Following the taking of
Tenochtitlan, in which 20,000 Tlaxcaltecans participated, on opening his
campaign in Panuco in March 1522, Cortes depended upon the support, not only
ofTlaxcaltecas, but also of new Texcocan and Mexica allies, the majority of
whom were armed with their traditional bows and arrows, arm shields, quilted
cotton armor, and terrible macanas, however some had Castilian
equipment, horses, and held titles of don and captain. (Michael Mathes, “Non-Traditional
Armies in New Spain during the Habsburg Viceroyalties and their Service in
Explanatory Expeditions,” Terrae Incognitae: The Journal of the Society for
the History of Discoveries 35, no. 1 [2003]: 24, emphasis in bold added)
