Cortés's Brigantines: The Ships That Won Tenochtitlan

The Tlaxcalan Alliance: The Backbone of Cortés's Conquest

In this episode, we dive deep into the military and political alliance between Hernán Cortés and the Tlaxcalan confederation — arguably the single most decisive factor in the fall of Tenochtitlan. We explore how four independent Tlaxcalan lords (Tizatlan, Ocotelolco, Quiahuitzlan, and Tepeticpac) navigated internal rivalries, their long-standing enmity with the Aztec Triple Alliance, and the calculated decision to ally with the Spanish after initial bloody battles. We discuss key figures like Xicotencatl the Elder, the blind leader of Tizatlan who advocated alliance, and Xicotencatl the Younger, the military commander who fiercely opposed it. The conversation covers the critical Battle of Tzompancingo, the Tlaxcalan council's debates, the role of La Malinche as interpreter, and the profound consequences for Tlaxcala: exemption from direct Spanish rule but eventual erosion of their autonomy. We also touch on the Lienzo de Tlaxcala, a pictorial codex that proudly depicts Tlaxcalan participation in the conquest. This episode sheds light on the indigenous allies who made Cortés's victory possible — and whose own history is often overshadowed. #Tlaxcala #Cortes #AztecEmpire #Mexica #Xicotencatl #Conquistadors #Mesoamerica #LaMalinche #LienzodeTlaxcala #BattleOfTzompancingo #SpanishConquest #IndigenousAllies #Tizatlan #Ocotelolco #History #FexingoHistory #ColonialMexico #Warfare Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

The Chichimeca War: Mexico's Unconquered North

After the fall of Tenochtitlan and the Mixtón rebellion, the Spanish faced an even more intractable enemy: the Chichimeca of the northern deserts. Unlike the settled empires of central Mexico, these nomadic archers refused to be conquered, fought without a central leader, and turned the silver-rich Bajío region into a war zone for over forty years. In this episode, Lucas and Luna examine the Chichimeca War (1550–1590), exploring the brutal counter-insurgency tactics of Viceroy Mendoza, the devastating use of chichimeca archers against the Spanish, the role of the Otomí as frontier allies, and the eventual shift from war to peace through the purchase of food, clothing, and iron tools. They discuss the infamous 'peace by purchase' policy of Viceroy Villamanrique, the founding of Querétaro and San Miguel de Allende as fortified settlements, and the cultural legacy of the Chichimeca as the ancestors of today's northern Mexican identity. #ChichimecaWar #Chichimeca #Otomí #Querétaro #SanMigueldeAllende #Mixtón #NuevaGalicia #NewSpain #SilverRoads #Mesoamerica #Conquistadors #ViceroyMendoza #Bajío #NomadicArchers #PeaceByPurchase #FexingoHistory #History #ColonialMexico Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

The Conquistador Who Burned His Ships

In 1519, Hernán Cortés ordered his own ships scuttled off the coast of Veracruz — a dramatic act that became legend. But did he really burn them? This episode separates fact from myth, exploring what actually happened to the eleven vessels, why Cortés made that choice, and how the story evolved through chroniclers like Bernal Díaz del Castillo and Francisco López de Gómara. We also look at the strategic context: the mutinous faction in Villa Rica de la Veracruz, the Aztec spies watching from the shore, and the psychological impact on Cortés's men. Plus: the physical evidence — anchors, timbers, and cannons recovered from the sea floor near the modern-day port of Veracruz. This is not the old story of burning ships; it's a deeper dive into propaganda, survival, and the making of a myth that still shapes how we remember the Conquest. #HernanCortes #BurningShips #Veracruz #VillaRicaDeLaVeracruz #BernalDiazDelCastillo #FranciscoLopezDeGomara #Conquistadors #SpanishConquest #Mesoamerica #AztecEmpire #Nahuatl #Cempoala #CaciqueGordo #MaritimeArchaeology #MilitaryHistory #Propaganda #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

The Mixton War: Mexico's Bloodiest Revolt

In 1540, a coalition of Indigenous peoples in western Mexico rose up against Spanish rule in a conflict that would become known as the Mixtón War. Led by the Caxcan leader Tenamaztle, the rebellion swept through the provinces of Nueva Galicia, targeting encomiendas, missions, and Spanish settlements. The Spanish response was brutal: Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza personally led an army of conquistadors and Indigenous allies, including Tlaxcalans and Aztecs, to crush the revolt. This episode examines the causes, key battles, and aftermath of the Mixtón War, including the role of the infamous Nuño de Guzmán's earlier atrocities, the use of war dogs, and the legal debates over just war that followed. We also explore the fate of Tenamaztle, who escaped to the mountains and later appealed to the Spanish crown for justice. This is a story of resistance, betrayal, and the violent consolidation of colonial rule in Mexico. #MixtonWar #Tenamaztle #Caxcan #NuevaGalicia #AntonioDeMendoza #NunoDeGuzman #Conquistadors #IndigenousResistance #ColonialMexico #MexicanHistory #WarDogs #JustWar #Encomienda #Tlaxcalan #Aztec #1540 #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

The Siege of Tenochtitlan Begins: Cortés's First Assault

In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into the opening days of the siege of Tenochtitlan in May 1521. They examine Cortés's strategy of cutting off the city's water supply from Chapultepec, the devastating impact of the brigantines on the lake, and the fierce resistance led by Cuauhtémoc. The conversation highlights the role of Tlaxcalan allies, the use of cannons and crossbows, and the gradual encirclement of the Aztec capital. Drawing on Bernal Díaz del Castillo's firsthand account and the Florentine Codex, they explore a moment of high tension: the failed assault on the Tacuba causeway, where the Spanish suffered heavy losses. The episode also touches on the psychological warfare of the Spanish, including the destruction of temples and the relentless pressure on Tenochtitlan's defenders. A brief donation segment supports ad-free history. #Tenochtitlan #Cortés #Cuauhtémoc #Siege1521 #Chapultepec #Brigantines #Tlaxcalan #BernalDíaz #FlorentineCodex #TacubaCauseway #AztecResistance #Mesoamerica #Conquistadors #SpanishConquest #History #FexingoHistory #MilitaryHistory #IndigenousHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]