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The Spanish Entrada into Yucatán: Montejo's Forgotten War
Season 1
Episode 43
Published 1 month ago
Description
While Cortés toppled Tenochtitlan, a far bloodier and more stubborn conquest unfolded in the Yucatán Peninsula. This episode follows Francisco de Montejo and his son, Montejo el Mozo, as they faced the Maya — a decentralized, jungle-adapted people who resisted Spanish rule for over twenty years. We explore the brutal tactics of Montejo, the role of Maya alliances and betrayals, the legend of the Talking Cross that sparked the Caste War centuries later, and the environmental challenges of conquering a land without gold. Along the way, we meet the Xiu and Cocom families, the fortified city of T'Hó (modern Mérida), and the tragic story of Nachi Cocom. It's a tale of greed, resilience, and the limits of Spanish power in the Americas.