Tlaxcala and the Alliance
The initial encounters between the Spanish and the Tlaxcaltecs were violent, with neither side gaining a decisive advantage. Eventually, diplomacy prevailed and they forged a mutually beneficial alliance. The Tlaxcaltec lords accepted Christianity, and the Spanish offered the opportunity to jointly confront the empire that had long oppressed them—the Triple Alliance, composed of the city-states of Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlacopan.

The Tlaxcaltecs and the Spanish Conquest
The Tlaxcaltecs took part in the conquest of Mexico-Tenochtitlan and later accompanied the Spanish in campaigns against other Mesoamerican peoples. To win their support, the Spanish promised noble titles to their new allies. Historical documents like the "Lienzo" and the "Relación Geográfica de Tlaxcala" record the military aid provided by the Tlaxcaltecs and the many regions where they left both a physical and cultural legacy.