Battle of Tacuzcalco
Battle of Tacuzcalco | |||||||
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Part of the Spanish conquest of El Salvador | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
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Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Atlácatl | |||||||
Strength | |||||||
| Thousands[1] | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
Unknown | Unknown |
The Battle of Tacuzcalco was a battle on 13 June 1524 fought between a Spanish army under the command of conquistador Pedro de Alvarado and Cuzcatlan fighters under Atlácatl.
Background
[edit]In June 1524, Spanish conquistador Pedro de Alvarado embarked on an expedition into modern day El Salvador with the intention of conquering the land for the Spanish Empire.[2] On 8 June 1524, Alvarado fought and defeated Cuzcatlan fighters under Atlácatl at the Battle of Acajutla.[1]
Battle
[edit]On 13 June 1524, Alvarado engaged Atlácatl in a second battle at Tacuzcalco.[1] Atlácatl's army was larger than the army he commanded at Acajutla and Alvarado stated that seeing the size of Atlácatl's was "terrifying."[1] Following the battle, Alvarado described the outcome as a "great massacre" and "punishment" of the Pipil warriors.[1]
Aftermath
[edit]After the defeat at the hands of the Spanish, the Pipil refused to engage the Spanish in open battle, instead resorting to guerrilla tactics to fight the Spanish.[1] After further campaigning, Alvarado and his men returned to Guatemala in July 1524.[1]
References
[edit]Bibliography
[edit]- Arce, Escalante; Antonio, Pedro (2001). "Los Barrios de los Mexicanos en El Salvador" [The Mexican Neighborhoods in El Salvador]. Los Tlaxcaltecas en Centro América [The Tlaxcaltecas in Central America] (in Spanish) (1 ed.). San Salvador: Dirección de Publicaciones e Impresos and the Consejo Nacional para la Cultura y el Arte. pp. 115–137. OCLC 1036658730.
- Fowler Jr., William R. (1993). "Chapter 11 – The Living Pay for the Dead – Trade, Exploitation, and Social Change in Early Colonization Izalco, El Salvador". In Rogers, J. Daniel; Wilson, Samual M. (eds.). Ethnohistory and Archaeology: Approaches to Postcontact Change in the Americas. New York: Plenum Press. pp. 181–188. ISBN 0-306-44176-4. Retrieved 15 February 2021.