Battle of Otumba

Coordinates: 19°41′49″N 98°45′17″W / 19.6969°N 98.7547°W / 19.6969; -98.7547
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Battle of Otumba
Part of the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire

The Battle of Otumba
Date7 July 1520 (Julian calendar date)
Location
The plain of Otumba, modern-day Mexico
Result Spanish-Tlaxcalan victory
Belligerents
Spanish Empire
Confederacy of Tlaxcala		 Aztec Triple Alliance
Commanders and leaders
Hernán Cortés Matlatzincatl †
Strength

Spanish Army:

  • 600 soldiers
  • 13 mounted infantry
  • 12 crossbowmen
  • 7 arquebusiers
  • No artillery

Tlaxcala Army:

10,000–20,000 Aztec warriors
Casualties and losses
60–70 Spanish dead, unknown Tlaxcalan losses Unknown

The Battle of Otumba was fought between the Aztec and allied forces led by the Cihuacoatl Matlatzincátzin and those of

Conquest of the Aztec Empire. The result of the battle was a victory for the Spanish, which allowed Cortés to reorganize his army, having suffered casualties a few days before in the episode known as La Noche Triste. A year later, by reinforcing his army with new men and supplies, and creating alliances with the indigenous peoples who had been subjugated by the Aztec, Cortés managed to besiege and conquer Tenochtitlan
.

Background

Around the end of March 1519, Hernán Cortés landed with a Spanish conquistador force at Potonchán on the coast of modern-day Mexico.[2] Cortés had been commissioned by Governor Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar of Spanish-controlled Cuba to lead an expedition in the area,[3] which was dominated by the Aztec Empire.[4] At the last moment, though, Velázquez revoked Cortés's commission, but he decided to launch his expedition regardless.

Through a combination of raw force and political maneuvering, Cortés was able to secure the allegiance of the

Totonacs and the Tlaxcaltec (subjugated enemies of the Aztec empire) among other groups during his advance on the Empire's main settlement, Tenochtitlan.[5] In November, a Spanish force entered the city and was greeted by its ruler, Moctezuma II.[6]

Initially, the conquistadors were treated well by the Aztecs whilst they stayed in the city,

skirmishers, and the Aztec leadership resolved to eliminate them as they withdrew.[8]

Battle

After being beleaguered on the causeway leading out of the city, the surviving Spanish forces arrived at the plain of Otumba, where they encountered a vast Aztec army. Despite their opponents' exhaustion and hunger, the Aztecs failed to capitalize on their numerical superiority by not attacking right away. [9]

According to conquistador Bernal Díaz del Castillo's account of the events, it was the Castilian cavalry that was decisive for victory in the perilous battle. The Aztecs regarded the Spaniards as already defeated, and were looking to gain glory from capturing live Spaniards to sacrifice to their gods. The Castilian cavalry spearheaded the attack, breaking through the ranks and decimating the Aztec lines, preparing them for the assault of the Castilian rodeleros and Tlaxcalan infantry. Though this approach was successful, the sheer numbers of the Aztecs still managed to overwhelm the Castilians.

The Aztecs, meanwhile, had not encountered Castilians in battle, despite their long exposure to them during the Spaniards' time in Tenochtitlan. They were unfamiliar with the use of troops mounted on horses as shock troops and were taken aback when mounted Spanish soldiers continually charged at them. For all of their numbers, they were unprepared to endure cavalry charges.[9]: 303–305 

Spanish success was also thanks to Cortés' strategy; he had instructed his troops to strike primarily at the captains and leaders of their opponent. Cortés himself recognized the Aztec leader Matlatzincatl for his rich armor, headdress, and flag. He correctly assumed that defeating their leader and capturing their flag would result in the defeat of the Aztecs. He communicated his idea to his captains and led a charge for Matlatzincatl, followed by Gonzalo de Sandoval, Pedro de Alvarado, Cristóbal de Olid, Juan de Salamanca, and Alonso Dávila. Cortés attacked the Aztec leader with his lance, and the rest of his captains broke the ranks of the warriors around him. Matlatzincatl was slain by Juan de Salamanca, who retrieved the Aztec battle-standard and delivered it to Cortés. With their leader slain, the Aztec force diminished gradually, and the Tlaxcalan and Castilian warriors routed them.

Aftermath

With this victory, the Spanish conquistadors were able to reach the safe haven of Tlaxcala, regroup, and gather their strength for an eventual counter-attack deep into the Aztec territory, which would result in the Fall of Tenochtitlan and the foundation of New Spain.

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ Díaz del Castillo, chapter CXXVIII
  2. ^ The Spanish Invasion of Mexico 1519–1521. p. 31.
  3. ^ The Spanish Invasion of Mexico 1519–1521. p. 12.
  4. ^ The Spanish Invasion of Mexico 1519–1521. p. 13.
  5. ^ The Spanish Invasion of Mexico 1519–1521. p. 35.
  6. ^ The Spanish Invasion of Mexico 1519–1521. p. 44.
  7. ^ The Spanish Invasion of Mexico 1519–1521. p. 45.
  8. ^ a b The Spanish Invasion of Mexico 1519–1521. p. 53.
  9. ^
    ISBN 0140441239

Sources

19°41′49″N 98°45′17″W / 19.6969°N 98.7547°W / 19.6969; -98.7547

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