"THE Spanish conquest of America would have been impossible without the willful collabo ration of Indian allies, massively recruited from an early stage as warriors, guides, scouts, and interpreters." This chapter is centered on Otomí... more
"THE Spanish conquest of America would have been impossible without the willful collabo ration of Indian allies, massively recruited from an early stage as warriors, guides, scouts, and interpreters." This chapter is centered on Otomí allies in northern New Spain and provides an overview of twentieth century historiography on Indian allies in this viceroyalty. It also discusses specific instances of Nahuas and Purépechas who took part in conquest campaigns and performed as border colonists. It argues that besides the privileges and material benefits they obtained, or the threats of Spanish authorities and encomenderos, the Indians' motivations to get involved in conquest and colonizing campaigns alongside Spanish individuals were also determined by local and regional articulations of native politics that predated the arrival of Europeans.
