Why was it Spain, not Tlaxcala, that dominated over Mesoamerica despite the Tlaxcaltecs being the major force in the conquest of Tenochtitlan?
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When Cortez was fighting the Aztecs, there was a rough, three way balance of power, between the Aztecs, the Tlaxcalans, and the Spaniards. The Aztecs lost because they were on the wrong "side" of a three-way fight, and were pretty much destroyed. That left the Spaniards and the Tlaxcalans as "equals" for the time being.
But afterward, the Spanish sent reinforcement of men, and particularly artillery, from Cuba. With these reinforcements, the Spaniards were stronger than the Tlaxcalans, whom they treated as "junior partners."
In the subsequent fighting e.g. in Central America, the Tlaxcalans were "allied" with the Spanish against other native peoples. More to the point, the Tlaxcalans did not receive "reinforcements" by making common cause with those other native people vis-a-vis the Spanish.
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Tlaxcala was strong enough to be independent of Tenochtitlan and the Triple Alliance, while combating them in the regular "flower wars" which provided sacrificial victims and opportunities for valor. However, unlike the Mexica state, Tlaxcala was not attempting to expand.
As Cortés moved inland, he chose to go through Tlaxcala instead of Cholula at least in part because the latter was a Mexica subject. In Tlaxcala the Spaniards won two battles and successfully defended themselves against a nighttime attack. Tlaxcalan caciques were forced to agree to provide Cortes with soldiers, women, and food. The Tlaxcalans had been able to stay free of the Mexica, but they became subjects of Spain. The nearly contemporary Lienzo de Tlaxcala includes this image of Tlaxcalan King Xicotencatl the Elder receiving Cortés and Malinche as they contemplate their assault on Tenochtitlan:
Possibly related to its role as the first native force allied with Spain, Tlaxcala became the seat of Mexico's first bishopric. Some Tlaxcalans were later settlers in the Gran Chichimeca.
Sources: The Forging of the Cosmic Race (MacLachlan & Rodriguez O.); The Discovery and Conquest of Mexico (Diaz del Castillo)
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