Gonzalo Mazatzin Moctezuma facts for kids
Gonzalo Mazatzin Moctezuma, also known as Don Gonzalo Mazatzin Moctezuma, was an important Native American warrior and leader. He was a noble who helped the Spanish conquer parts of Mexico. He became a governor and his family continued to be powerful for many years.
Early Life and Family
Gonzalo Mazatzin Moctezuma was born into a noble family. This means his family had a high social rank and was respected. Historians are not completely sure if he was the grandson of Moctezuma Xocoyotzin or Moctezuma Ilhuicamina. His mother was named Ilhuicamina Monctezuma.
His son, Don Juan de Monctezuma, and his grandson, Don Joachin de San Francisco y Moctezuma, both became governors after him. They ruled the area of Tepexi de la Seda, which is now Tepexi de Rodríguez in Puebla, Mexico. Local people knew them as the lords and rulers of the region. It is most likely that Gonzalo was related to Moctezuma Ilhuicamina.
A Powerful Warrior
Gonzalo Mazatzin Moctezuma decided to join forces with Spain. He helped Hernan Cortés fight against the Mexica, also known as the Aztecs. He remained loyal to Spain throughout his life.
After the Spanish won, Gonzalo became the Governor of Tepexi de la Seda. He was given the important rank of captain because of his military help. The Spanish called him "Don," which showed that he and his family were respected like Spanish nobles.
According to historical records, Gonzalo sent a messenger to find Cortés. He offered his loyalty to the King of Spain and sent a gift of gold. Cortés, who was in Tepeaca at the time, accepted Gonzalo's offer. They met in Molcaxac, where Gonzalo gave Cortés even more gifts.
Cortés then gave Gonzalo the title of captain. This meant Gonzalo had the right to conquer lands for the Spanish king. Cortés also gave him a Spanish sword and a spear. To seal their agreement, Cortés hugged Gonzalo. This was a very special gesture, as it was not common among native people. Soon after this meeting, Mazatzin became a Christian and took the Christian name Gonzalo.
After Cortés left, Don Gonzalo sent messengers to nearby areas. They announced his new alliance with the Spanish. This made him "very admired and respected" by other leaders. As a captain, he led the conquest of Mixteca Alta. He and his soldiers conquered more than ten cities. His grandson later said that Gonzalo organized and led the native allies.
Lasting Legacy
Gonzalo Mazatzin Moctezuma died around 1525. Spain respected his title and the lands he controlled. His family continued to rule their expanded territory for centuries. They remained loyal to the Spanish Crown.
How We Know About Him
Most of what we know about Don Gonzalo comes from a special document. This document is called a probanza de mérito. It was sent by his grandson, Don Joachim de San Francisco y Moctezuma, to the King of Spain. This was a formal request for new privileges, like not having to pay taxes for his entire city. He asked for these rewards because of his grandfather's help during the Spanish conquest.
Don Joachim's story was supported by 49 witnesses. Thirty of these witnesses were old enough to have lived through the events. This document, along with others related to his request, can be found in the Archivo General de Indias in Seville, Spain.
Some historians wonder how much Don Gonzalo really helped the Spanish. Probanzas de mérito documents were meant to convince a judge, so they sometimes made things sound better than they were. However, Don Joachim's claims about his grandfather's conquests help fill in missing parts of the story about the conquest of Puebla and Mixteca Alta. Spanish records often did not name their native allies. They usually just mentioned "large numbers" of "Indian-friends." Other old pictures and documents also show that Don Gonzalo's family had important positions and special rights.
