Chapter VI
Cortes’ March to Tlaxcala—Battle and Defeat of the Tlaxcalans—Montezuma’s Messengers
The little army set out from Zempoala August 16, 1519. Nothing of consequence marked the first day’s march. Their way led through the territory of their ally, the cacique. They met with a friendly reception and hospitable treatment. At last they came to the borders of the mountainous country of Tlaxcala.[6] The natives of this region surpassed all the other Americans in extraordinary courage and especially in their love of freedom. They had bravely thrown off the Mexican yoke and for a long time maintained a republic. The country sent its representatives to Tlaxcala, the capital, and these representatives, or chiefs, in assembly, constituted the tribal council and law-making power of the whole nation. Their form of government was also an aristocratic one. Pride and love of liberty, courage and a warlike disposition were the chief characteristics of this small but formidable people. Montezuma had vainly tried to subdue them and to induce bold and imperious spirits among them to usurp authority. They stoutly maintained liberty, that noblest blessing of humanity, against every assault, and remained invincible. Cortes would have rejoiced to secure such a people for his allies and decided therefore, as soon as he reached their borders, to send a friendly embassy, after the Indian manner, accompanied with all the customary ceremony.
Four of the leading Zempoalans were selected for this duty, and Marina undertook to deliver a stately address to the Tlaxcalans, which she had to learn by heart. They were arrayed in the following manner: They put on long cloaks of a woollen material. Upon the left arm they carried a great shell in place of a shield, and in the right hand an arrow with white feathers, the tip of which was bent downward. This was a symbol of friendliness. An arrow with red feathers would have meant war. Thus equipped, they set out without fear, confident no harm would come to them, but at the same time taking the precaution not to leave the highroad, because there alone would their dress protect them.
As soon as the four messengers reached Tlaxcala they were conducted to a building specially fitted up with everything necessary for an audience. On the following day they were requested by the Council, which was in session, to deliver their message. The assembled members, on account of their age, sat upon low seats, made of some rare wood. With the utmost reverence, manifested by covering their heads with their cloaks, the messengers advanced, holding their arrows aloft, and the councillors rose slightly from their seats. They then bowed in their peculiar manner and with measured steps advanced to the centre of the apartment and sank upon their knees, and with downcast eyes awaited permission to speak. When this had been granted, they sat cross-legged and Marina began her address:
“Noble republic! Brave and mighty people! Your friends and allies, the caciques of Zempoala and the mountains, send you greeting and wish for you rich harvests and the downfall of your enemies. Next they send you word that an extraordinary people have come to our country from the sunrise land. They seem more like gods than men. They have come across the sea in great palaces and carry in their hands for weapons the thunder and lightning of heaven. According to their statements they are servants of a higher God than ours, who cannot endure tyranny or human sacrifice. Their leader is the messenger of a very mighty monarch, who is bound by the dictates of his religion to redress the grievances and persecutions we have suffered from Montezuma. This leader has freed us already. It is now necessary that he should make his way through your country to Mexico, and he wishes to know in what manner this tyrant has persecuted you so that he may defend your rights, as well as his own, and settle other matters connected with his journey. He comes also with friendly intentions and desires nothing more from you than a free passage through your country. You may be sure he seeks only your own advantage, that his weapons are the instruments of justice, and that those who bear them are by nature peace-loving and will never use their strength except against those who first offend or attack them.”
At the conclusion of the address the messengers rose to their knees, made a low bow in that posture, reseated themselves cross-legged, and awaited an answer. The councillors replied at first in an informal way that they were grateful for the information brought to them. They would consider Cortes’ request and give a definite answer later. Thereupon they dismissed the messengers and began the consideration. Opinions were divided. Some were for peace, others for war. The leader of the war party was Xikotenkatl, a young, bold, impetuous man, who was only too glad of an opportunity to draw his sword. His party was in the majority and it was decided that the messengers should be detained upon various pretences, while they were making the necessary war preparations. Eight days thus passed, and at last Cortes as well as his allies began to have misgivings as to the cause of the delay. It was finally decided to move forward and ascertain what had become of the messengers and their mission. The Spaniards had not gone far before they encountered a troop of armed natives who offered a stubborn resistance. A battle ensued which ended disastrously for the natives, while the Spaniards, protected by their armor, received only a few trifling wounds, though the enemy outnumbered them ten to one.
After this first victory Cortes continued advancing inland, and on the following day had the satisfaction of seeing two of his messengers approaching in the company of some Tlaxcalans. The latter placed the responsibility for the attack of the day before upon their allies, the Otomis, who had begun hostilities upon their own account and had been punished by the loss of their bravest leader. After this brief apology they took themselves off without making any definite statement of their intentions. In the meantime their mysterious conduct was soon explained, for, on the next day, as the Spaniards advanced nearer Tlaxcala, the other two messengers met them in a mournful plight. They fell at Cortes’ feet weeping, embraced his knees, and with piteous gestures affirmed that the treacherous Tlaxcalans had violated the sacred right of nations and had bound them with chains to be sacrificed to their deities. In the meantime they had succeeded in freeing themselves in the night, but they were confident that the Tlaxcalans were planning to sacrifice the entire Spanish army. Cortes now knew what to expect and resolved to face the danger, however great it might be. He advanced at once and before long saw a countless multitude of armed Tlaxcalans and their auxiliaries with the fierce Xikotenkatl at their head. The battle which ensued was a savage one, and a slight disaster nearly involved the destruction of Cortes’ whole force. A Spanish cavalryman dashed so far into the dense ranks of the enemy that he was surrounded on all sides. He received several wounds, and his horse was pierced so often that it fell dead. The Indians cut off the animal’s head, stuck it upon a spear, and carried it about triumphantly so that all might see the monster was not invulnerable, as they had believed, but was really dead.
This event inspired the Indians with indescribable courage, and they now fought with a fury which the Spaniards could no longer withstand. At the instant when their utter destruction seemed inevitable, to their great astonishment the fierce battle cries of the natives suddenly ceased, and hostilities came to an end. They heard the horns sounding for retreat and beheld the whole great army of the enemy quietly withdrawing for some mysterious reason. This was done, the prisoners afterward stated, because their foremost people had fallen, and their places could not be filled at once. Meanwhile they regarded the horse’s head as their greatest trophy. Xikotenkatl carried it off himself and sent it to the Council.
Cortes thereupon intrenched himself in a convenient place and attempted once more to induce the Tlaxcalans to come to a peaceful agreement. He despatched some of the prisoners to make offers of peace as well as to warn them of the dreadful consequences they might expect in case they continued hostilities. Xikotenkatl was so furious at his offers that he mutilated the messengers shamefully and drove them back to the Spanish camp to notify the general that he would appear the next morning with a countless force, capture his entire army, and sacrifice it to his deities. The news was not very consoling, but it was accompanied by something that considerably sweetened its bitterness. Xikotenkatl at the same time sent three hundred Indian fowls and a great quantity of other provisions so as to get the enemy in good condition before he slaughtered them. The Spaniards laughed at his bombastic folly and relished the gifts which gave them fresh strength for the morrow’s struggle. Xikotenkatl was as good as his word. He appeared at daybreak with a multitude of warriors, and the battle began anew with extraordinary fury on both sides. The issue for a long time seemed in doubt, but at last European skill prevailed in spite of the hordes of the enemy and their desperate courage. The Tlaxcalans gave way, and the Spaniards held the field.
But even this third defeat failed completely to daunt these warlike people. They were now more than ever convinced that the Europeans, all and every one of them, were wizards who could not be vanquished in the usual way and that the magic of their enemies must be thwarted by the arts of their own magicians. They had some priestly impostors who told them that with their spells they could see into the future and perform divers feats surpassing human power. They were called into Council and offered the following advice: The Spaniards are the Children of the Sun. By day their mother strengthens them with her rays and they are invincible. But at night, when the sun loses her maternal influence, their superhuman power disappears and they are no stronger than ordinary beings.