The Mixton War, the origin of the 16th century Chichimecan War

Abstract

After the domination of the Mexica Empire, Hernán Cortés wished to obtain more wealth from the northern territory, the "Gran Chichimeca", which encompassed several states of the Bajio and northern Mexico. For this reason Cortés ordered an expedition commanded by Nuño Beltrán de Guzmán, who colonized and carried out several massacres due to the warlike nature of the Chichimecan people. The first rebellion was the war of the Mixton during 1541 and 1542 due to the mistreatment of the indigenous people by the Spaniards, which represented the beginning of the fifty years of resistance to the Spanish yoke. The main scenes of the war were: Nochistlán, Teocaltiche, Jalpa and Juchipila.