Editing Spanish conquest of Yucatán (section)

== Francisco de Montejo and Alonso d' Ávila, 1531–1535 ==
[[Francisco de Montejo|Montejo]] was appointed ''[[Corregidor (position)|alcalde mayor]]'' (a local colonial governor) of [[Tabasco]] in 1529, and pacified that province with the aid of his son, also named [[Francisco de Montejo the Younger|Francisco de Montejo]]. Alonso d' Ávila was sent from eastern [[Yucatán Peninsula|Yucatán]] to conquer [[Acalan]], which extended southeast of the [[Laguna de Terminos]].<ref name="SharerTraxler06p768"/> Montejo the Younger founded Salamanca de Xicalango as a base of operations. In 1530 Ávila established Salamanca de Acalan as a base from which to launch new attempts to conquer Yucatán.<ref name="Quezada11p37">Quezada 2011, p. 37.</ref> Salamanca de Acalan proved a disappointment, with no gold for the taking and with lower levels of population than had been hoped. Ávila soon abandoned the new settlement and set off across the lands of the [[Kejache]] to [[Champotón, Campeche|Champotón]], arriving there towards the end of 1530.<ref>Quezada 2011, pp. 37–38.</ref> During a colonial power struggle in Tabasco, the elder Montejo was imprisoned for a time. Upon his release, he met up with his son in Xicalango, Tabasco, and they then both rejoined Ávila at Champotón.<ref name="SharerTraxler06p768"/>

In 1531, Montejo moved his base of operations to [[Campeche (Campeche)|Campeche]].<ref>Clendinnen 2003, p. 23.<br>Sharer and Traxler 2006, p. 768.</ref> Alonso d' Ávila was sent overland to Chauaca in the east of the peninsula, passing through [[Maní, Yucatán|Maní]], where he was well received by the [[Tutul-Xiu|Xiu Maya]]. Ávila continued southeast to [[Chetumal Province|Chetumal]] where he founded the Spanish town of Villa Real ("Royal Town"). The local [[Maya peoples|Maya]] fiercely resisted the placement of the new Spanish colony and Ávila and his men were forced to abandon Villa Real and make for [[Honduras]] in canoes.<ref name="SharerTraxler06p768"/>

At [[Campeche]], the Maya amassed a strong force and attacked the city; the Spanish were able to fight them off, a battle in which the elder Montejo was almost killed.<ref>Sharer and Traxler 2006, pp. 768–769.</ref> Aj Canul, the lord of the attacking Maya, surrendered to the Spanish. After this battle, the younger Francisco de Montejo was despatched to the northern [[Cupul]] province, where the lord Naabon Cupul reluctantly allowed him to found the Spanish town of Ciudad Real at [[Chichen Itza|Chichén Itzá]]. Montejo carved up the province amongst his soldiers and gave each of his men two to three thousand Maya in ''[[encomienda]]''. After six months of Spanish rule, Cupul dissatisfaction could no longer be contained and Naabon Cupul was killed during a failed attempt to kill Montejo the Younger. The death of their lord only served to inflame Cupul anger and, in mid 1533, they laid siege to the small Spanish garrison at Chichén Itzá. Montejo the Younger abandoned Ciudad Real by night after arranging a distraction for their attackers, and he and his men fled west, where the [[Cheles (chiefdom)|Chel]], [[Ceh Pech|Pech]] and Xiu provinces remained obedient to Spanish rule. Montejo the Younger was received in friendship by Namux Chel, the lord of the Chel province, at Dzilam. In the spring of 1534 he rejoined his father in the [[Chakán Putum|Chakan]] province at Dzikabal, near Tʼho (the modern city of [[Mérida, Yucatán|Mérida]]).<ref name="SharerTraxler06p769">Sharer and Traxler 2006, p. 769.</ref>

While his son had been attempting to consolidate the Spanish control of [[Cupul]], [[Francisco de Montejo|Francisco de Montejo the Elder]] had met the Xiu ruler at [[Maní, Yucatán|Maní]]. The Xiu Maya maintained their friendship with the Spanish throughout the conquest and Spanish authority was eventually established over [[Yucatán Peninsula|Yucatán]] in large part due to Xiu support. The Montejos, after reuniting at Dzikabal, founded a new Spanish town at Dzilam, although the Spanish suffered hardships there.<ref name="SharerTraxler06p769"/> Montejo the Elder returned to [[Campeche City|Campeche]], where he was received with friendship by the local Maya. He was accompanied by the friendly [[Cheles (chiefdom)|Chel]] lord Namux Chel, who travelled on horseback, and two of the lord's cousins, who were taken in chains.<ref>Sharer and Traxler 2006, pp. 769–770.</ref> [[Francisco de Montejo the Younger]] remained behind in Dzilam to continue his attempts at conquest of the region but, finding the situation too difficult, he soon retreated to Campeche to rejoin his father and Alonso d' Ávila, who had returned to Campeche shortly before Montejo the Younger. Around this time, the news began to arrive of [[Francisco Pizarro]]'s conquests in [[Peru]] and the rich plunder that his soldiers were taking there, undermining the morale of Montejo's already disenchanted band of followers. Montejo's soldiers began to abandon him to seek their fortune elsewhere; in seven years of attempted conquest in the northern provinces of the Yucatán Peninsula, very little gold had been found. Towards the end of 1534 or the beginning of the next year, Montejo the Elder and his son retreated from [[Campeche City|Campeche]] to [[Veracruz (city)|Veracruz]], taking their remaining soldiers with them.<ref name="SharerTraxler06p770">Sharer and Traxler 2006, p. 770.</ref>

Montejo the Elder became embroiled in colonial infighting over the right to rule [[Honduras]], a claim that put him in conflict with [[Pedro de Alvarado]], captain general of [[Guatemala]], who also claimed Honduras as part of his jurisdiction. Alvarado's claim ultimately turned out successful. In Montejo the Elder's absence, first in central [[Mexico]], and then in Honduras, Montejo the Younger acted as lieutenant governor and captain general in [[Tabasco]].<ref name="SharerTraxler06p770"/>

=== Conflict at Champotón ===
The Franciscan [[friar]] [[Jacobo de Testera]] arrived in [[Champotón, Campeche|Champotón]] in 1535 to attempt the peaceful incorporation of [[Yucatán Peninsula|Yucatán]] into the [[Spanish Empire]]. Testera had been assured by the Spanish authorities that no military activity would be undertaken in Yucatán, while he was attempting its conversion to the Roman Catholic faith, and that no soldiers would be permitted to enter the peninsula. His initial efforts were proving successful when Captain Lorenzo de Godoy arrived in Champotón at the command of soldiers despatched there by [[Francisco de Montejo the Younger|Montejo the Younger]]. Godoy and Testera were soon in conflict and the friar was forced to abandon Champotón and return to central Mexico.<ref name="SharerTraxler06p770"/>

Godoy's attempt to subdue the [[Maya peoples|Maya]] around [[Champotón, Campeche|Champotón]] was unsuccessful and the local [[Kowoj|Kowoj Maya]] resisted his attempts to assert Spanish dominance of the region.<ref>Sharer and Traxler 2006, pp. 770–771.</ref> This resistance was sufficiently tenacious that Montejo the Younger sent his cousin from [[Tabasco]] to Champotón to take command. His diplomatic overtures to the Champotón Kowoj were successful and they submitted to Spanish rule. Champotón was the last Spanish outpost in the [[Yucatán Peninsula]]; it was increasingly isolated and the situation there became difficult.<ref name="SharerTraxler06p771">Sharer and Traxler 2006, p. 771.</ref>