Capturing Warfare

Quauhquecholteca messengers met with Hernán Cortés to declare allegiance with the Spanish if Cortés would help them against the Mexica.  The Mexica were defeated at Quauhquechollan in 1520 and  the Spanish- Quauhquecholteca alliance was established.

Cortés sent Pedro de Alvarado to Guatemala in December 1523 to subject the area to Spanish rule.  Accompanying Alvarado were many Spanish soldiers (seen at the top of this image), but the bulk of the army was made up of indigenous warriors from Central and Southern Mexico. 

It is now estimated that the army of Jorge de Alvarado that entered Guatemala in 1524 contained thousands of indigenous allies.

Pedro de Alvarado and his army travelled to Guatemala by way of Oaxaca.  Although Pedro de Alvarado conquered many communities in Guatemala during the battles of the 1523-1524 campaign, he did not gain control over the entire country.

In 1526, Pedro de Alvarado went to Spain to report to the King, and he sent his brother Jorge de Alvarado to Guatemala.  In the Spring of 1527, Jorge de Alvarado entered Guatemala with a new Spanish army and 5,000 to 6,000 allies from Central Mexico.  This was one of the largest migrations of Central Mexicans into Guatemala during the conquest period.  There were few Spanish soldiers remaining in Guatemala from the earlier campaign, and the fighting had lessened in intensity.

From 1527 to 1529, Jorge de Alvarado and his Nahua allies were able to conquer most of what is now Guatemala.  The success of the conquest is due in large part to the participation of the indigenous conquistadores from central Mexico who fought alongside the Spaniards.  The indigenous warriors were familiar with the roads, local customs of warfare, and the languages.  In addition, they provided the manpower.