top
and Mayor of the Bottom of the Ground.
Having entered through the province of Cholula, it was destroyed
swiftly, with very great heroics that the natural ones of that city
showed. This entrance was destroyed and a great crowd of cholultecas
died, the word spread all over the land and all the way to Mexico, where
it caused horrible fright, and more when they saw and understood that
the Tlaxcaltecas had allied with the "Gods", as they called our people
(the Spaniards), without being able to give them another name.
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