Tzilacatzin was a

Tlatelolca Tlatelolco ( nci-IPA, Mēxihco-Tlatelōlco, tɬateˈloːɬko, ) (also called Mexico Tlatelolco) was a pre-Columbian altepetl, or city-state, in the Valley of Mexico. Its inhabitants, known as the ''Tlatelolca'', were part of the Mexica, a Nahua ...

warrior. A member of the ''

Otomi The Otomi (; es, Otomí ) are an indigenous people of Mexico inhabiting the central Mexican Plateau (Altiplano) region. The Otomi are an indigenous people of Mexico who inhabit a discontinuous territory in central Mexico. They are linguisticall ...

'' or ''Otontin''

warrior class A warrior is a person specializing in combat or warfare, especially within the context of a tribal or clan-based warrior culture society that recognizes a separate warrior aristocracies, class, or caste. History Warriors seem to have been p ...

, he became famous as a

hero A hero (feminine: heroine) is a real person or a main fictional character who, in the face of danger, combats adversity through feats of ingenuity, courage, or strength. Like other formerly gender-specific terms (like ''actor''), ''her ...

during the fall of Tenochtitlan. In an account that described the

Spaniards Spaniards, or Spanish people, are a Romance ethnic group native to Spain. Within Spain, there are a number of national and regional ethnic identities that reflect the country's complex history, including a number of different languages, both in ...

' entry into Tlatelolco, Tzilacatzin was identified as one of the three brave warriors who led the Tlatelolca side, along with Tzoyectzin and Temoctzin.

Bernardino de Sahagún Bernardino de Sahagún, OFM (; – 5 February 1590) was a Franciscan friar, missionary priest and pioneering ethnographer who participated in the Catholic evangelization of colonial New Spain (now Mexico). Born in Sahagún, Spain, in 1499, ...

's Tlatelolca informants describe that during the siege Spanish brigantines led by Pedro de Alvarado landed on the island where Tlatelolco was situated. Initially the warriors did not dare attack them but Tzilacatzin who was strong of arm killed several Spaniards by throwing stones at them. The Spaniards focused their fire on Tzilacatzin but he cleverly evaded it and proceeded to disguise as a common soldier in order to not attract attention. He was also said to have used different implements to change his appearance such as a hairpiece made of eagle feathers and accessories (e.g. golden earplug, shell necklace, lip pendant). At other times he fought without armor or head protection in order to intimidate the Spaniards with his valor. Later when brigantines landed in the district called Xocotitlan, they were forced to return to the boats and flee by Tzilacatzin and his men. He is also described as one of only three warriors not being fearful when confronted by the Spanish invaders.

"And when they got to Nonoalco, there was fighting and skirmishing; the scene filled with combat and battle. There were deaths on both sides; equal numbers of the Mexica and their enemies were hit. Thus on both sides there were wounded, and the fighting went on day and night. There were only two great warriors who did not hide their faces, who thought nothing of their enemies, who did not place value on their bodies. The first was named Tzoyectzin and the second Temoctzin. A third was the already mentioned Tzilacatzin. When the Spaniards tired, when they were unable to do anything with the Mexica, unable to penetrate them, they went away. They entered heir quartersin very low spirits, their auxiliaries following after them. Temoctzin, and the third Tzilacatzin, who was already mentioned. When the Spaniards saw that night was coming and they were gaining nothing, they returned to their base with their Indian friends."

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References

* * Warriors from the Aztec Empire 16th-century Mexican people Year of birth unknown Year of death unknown 16th-century indigenous people of the Americas {{Mil-hist-stub