The Cempoala Alliance: Totonac Rebellion and Cortés's First Indigenous Allies

The Dogs of War: Cortés's Forgotten Weapon

In this episode, we explore the role of war dogs—specifically the alano español and lebrel breeds—in Hernán Cortés's conquest of Mexico. While horses and guns often get the spotlight, Spanish mastiffs and greyhounds were deployed as weapons of terror and tactical advantage, especially during the Noche Triste and the siege of Tenochtitlan. We examine specific instances from Bernal Díaz del Castillo's accounts, the Florentine Codex, and the Lienzo de Tlaxcala, where dogs are depicted attacking indigenous warriors. We also discuss how indigenous allies like the Tlaxcalans quickly adapted, using their own dogs and tactics. The episode touches on the broader canine history of Mesoamerica, from the techichi and xoloitzcuintli to the psychological impact of European war dogs. A nuanced look at a often-overlooked aspect of the conquest. #WarDogs #Cortés #AlanoEspañol #Mesopotamia #NocheTriste #Tenochtitlan #BernalDiaz #FlorentineCodex #LienzoDeTlaxcala #Xoloitzcuintli #Techichi #Tlaxcalans #SpanishConquest #Mesoamerica #History #FexingoHistory #Conquistadors #MilitaryHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Cortés's Dogs of War: The Forgotten Weapon of the Conquest

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore a chilling and often overlooked aspect of the Spanish conquest of Mesoamerica: the use of war dogs. While steel swords and gunpowder get most of the attention, the conquistadors brought trained mastiffs and greyhounds that terrorized indigenous armies and were used as weapons of terror. Lucas details the specific breeds, their training, and how they were deployed in battle, including the infamous killing of Cuauhtémoc's envoys and the use of dogs during the Mixtón War. The episode also examines indigenous perspectives from the Florentine Codex and other sources, showing how these animals became symbols of Spanish brutality. The conversation pivots to the broader implications of using animals in warfare, drawing a line from the conquistadors to modern military working dogs. Lucas also discusses the controversy around the requerimiento and how dogs were sometimes used in lieu of reading the decree. The episode ends with a reflection on the ethics of weaponizing animals and the lasting memory of the 'perros de guerra' in indigenous oral tradition. #WarDogs #Conquistadors #Cortés #Mesoamerica #FlorentineCodex #Aztecs #SpanishConquest #MixtónWar #Mastiff #Greyhound #PerrosDeGuerra #IndigenousHistory #MilitaryDogs #BernalDíaz #Tlaxcala #Tenochtitlan #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

The Siege of Tenochtitlan 1521: How Cortés Destroyed an Empire

In 1521, Hernán Cortés laid siege to Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital, for 75 days. This episode covers the brutal blockades, the use of brigantines built by Tlaxcalan allies, the smallpox epidemic that ravaged the city, and the final assault led by Cortés and García Holguín. We explore the tactical decisions, the role of indigenous allies, and the aftermath—Cuauhtémoc's capture, the destruction of the Templo Mayor, and the birth of Mexico City on the ruins. Learn about the causeways of Tlacopan and Iztapalapa, the fresh water supply cut from Chapultepec, and the key battles at Tlatelolco. A turning point in world history that reshaped the Americas. #SiegeOfTenochtitlan #HernánCortés #AztecEmpire #Cuauhtémoc #TlaxcalanAllies #Brigantines #Smallpox #Tlatelolco #TemploMayor #MexicoCity #GarcíaHolguín #Chapultepec #Causeways #Nahuatl #Mesoamerica #Conquistadors #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

The Cempoala Alliance: Totonac Rebellion and Cortés's First Indigenous Allies

In 1519, Hernán Cortés made landfall on the Gulf Coast of Mexico and quickly forged an alliance with the Totonac people of Cempoala, a wealthy city-state resentful of Aztec domination. This episode unpacks how the Totonac ruler, known in Spanish sources as the 'Cacique Gordo' or Fat Chief, welcomed Cortés, provided him with warriors and supplies, and helped him create the first Spanish settlement—Villa Rica de la Veracruz. We examine the political calculations behind this alliance, the Totonac's motivations for rebellion against Moctezuma II, and how Cortés manipulated internal divisions among Mesoamerican polities. We also explore Totonac culture, their role in the tribute system, and the lasting consequences of their partnership with the Spanish, including their later marginalization under colonial rule. Key figures include Cortés, the Cacique Gordo, La Malinche as interpreter, and the Tlaxcalan allies who would later join. Based on Bernal Díaz del Castillo's account and other primary sources. #Cempoala #Totonac #Cortés #Conquistadors #LaMalinche #CaciqueGordo #Veracruz #Aztec #Mesoamerica #IndigenousAlliance #SpanishConquest #BernalDíaz #VillaRica #Tribute #MexicanHistory #Colonialism #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

The Requerimiento: Reading a Conquest Decree

In 1513, Spanish officials drafted the Requerimiento, a legal document read to indigenous peoples before any attack. Written in Spanish and Latin, it demanded submission to the Spanish Crown and the Catholic Church—under threat of enslavement and war. In practice, it was often read from ship decks or to empty villages, a bizarre ritual that reveals the legalistic mindset behind the conquest. This episode explores the origins of the Requerimiento in the aftermath of Antonio de Montesinos's 1511 sermon, its composition by jurist Juan López de Palacios Rubios, and the dramatic first reading by conquistador Pedrarias Dávila in Panama. We follow its use by Hernán Cortés in Mesoamerica, including a famous incident at Cempoala where Cortés staged a reading before the Totonac leaders, with Malinche translating into Nahuatl—and the indigenous response of confused silence. We also examine the document's critics: Bartolomé de las Casas, who called it unjust, and the Salamanca School theologian Francisco de Vitoria, who questioned its legal basis. The episode ends by asking: was the Requerimiento a genuine legal formality or a cynical cover for violence? A story about the strange intersection of law, religion, and empire. #Requerimiento #Conquistadors #SpanishEmpire #IndigenousRights #BartoloméDeLasCasas #JuanLópezDePalaciosRubios #PedrariasDávila #HernánCortés #Malinche #Cempoala #AntonioDeMontesinos #FranciscoDeVitoria #SalamancaSchool #Nahuatl #Mesoamerica #16thCentury #LegalHistory #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]