History glossary
The Tlaxcalans
the people of Tlaxcala, an independent confederacy that became a decisive ally of Cortes against Tenochtitlan.
- Category
- Historical group
- Region
- Mesoamerica
- Date range
- 15th-16th centuries
What it means
The Tlaxcalans were the people of Tlaxcala, an independent confederacy east of the Valley of Mexico. Long hostility with the Triple Alliance helped lead them into alliance with Hernan Cortes, and Tlaxcalan warriors played a decisive role in the siege of Tenochtitlan.
