Created by Tlaxcalan artists, the images in the Lienzo de Tlaxcala offer a rare opportunity to view the Spanish conquest of the Aztecs and its aftermath from an Indian perspective. The scene included here shows Malintzin participating in a similar transaction to the one that resulted in her ownership by the Spanish. Cortés sits, armed men at his back. Moctezuma stands, but he, too, is accompanied by warriors. Malintzin is shown as part of the Spanish contingent, but she is leaning toward the Indians. The women and precious objects arrayed below the central figures are a gift from Moctezuma to Cortés. While Moctezuma has not yet been defeated, his gift of precious objects and female slaves signals a desire to avoid, or at least delay, a violent clash between his forces and those of the Spanish. As you examine the image, look for clues about Indian attitudes toward Malintzin. On which of the two sides shown here does she most belong?

Questions to Consider