Cuzcatlan

The people of Cuzcatan came to be called Pipiles in the historical chronicles, a term that today is usually translated as "boys" or less likely as "young nobles." This was due to the perception of the Central Nahuatl-speaking Tlaxcala and Mexica allies of the Spanish that the Nahuas of Cuzcatan were speaking a corrupted version of their language in those regions. An alternative theory is that it meant "nobles," from the Nahuas social class "Pipiltin" and the Nawat Pipil origin story that they are descendants of Nanahuatzin.

Etymology

The name Kuskatan (place of jewel necklaces) possibly comes from the Náwat words "kuskat" (necklace) and Kuzti (jewel) meaning "jewel necklace", and "tan", meaning "among/in/near/place of/with.". In Nahuatl its cognate term is Cuzcat(l)an.^[1]

Origins

• Cuzcatlán
• Izalco
• Panchimalco
• Apaneca
• Ahuachapán
• Guacotecti
• Ixtepetl
• Apastepeque
• Tehuacán
• Metapan

The Lordship did not form a unified political system and were at first independent, and were obligated to pay tribute/taxes to the

There were many Lords of Cuzcatan; most have been forgotten with time, but historical writings by Spanish chroniclers, including Domingo Juarros, mention some that may have existed:^[2]

• Cuachimicín: Governed before the Spanish conquest, he was overthrown and executed by the priests.
• Tutecotzimit: Successor of the previous one, restored the hereditary system.
• Pilguanzimit
• Atunal Tut of Izalco, Atecozol: He is said to have won the Battle of Acajutla
  that took place during first contact with Pedro De Alvarado and his tribal allies, wounding Alvarado with Atunal's lance.
• Atlácatl or Atacat: He is said to have killed off many of Diego de Alvarado's horses and horsemen during the last stand for Cuzcatlan at the Cinacantan stone masonry fort.

Over time, a legend developed that the last leader of Cuzcatan was named Atacat,^[3] some authors say this is a mistake originating from a misreading of a few Spanish accounts. Historical accounts of the Annals of the Cakchiquels called the Pipil coastal people Panatacat (place of the water man); this could have been a name or a title for a person as well. After the collapse of the Nawat standing warriors in the first two battles with Alvarado's forces, Alvarado entered the capital of Cuzcatan without resistance. Initially the people had to accept this conquest, offering gifts and service. Alvarado then enslaved those Nawat Pipil that they could capture. The Lenca people in the eastern zone maintained a guerrilla resistance for a further decade with Lord Lempira.

Warrior Society

Warrior service was obligatory for men from about age 15 or 20 until they were unable to serve due to age. The warrior's attire consisted of a breastplate, a corselete or vest (made of cotton) and a mashte (species of loin cloth) and each painted their faces and bodies with unique colored abstract shapes and forms. The warriors were organized in teams or platoons bearing distinctive names, such as:

• The Jaguars
• The Eagles
• The Brave Owls

The warriors of Cuzcatan had a variety of weapons, most made of wood and volcanic rock shards. Pedro de Alvarado reported that they also wore thick cotton armor, which were evidently designed to repel the caliber of throwing weapons they themselves had (see list below) as it could not repel Spanish lances. So heavy was this cotton when it became wet, Alvarado reported, that the Nahuat soldiers could not rise from the ground when thrown down. No pictorial depiction of this armor has survived. Some of the documented weapons are described below.

• Tecuz (Lance): there were two types, a long spear that according to the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Alvarado it was 6.3 metres (20.6 feet). The second one was a more maneuverable shorter spear.
• Macuáhuit (mallet): made out of strong wood with sharpened obsidian at the end.
• Tahuítul (bow) and Mit (arrows):
• Malacate (disc): Most likely made of sharpened rock and used in the hand-to-hand combat.

Geography

The Lordship of Cuzcatan covered an area of approximately 10,000 km² covering a large part of the central and western areas of present-day El Salvador and covering different varieties of environments with a total of 7 plant formations between the coast and elevations greater than 2,000 meters.

Economy

The economy was based on the barter or exchange of agriculture and handcrafted goods such as multicolored textiles.

Cocoa bean and Indigo dye was a major export crop that was carefully cultivated in the Izalcos area and traded throughout the isthmus. Its production involved the construction of an elaborate irrigation network, parts of which can still be seen today. Cacao served in the region as currency.

Other agricultural products grown by the Pipil were cotton, squash, corn, beans, fruits, balsam, some peppers, and chocolate; but chocolate could only be prepared and served to the ruling class. There was modest mining of gold and silver, although these were not used as currency but as offering to their many gods. Only the priests and the ruling family could use gold and silver as ornaments.

Religion

Through Spanish chroniclers (