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The Forgotten Conquistador: Nuño de Guzmán's Reign of Terror
Description
While Cortés and Pizarro are household names, Nuño de Guzmán remains a relatively obscure figure — yet his brutal campaign in western Mexico in the 1530s was arguably even more destructive. This episode digs into Guzmán's slave raids, his foundation of Nueva Galicia, and his systematic enslavement of the Purépecha, Caxcan, and other indigenous groups. We explore the Mixtón War (1540-1542), the largest revolt against Spanish rule in New Spain, and the role of indigenous leader Tenamaxtli. We also examine the controversial trial of Guzmán, who was eventually imprisoned by the Spanish crown for his atrocities. This is a story of unchecked greed, legal gray areas, and the resilience of native peoples that is often overshadowed by the more famous conquests of central Mexico and Peru.