S4E164 - The Forgotten Fortress: Quauhquechollan's Alliance Against the Aztecs

While the Tlaxcalans are famous as Cortés's primary indigenous allies, another crucial alliance was forged with the Quauhquecholteca of central Mexico. This episode follows the story of the Quauhquechollan fortress, a hilltop stronghold near modern-day Puebla, whose people suffered under Aztec domination and chose to side with the Spanish. We examine the Quauhquechollan Map, a pictorial manuscript that documents their participation in the conquest of Guatemala, led by Jorge de Alvarado. Lucas and Luna discuss how this alliance shaped the campaign, the motivations of the Quauhquecholteca, and the legacy of indigenous collaboration that extended far beyond the fall o...