Indigenous Conquistadors in the Conquest of Mesoamerica: A Thread

An enduring alliance evolved between the Spaniards and the Tlaxcalteca (a predominantly Nahuatl-speaking indigenous state in modern-day Mexico) that lasted well into the 18th century.
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The Tlaxcalteca were allies of Hernán Cortés and the Spanish conquistadors. They were instrumental in the invasion of Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec (Mexica) empire, helping the Spanish reach the Valley of Anahuac and making up the majority of the invasion force.
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Due to their alliance with the Spanish Crown in the conquest of Mexico, the Tlaxcalteca enjoyed some privileges that were rare among the indigenous peoples of Mexico, including the right to carry guns, ride horses, hold noble titles, and to rule their settlements autonomously.
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The use of the Habsburg coat of arms was granted to the Tlaxcalteca in 1535 by Charles V.
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Did you catch that? There were indigenous Nahuatl-speaking peoples in Mexico fighting with the conquistadors and using the Habsburg coat of arms! It's so crazy.
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And the Tlaxcalteca weren't the only ones...

Here's the Habsburg coat of arms incorporated into the glyph for Quauhquechollan in the Lienzo de Quauhquechollan.

The Spanish-Quauhquecholteca alliance is, unfortunately, much less documented.
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From Cortés' letters we know the Quauhquecholteca declared loyalty to the Spanish crown in 1520. They also assisted in the subjugation of the Mexica to Spanish rule. They conquered the Chichimec and then set out to Guatemala in 1527 to fight under Jorge de Alvarado's banner.
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In the Yllañes copy of the Lienzo de Tlaxcala, the Habsburg coat of arms emblem consists of a double-headed eagle with a European-shaped illustrated shield inside, a crown on top, and two pillars of Hercules at its sides with the words "plus ultra" which Charles V added.
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Check out the full images of the Lienzo de Quauhquechollan and the Lienzo de Tlaxcala with the Habsburg coat of arms represented on both.
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Africans were also present from the beginning of the conquest and are represented in the Lienzo de Quauhquechollan, the allies' vision of the Spanish conquest. This image shows the route taken by the Quauhquecholtecas under Jorge de Alvarado, during the conquest of Guatemala.
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Can I also say that this indigenous conquistador illustration reminds me of Where The Wild Things Are...

It's unrelated, but I feel it's relevant.
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Like many before them, and others after, the Quauhquecholteca saw the arrival of the Spanish as an opportunity to get rid of the control of their oppressors (the Mexica). They took the opportunity to join other Spanish conquests, and thus, acquired the status of conquerors.
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Indigenous and black conquistadors are almost always left out of textbooks. This is why I teach about them in my classes.

In a review of 12 public school textbooks, indigenous and black conquistadors were not mentioned once.
13/ https://twitter.com/saruwine/status/1314860646857682945

Look at the Wikipedia page for the Battle of Cajamarca (Spanish conquest of the Inca).

It says the conquistadors had ONLY 106 infantry and 62 calvary.

Casualties: 0 dead. 1 wounded.

No mention of slaves or indigenous allies — the battle was fought by 168 Spaniards only.
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Yet multiple mentions by the Spaniards of slaves make them apparent.

The Spanish mention sustaining one casualty in the battle to capture Atahualpa, which was the death of a black, unnamed slave.

Why does Wikipedia say zero casualties?!
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The battles of the Spanish conquest were not solely fought by Europeans.

Black slaves go virtually unnamed and unrecognized.

Black men like Juan Garrido, a slave from the Kingdom of Kongo, who gained wealth & recognition from his conquests in Mexico, are not mentioned.
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The Spanish employed several black conquistadors in the Battle of Cajamarca.

Records indicate that two black soldiers were present in Pizarro’s Peruvian conquest.

The first was a horseman by the name of Miguel Ruiz, originating from Seville, Spain.
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A second black conquistador was Juan Garcia Pregonero.

He is referred to multiple times as "negro", but most likely did not have full African ancestry.

Typically, the only black conquistadors that are named by the Spaniards are “mulatto/loro” (mixed ancestry).
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In 1537, part of the population of the roughly 10,000 Africans already residing in Mexico City allegedly plotted a slave revolt and crowned a rebel black king.

The slave monarch, along with other black leaders, were publicly executed.

...but textbooks don’t mention it.
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