6. Why ally with the Spanish?

The alliance between the Spaniards and the Quauhquecholteca as recorded in the Lienzo.

Mexica warriors. The unique back racks helped identify different units in battle. (Codex Mendoza)

A list of towns and the tribute they had to pay to the Mexica. (Codex Mendoza)

Why did the Quauhquecholteca ally with the Spanish, who should have been their enemy?

Prior to the arrival of the Spanish (1519), Quauhquechollan had been the scene of intermittent warfare, until it was finally subdued by the Mexica Empire. Its incorporation into the Mexica Empire meant a loss of wealth and status for the local nobility.

When the lords of Quauhquechollan formed an alliance with the Spanish in 1520, they were looking for the opportunity for advancement. It was a chance to achieve two goals:

to improve their social and political situation in the region through an alliance with a successful army
to be rid of the oppression of the hated Mexica (whose capital of Tenochtitlan is present-day Mexico City)