La Maquinaria de Guerra TLAXCALTECA

How did Tlaxcala manage to resist the expansion of the Aztec Empire for decades? How many soldiers could the Tlaxcalans actually mobilize? Were the figures of hundreds of thousands of warriors found in the chronicles of the conquest accurate? In this second episode of the series on Tlaxcala and the conquest of Mexico, we analyze the Tlaxcalan military machine: the size of its army, its internal organization, the hierarchy of command, its weaponry, its combat tactics, and the complex logistics that allowed the confederation to remain independent until the arrival of Hernán Cortés. Using 16th-century sources and modern studies, we explore the actual size of the Tlaxcalan army, how warriors were recruited, the roles of the tecuhtli and tlahtoque, and how the battle squadrons functioned. We also analyze the Mexica siege of 1517, the differences between the Flower Wars and the wars of conquest, as well as the offensive and defensive strategies employed by the Nahua armies. In addition, you will learn about the role of the tamemes, messengers, engineers, and artisans who made possible the functioning of one of the most efficient military systems in 16th-century Mesoamerica. Table of Contents 00:00 Introduction 00:52 The Size of the Tlaxcalan Army 02:16 Statistical Method 04:30 Documentary Method 06:35 A Fragmented Power 09:17 Warfare in the Mesoamerican World 11:08 The Siege of Tlaxcala of 1517 13:59 The Tlaxcalan Military Hierarchy 17:58 Equipment and Armament 20:22 Tlaxcalan Military Strategies: Attack 24:20 Tlaxcalan Military Strategies: Defense 25:36 Tlaxcalan Military Strategies: Logistics Sources and Bibliography Cited • Diego Muñoz Camargo, Description of the City and Province of Tlaxcala. • Ángel García Cook, Tlaxcala upon the Arrival of the Spanish According to Archaeological Evidence. • Lawrence H. Keeley, War Before Civilization: The Myth of the Peaceful Savage. • Laura E. Matthew, Memoirs of Conquest. Follow me on social media and support the project If you enjoy content about the history of Tlaxcala, Mesoamerica, and the conquest of Mexico, please consider subscribing to the channel and turning on notifications. You can also support the project through Facebook subscriptions and YouTube memberships to access exclusive content, reading groups, and the La Conquistadora Archive.