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The Mixtón War: Indigenous Uprising in Nueva Galicia
Description
In 1540, just years after the fall of Tenochtitlan, a massive indigenous rebellion erupted in Nueva Galicia—northwest Mexico. The Mixtón War pitted the Caxcan people and their allies against the Spanish empire. This episode explores the roots of the conflict: slaving raids, forced labor, and the violent imposition of encomiendas. We follow the revolt's leader, Tenamaxtli, and the brutal Spanish response led by viceroy Antonio de Mendoza and the infamous conquistador Pedro de Alvarado, who met his end during the campaign. We examine the siege of the Mixtón fortress, the role of Tlaxcalan auxiliaries fighting alongside Spaniards, and how the war reshaped colonial policy, leading to stricter controls on indigenous slavery. The episode also touches on the legacy of the rebellion in Mexican memory and the contested narratives of resistance and collaboration.