Editing Spanish conquest of Yucatán (section)

==Petén Basin, 1618–1697==
{{Main|Spanish conquest of Petén}}
The [[Petén Basin]] covers an area that is now part of [[Guatemala]]; in colonial times it originally fell under the jurisdiction of the Governor of [[Yucatán Peninsula|Yucatán]], before being transferred to the jurisdiction of the [[Audiencia Real]] of Guatemala in 1703.<ref>Fialko Coxemans 2003, pp. 72–73.</ref> The [[Itzá Kingdom (1194–1697)|Itza kingdom]] centred upon [[Lake Petén Itzá]] had been visited by [[Hernán Cortés]] on his march to [[Honduras]] in 1525.<ref name="Jones00p358"/>

===Early 17th century===
[[File:17th century Spanish routes to Petén flat.gif|thumb|left|alt=Map of the Yucatán Peninsula, jutting northwards from an isthmus running northwest to southeast. The Captaincy General of Yucatán was located in the extreme north of the peninsula. {{lang|es|Mérida}} is to the north, {{lang|es|Campeche}} on the west coast, {{lang|es|Bacalar}} to the east and {{lang|es|Salamanca de Bacalar}} to the southeast, near the east coast. Routes from {{lang|es|Mérida}} and {{lang|es|Campeche}} joined to head southwards towards {{lang|es|Petén}}, at the base of the peninsula. Another route left {{lang|es|Mérida}} to curve towards the east coast and approach {{lang|es|Petén}} from the northeast. The Captaincy General of Guatemala was to the south with its capital at {{lang|es|Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala}}. A number of colonial towns roughly followed a mountain range running east–west, including {{lang|es|Ocosingo}}, {{lang|es|Ciudad Real}}, {{lang|es|Comitán}}, {{lang|es|Ystapalapán}}, {{lang|es|Huehuetenango}}, {{lang|es|Cobán}} and {{lang|es|Cahabón}}. A route left {{lang|es|Cahabón}} eastwards and turned north to {{lang|es|Petén}}. {{lang|es|Petén}} and the surrounding area contained a number of native settlements. Nojpetén was situated on a lake near the centre; a number of settlements were scattered to the south and southwest, including {{lang|es|Dolores del Lacandón}}, Yaxché, {{lang|es|Mopán}}, Ixtanché, Xocolo and Nito. Tipuj was to the east. Chuntuki, Chunpich and Tzuktokʼ were to the north. Sakalum was to the northeast. Battles took place at Sakalum in 1624 and {{lang|es|Nojpetén}} in 1697.|17th century entry routes to Petén]]
Following [[Hernán Cortés|Cortés]]' visit, no Spanish attempted to visit the warlike [[Itza people|Itza]] inhabitants of [[Nojpetén]] for almost a hundred years. In 1618 two [[Franciscans|Franciscan]] friars set out from [[Mérida, Yucatán|Mérida]] on a mission to attempt the peaceful conversion of the still-pagan Itza in central [[Petén Basin|Petén]]. Bartolomé de Fuensalida and Juan de Orbita were accompanied by some Christianised Maya.<ref name="SharerTraxler06p773"/> After an arduous six-month journey the travellers were well received at Nojpetén by the current [[Kan Ekʼ]]. They stayed for some days in an attempt to evangelise the Itza, but the Aj Kan Ekʼ refused to renounce his [[Maya religion]], although he showed interest in the masses held by the Catholic missionaries. Attempts to convert the Itza failed, and the friars left Nojpetén on friendly terms with Kan Ekʼ.<ref name="SharerTraxler06p773">Sharer and Traxler 2006, p. 773.</ref> The friars returned in October 1619, and again Kan Ekʼ welcomed them in a friendly manner, but this time the [[Maya priesthood]] were hostile and the missionaries were expelled without food or water, but survived the journey back to Mérida.<ref name="SharerTraxler06p774">Sharer and Traxler 2006, p. 774.</ref>

In March 1622, the governor of Yucatán, Diego de Cárdenas, ordered Captain Francisco de Mirones y Lezcano to launch an assault upon the [[Itza people|Itza]]; he set out from [[Yucatán Peninsula|Yucatán]] with 20 Spanish soldiers and 80 Mayas from Yucatán.<ref>Sharer and Traxler 2006, p. 774.<br>Jones 1998, p. 46.<br>Chuchiak IV 2005, p. 131.</ref> His expedition was later joined by Franciscan friar Diego Delgado.<ref name="SharerTraxler06p774"/> In May the expedition advanced to [[Sacalum Municipality|Sakalum]], southwest of [[Bacalar]], where there was a lengthy delay while they waited for reinforcements.<ref>Jones 1998, pp. 42, 47.</ref> En route to [[Nojpetén]], Delgado believed that the soldiers' treatment of the Maya was excessively cruel, and he left the expedition to make his own way to Nojpetén with eighty Christianised Maya from [[Tipu, Belize|Tipuj]] in [[Belize]].<ref name="SharerTraxler06p774"/> In the meantime the Itza had learnt of the approaching military expedition and had become hardened against further Spanish missionary attempts.<ref>Chuchiak IV 2005, p. 132.</ref> When Mirones learnt of Delgado's departure, he sent 13 soldiers to persuade him to return or continue as his escort should he refuse. The soldiers caught up with him just before Tipuj, but he was determined to reach Nojpetén.<ref>Means 1917, p. 79.</ref> From Tipuj, Delgado sent a messenger to Kan Ekʼ, asking permission to travel to Nojpetén; the Itza king replied with a promise of safe passage for the missionary and his companions. The party was initially received in peace at the Itza capital,<ref>Means 1917, p. 80.</ref> but as soon as the Spanish soldiers let their guard down, the Itza seized and bound the new arrivals.<ref name="Means1917p81">Means 1917, p. 81.</ref> The soldiers were [[Sacrifice in Maya culture|sacrificed]] to the [[List of Maya gods and supernatural beings|Maya gods]].<ref>Sharer and Traxler 2006, p. 774.<br>Means 1917, p. 81.</ref> After their sacrifice, the Itza took Delgado, cut his heart out and dismembered him; they displayed his head on a stake with the others.<ref>Means 1917, p. 81.<br>Jones 1998, pp. 47–48.</ref> The fortune of the leader of Delgado's Maya companions was no better. With no word from Delgado's escort, Mirones sent two Spanish soldiers with a Maya scout to learn their fate. When they arrived upon the shore of [[Lake Petén Itzá]], the Itza took them across to their island capital and imprisoned them. Bernardino Ek, the scout, escaped and returned to Mirones with the news.<ref name="Means1917p81"/> Soon afterwards, on 27 January 1624, an Itza war party led by AjKʼin Pʼol caught Mirones and his soldiers off guard and unarmed in the church at Sakalum,<ref>Sharer and Traxler 2006, p. 774.<br>Jones 1998, p. 48.</ref> and killed them all.<ref name="SharerTraxler06p774"/> Spanish reinforcements arrived too late. A number of local Maya men and women were killed by Spanish attackers, who also burned the town.<ref>Jones 1998, p. 48.</ref>

Following these killings, Spanish garrisons were stationed in several towns in southern Yucatán, and rewards were offered for the whereabouts of AjKʼin Pʼol. The Maya governor of [[Oxkutzcab Municipality|Oxkutzcab]], Fernando Kamal, set out with 150 Maya archers to track the warleader down; they succeeded in capturing the [[Itza people|Itza]] captain and his followers, together with silverware from the looted [[Sacalum Municipality|Sakalum]] church and items belonging to Mirones. The prisoners were taken back to the Spanish Captain Antonio Méndez de Canzo, interrogated under torture, tried, and condemned to be [[hanged, drawn and quartered]]. They were decapitated, and the heads were displayed in the plazas of towns throughout the colonial ''Partido de la Sierra'' in what is now Mexico's [[Yucatán|Yucatán state]].<ref>Jones 1998, pp. 48–49.</ref> These events ended all Spanish attempts to contact the Itza until 1695.<ref name="SharerTraxler06p774"/> In the 1640s internal strife in Spain distracted the government from attempts to conquer unknown lands; the Spanish Crown lacked the time, money or interest in such colonial adventures for the next four decades.<ref>Feldman 2000, p. 151.</ref>

===Late 17th century===
{{History of New Spain}}
In 1692 [[Basque people|Basque]] nobleman [[Martín de Ursúa y Arizmendi]] proposed to the Spanish king the construction of a road from [[Mérida, Yucatán|Mérida]] southwards to link with the [[Guatemala]]n colony, in the process "reducing" any independent native populations into colonial ''congregaciones''; this was part of a greater plan to subjugate the [[Lakandon Chʼol]] and [[Manche Chʼol]] of southern [[Petén Basin|Petén]] and the upper reaches of the [[Usumacinta River]]. The original plan was for the province of [[Yucatán Peninsula|Yucatán]] to build the northern section and for Guatemala to build the southern portion, with both meeting somewhere in [[Chʼol people|Chʼol]] territory; the plan was later modified to pass further east, through the [[Itzá Kingdom (1194–1697)|kingdom of the Itza]].<ref name="Jones1998p111">Jones 1998, pp. 111, 132–133, 145.</ref>

As governor of Yucatán (1695-1696) now, [[Martín de Ursúa y Arizmendi]], began to build the road from [[Campeche City|Campeche]] south towards [[Petén Basin|Petén]].<ref name="SharerTraxler06p774"/> At the beginning of March 1695, Captain Alonso García de Paredes led a group of 50 Spanish soldiers, accompanied by native guides, muleteers and labourers.<ref>Jones 1998, pp. 129–130.<br>ITMB 2000.</ref> The expedition advanced south into [[Kejache]] territory, which began at Chunpich, about {{convert|5|km|mi}} north of the modern border between [[Mexico]] and [[Guatemala]].<ref>Jones 1998, pp. 130–131.<br>ITMB 2000.</ref> He rounded up some natives to be moved into colonial settlements, but met with armed Kejache resistance. García de Paredes decided to retreat around the middle of April.<ref>Jones 1998, p. 131.</ref>

In March 1695, Captain Juan Díaz de Velasco set out from [[Cahabón]] in [[Alta Verapaz]], [[Guatemala]], with 70 Spanish soldiers, accompanied by a large number of Maya archers from [[Verapaz, Guatemala|Verapaz]], native muleteers, and four [[Dominican Order|Dominican]] friars.<ref>Jones 1998, pp. 132, 134.<br>Means 1917, p. 97.</ref> The Spanish pressed ahead to [[Lake Petén Itzá]] and engaged in a series of fierce skirmishes with [[Itza people|Itza]] hunting parties.<ref>Jones 1998, pp. 135–136, 139–140.</ref> At the lakeshore, within sight of [[Nojpetén]], the Spanish encountered such a large force of Itzas that they retreated south, back to their main camp.<ref name="Jones1999p141">Jones 1998, p. 141.</ref> Interrogation of an Itza prisoner revealed that the [[Peten Itza kingdom|Itza kingdom]] was in a state of high alert to repel the Spanish;<ref name="Jones1998p140">Jones 1998, p. 140.</ref> the expedition almost immediately withdrew back to [[Cahabón]].<ref name="Jones1998p142">Jones 1998, p. 142.</ref>

In mid-May 1695 García de Paredes again marched southwards from [[Campeche City|Campeche]],<ref name="Jones1998p142"/>  with 115 Spanish soldiers and 150 Maya musketeers, plus Maya labourers and muleteers; the final tally was more than 400 people, which was regarded as a considerable army in the impoverished Yucatán province.<ref name="Jones1998p143">Jones 1998, p. 143.</ref> Ursúa also ordered two companies of Maya musketeers from [[Tekax|Tekʼax]] and [[Oxkutzcab Municipality|Oxkʼutzkabʼ]] to join the expedition at Bʼolonchʼen Kawich, some {{convert|60|km|mi}} southeast of the city of Campeche.<ref>Jones 1998, pp. 130, 144.</ref> At the end of May three friars were assigned to join the Spanish force, accompanied by a lay brother. A second group of [[Franciscans]] would continue onwards independently to [[Nojpetén]] to make contact with the [[Itza people|Itzas]]; it was led by friar Andrés de Avendaño, who was accompanied by another [[friar]] and a [[lay brother]].<ref>Jones 1998, pp. 148–149.</ref> García de Paredes ordered the construction of a fort at Chuntuki, some 25 leagues (approximately 65 miles or 105&nbsp;km) north of [[Lake Petén Itzá]], which would serve as the main military base for the ''Camino Real'' ("Royal Road") project.<ref name="Jones1998p147">Jones 1998, p. 147.</ref>

A company of native musketeers from the town of Sajkabʼchen (or Sahcabchén) in [[Campeche]], pushed ahead with the road builders from Tzuktzokʼ to the first [[Kejache]] town at Chunpich, which the Kejache had fled. The company's officers sent for reinforcements from García de Paredes at Tzuktokʼ but before any could arrive some 25 Kejache returned to Chunpich with baskets to collect their abandoned food. The nervous Sajkabʼchen sentries feared that the residents were returning en masse and discharged their muskets at them, with both groups then retreating. The musketeer company then arrived to reinforce their sentries and charged into battle against approaching Kejache archers. Several musketeers were injured in the ensuing skirmish and the Kejache retreated along a forest path without injury. The Sajkabʼchen company followed the path and found two more deserted settlements with large amounts of abandoned food. They seized the food and retreated back along the path.<ref>Jones 1998, p. 154.<br>Means 1917, pp. 117–118.</ref>
 
Around 3 August García de Paredes moved his entire army forward to Chunpich,<ref name="Jones1998p154">Jones 1998, p. 154.</ref> and by October Spanish soldiers had established themselves near the source of the [[San Pedro River (Guatemala)|San Pedro River]].<ref name="Jones98p163">Jones 1998, p. 163.</ref> By November Tzuktokʼ was garrisoned with 86 soldiers and more at Chuntuki. In December 1695 the main force was reinforced with 250 soldiers, of which 150 were Spanish and pardo (descendants of [[White Latin Americans|Southern Europeans]], [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Amerindians]], and [[Afro-Latin Americans|West Africans]]) and 100 were Maya, together with labourers and muleteers.<ref name="Jones 1998, p. 162">Jones 1998, p. 162.</ref>

====Avendaño's expedition, June 1695====
In May 1695, friar Antonio de Silva, the provincial superior of the [[Franciscans|Franciscan Order]] in Yucatán, had appointed two groups of [[Franciscans]] to head for [[Petén Basin|Petén]]; the first group was to join up with García de Parede's military expedition. The second group was to head for [[Lake Petén Itzá|Lake Petén Itza]] independently. This second group was headed by friar Andrés de Avendaño. Avendaño was accompanied by another friar, a lay brother, and six Christian Maya.<ref>Jones 1998, pp. 148, 150.</ref> This latter group left [[Mérida, Yucatán|Mérida]] on 2 June 1695.<ref>Jones 1998, pp. 130, 151–152.</ref> Avendaño continued south along the course of the new road, finding increasing evidence of Spanish military activity. The Franciscans overtook García de Paredes at Bʼukʼte, about {{convert|12|km|mi}} before Tzuktokʼ.<ref name="Jones1998p152">Jones 1998, p. 152.</ref> On 3 August García de Paredes advanced to Chunpich but tried to persuade Avendaño to stay behind to minister to the prisoners from Bʼukʼte. Avendaño instead split his group and left in secret with just four Christian Maya companions,<ref>Jones 1998, pp. 150, 154.</ref> seeking the Chunpich [[Kejache]] that had attacked one of García de Parede's advance companies and had now retreated into the forest.<ref>Jones 1998, pp. 154–155.</ref> He was unable to find the Kejache but did manage to get information regarding a path that led southwards to the [[Itzá Kingdom (1194–1697)|Itza kingdom]]. Avendaño returned to Tzuktokʼ and reconsidered his plans; the [[Franciscans]] were short of supplies, and the forcefully congregated Maya that they were charged with converting were disappearing back into the forest daily.<ref>Jones 1998, p.  155.</ref> Antonio de Silva ordered Avendaño to return to Mérida, and he arrived there on 17 September 1695.<ref>Jones 1998, p.  156.</ref> Meanwhile, the other group of Franciscans, led by Juan de San Buenaventura Chávez, continued following the roadbuilders into Kejache territory, through IxBʼam, Bʼatkabʼ and Chuntuki (modern Chuntunqui near [[Carmelita, Petén]]).<ref>Jones 1998, pp. 148, 157.<br>Quezada 2011, p. 23.<br>ITMB 1998.</ref>

====San Buenaventura among the Kejache, September – November 1695====
Juan de San Buenaventura's small group of [[Franciscans]] arrived in Chuntuki on 30 August 1695, and found that the army had opened the road southwards for another seventeen leagues (approximately 44.2 miles or 71.1&nbsp;km), almost {{not a typo|half way}} to [[Lake Petén Itzá]], but returned to Chuntuki due to the seasonal rains.<ref>Jones 1998, p. 157.</ref> San Buenaventura was accompanied by two friars and a lay brother.<ref name="Jones 1998 148">Jones 1998, p. 148.</ref> With Avendaño's return to [[Mérida, Yucatán|Mérida]], provincial superior Antonio de Silva despatched two additional friars to join San Buenaventura's group. One of these was to convert the [[Kejache]] in Tzuktokʼ, and the other was to do the same at Chuntuki.<ref>Jones 1998, p. 158.</ref> On 24 October San Buenaventura wrote to the provincial superior reporting that the warlike Kejache were now pacified and that they had told him that the Itza were ready to receive the Spanish in friendship.<ref>Jones 1998, pp. 158–159.</ref> On that day 62 Kejache men had voluntarily come to Chuntuki from Pakʼekʼem, where another 300 Kejache resided.<ref>Jones 1998, pp. 159–160.</ref> In early November 1695, friar Tomás de Alcoser and brother Lucas de San Francisco were sent to establish a mission at Pakʼekʼem, where they were well received by the ''[[cacique]]'' (native chief) and his pagan priest. Pakʼekʼem was sufficiently far from the new Spanish road that it was free from military interference, and the friars oversaw the building of a church in what was the largest mission town in Kejache territory. A second church was built at Bʼatkabʼ to attend to over 100 Kejache refugees who had been gathered there under the stewardship of a Spanish friar;<ref>Jones 1998, p. 160.</ref> a further church was established at Tzuktokʼ, overseen by another friar.<ref>Jones 1998, pp. 160–161.</ref>

====Avendaño's expedition, December 1695 – January 1696====
[[Franciscans|Franciscan]] friar Andrés de Avendaño left [[Mérida, Yucatán|Mérida]] on 13 December 1695, and arrived in [[Nojpetén]] around 14 January 1696, accompanied by four companions.<ref>Jones 1998, pp. 187, 189.</ref> From Chuntuki they followed an Indian trail that led them past the source of the [[San Pedro River (Guatemala)|San Pedro River]] and across steep karst hills to a watering hole by some ruins.<ref>Jones 1998, pp. 189–190.<br>Means 1917, p. 128.</ref> From there they followed the small Acté River to a Chakʼan Itza town called Saklemakal.<ref name="Jones98p190">Jones 1998, p. 190.</ref> They arrived at the western end of [[Lake Petén Itzá]] to an enthusiastic welcome by the local [[Itza people|Itza]].<ref name="SharerTraxler06p775"/> The following day, the current [[Kan Ekʼ|Aj Kan Ekʼ]] travelled across the lake with 80 canoes to greet the visitors at the Chakʼan Itza (a subgroup of the [[Itza people|Itza]]) port town of [[Nixtun Chʼichʼ|Chʼichʼ]], on the west shore of Lake Petén Itza.<ref>Sharer and Traxler 2006, p. 775.<br>Jones 1998, p. 192.</ref> The Franciscans returned to Nojpetén with Kan Ekʼ and baptised over 300 Itza children over the following four days. Avendaño tried to convince Kan Ekʼ to convert to Christianity and surrender to the Spanish Crown, without success.<ref name="SharerTraxler06p775"/> The king of the Itza, cited Itza prophecy and said the time was not yet right.<ref name="SharerTraxler06p775">Sharer and Traxler 2006, p. 775.</ref>
 
On 19 January AjKowoj, the king of the [[Kowoj]], arrived at [[Nojpetén]] and spoke with Avendaño,<ref>Jones 1998, p. 205.</ref> arguing against the acceptance of Christianity and Spanish rule.<ref>Jones 1998, p. 207.</ref> The discussions between Avendaño, Kan Ekʼ and AjKowoj exposed deep divisions among the Itza.<ref>Jones 1998, pp. 209–210.</ref> Kan Ekʼ learnt of a plot by the Kowoj and their allies to ambush and kill the Franciscans, and the Itza king advised them to return to [[Mérida, Yucatán|Mérida]] via [[Tipu, Belize|Tipuj]].<ref>Sharer and Traxler 2006, p. 775.<br>Jones 1998, pp. 214–215.</ref> The Spanish friars became lost and suffered great hardships, including the death of one of Avendaño's companions,<ref>Vayhinger-Scheer 2011, p. 383.</ref> but after a month wandering in the forest found their way back to Chuntuki, and from there returned to Mérida.<ref>Sharer and Traxler 2006, pp. 775–776.<br>Jones 1998, pp. 218–219.</ref>

====Battle at Chʼichʼ, 2 February 1696====
By mid-January, Captain García de Paredes had arrived at the advance portion of the ''Camino Real'' at Chuntuki.<ref>Jones 1998, pp. 189, 226.</ref> By now he only had 90 soldiers plus labourers and porters.<ref name="Jones98p226">Jones 1998, p. 226.</ref> Captain [[Pedro de Zubiaur]], García's senior officer, arrived at [[Lake Petén Itzá|Lake Petén Itza]] with 60 musketeers, two [[Franciscans]], and allied [[Yucatec Maya language|Yucatec Maya]] warriors.<ref>Jones 1998, p. 227.<br>Sharer and Traxler 2006, p. 776.</ref> They were also accompanied by about 40 [[Maya peoples|Maya]] porters.<ref name="Jones98p227">Jones 1998, p. 227.</ref> They were approached by about 300 canoes carrying approximately 2,000 [[Itza people|Itza]] warriors.<ref>Jones 1998, p. 228.<br>Sharer and Traxler 2006, p. 776.</ref> The warriors began to mingle freely with the Spanish party and a scuffle then broke out; a dozen of the Spanish party were forced into canoes, and three of them were killed. At this point the Spanish soldiers opened fire with their muskets, and the Itza retreated across the lake with their prisoners, who included the two Franciscans.<ref name="Jones98p228">Jones 1998, p. 228.</ref> The Spanish party retreated from the lake shore and regrouped on open ground where they were surrounded by thousands of Itza warriors. Zubiaur ordered his men to fire a volley that killed between 30 and 40 Itzas. Realising that they were hopelessly outnumbered, the Spanish retreated towards Chuntuki, abandoning their captured companions to their fate.<ref name="Jones98p229">Jones 1998, p. 229.</ref>
 
[[Martín de Ursúa]] was now convinced that [[Kan Ekʼ]] would not surrender peacefully, and he began to organise an all-out assault on [[Nojpetén]].<ref name="SharerTraxler06p776">Sharer and Traxler 2006, p. 776.</ref> Work on the road was redoubled and about a month after the battle at [[Nixtun Chʼichʼ|Chʼichʼ]] the Spanish arrived at the lakeshore, now supported by artillery. Again a large number of canoes gathered, and the nervous Spanish soldiers opened fire with cannons and muskets; no casualties were reported among the [[Itza people|Itza]], who retreated and raised a white flag from a safe distance.<ref name="Jones98p229"/>

====Expedition from Verapaz, February – March 1696====
''[[Oidor]]'' Bartolomé de Amésqueta led the next Guatemalan expedition against the [[Itza people|Itza]]. He marched his men from [[Cahabón]] to [[Mopan people|Mopán]], arriving on 25 February 1696.<ref>Jones 1998, pp. 232–233.</ref> On 7 March, Captain Díaz de Velasco led a party ahead to the lake; he was accompanied by two [[Dominican Order|Dominican]] friars and by AjKʼixaw, an Itza nobleman who had been taken prisoner on Díaz's previous expedition.<ref name="Jones 1998, p. 233">Jones 1998, p. 233.</ref> When they drew close to the shore of [[Lake Petén Itzá]], AjKʼixaw was sent ahead as an emissary to [[Nojpetén]].<ref>Jones 1998, pp. 233–234.</ref> Díaz's party was lured into an Itza trap and the expedition members were killed to a man. The two friars were captured and sacrificed. The Itza killed a total of 87 expedition members, including 50 soldiers, two Dominicans and about 35 Maya helpers.<ref name="Jones 1998, p479n59.">Jones 1998, p. 479n59.</ref>
 
Amésqueta left Mopán three days after Díaz and followed Díaz's trail to the lakeshore. He arrived at the lake over a week later with 36 men. As they scouted along the south shore near Nojpetén they were shadowed by about 30 Itza canoes and more Itzas approached by land but kept a safe distance.<ref>Jones 1998, p. 234-235.</ref> Amésqueta was extremely suspicious of the small canoes being offered by the Itza to transport his party across to Nojpetén; as nightfall approached Amésqueta retreated from the lakeshore and his men took up positions on a small hill nearby.<ref>Jones 1998, pp. 237–238.</ref> In the early hours of the morning he ordered a retreat by moonlight.<ref>Jones 1998, pp. 238–239.</ref> At San Pedro Mártir he received news of an Itza embassy to [[Mérida, Yucatán|Mérida]] in December 1695, and an apparent formal surrender of the Itza to Spanish authority.<ref name="Jones98p240">Jones 1998, p. 240.</ref> Unable to reconcile the news with the loss of his men, and with appalling conditions in San Pedro Mártir, Amésqueta abandoned his unfinished fort and retreated to [[Guatemala]].<ref>Jones 1998, pp. 241–242.</ref>

====Assault on Nojpetén====
The [[Itza people|Itzas]]' continued resistance had become a major embarrassment for the Spanish colonial authorities, and soldiers were despatched from [[Campeche City|Campeche]] to take [[Nojpetén]] once and for all.<ref name="Jones00p362">Jones 2000, p. 362.</ref> [[Martín de Ursúa y Arizmendi]] arrived on the western shore of [[Lake Petén Itzá]] with his soldiers on 26 February 1697, and once there built the heavily armed ''[[Galiot|galeota]]'' attack boat.<ref>Jones 2009, p. 59.<br>Jones 1998, pp. 253, 265–266.</ref> The ''galeota'' carried 114 men and at least five artillery pieces.<ref name="Jones  1998 268 269">Jones 1998, pp. 268–269.</ref> The ''piragua'' longboat used to cross the [[San Pedro River (Guatemala)|San Pedro River]] was also transported to the lake to be used in the attack on the Itza capital.<ref>Jones 1998, pp. 252, 268.</ref>
[[File:Murales Rivera - Ausbeutung durch die Spanier 1.jpg|thumb|Exploitation of the indigenous people by the [[Spanish conquistadors]]" mural by [[Diego Rivera]] (1886-1957)]]
On 10 March a number of [[Itza people|Itza]] and [[Yalain]] emissaries arrived at [[Nixtun Chʼichʼ|Chʼichʼ]] to negotiate with Ursúa.<ref>Jones 1998, pp. 269–270.</ref> [[Kan Ekʼ]] then sent a canoe with a white flag raised bearing emissaries, who offered peaceful surrender. Ursúa received the embassy in peace and invited Kan Ekʼ to visit his encampment three days later. On the appointed day Kan Ekʼ failed to arrive; instead Maya warriors amassed both along the shore and in canoes upon the lake.<ref name="SharerTraxler06p777">Sharer and Traxler 2006, p. 777.</ref>

A waterbourne assault was launched upon Kan Ek's capital on the morning of 13 March.<ref>Sharer and Traxler 2006, p. 777.<br>Jones 1998, p. 295.</ref> Ursúa boarded the ''galeota'' with 108 soldiers, two secular priests, five personal servants, the baptised Itza emissary AjChan and his brother-in-law and an Itza prisoner from [[Nojpetén]]. The attack boat was rowed east towards the Itza capital; {{not a typo|half way}} across the lake it encountered a large fleet of canoes spread in an arc across the approach to Nojpetén – Ursúa simply gave the order to row through them. A large number of defenders had gathered along the shore of Nojpetén and on the roofs of the city.<ref name="Jones98p297">Jones 1998, p. 297.</ref> Itza archers began to shoot at the invaders from the canoes. Ursúa ordered his men not to return fire but arrows wounded a number of his soldiers; one of the wounded soldiers discharged his musket and at that point the officers lost control of their men. The defending Itza soon fled from the withering Spanish gunfire.<ref>Jones 1998, pp. 298–299.</ref>

The city fell after a brief but bloody battle in which many Itza warriors died; the Spanish suffered only minor casualties. The Spanish bombardment caused heavy loss of life on the island;<ref name="Jones09p59" /> the surviving Itza abandoned their capital and swam across to the mainland with many dying in the water.<ref>Sharer and Traxler 2006, pp. 777–778.</ref> After the battle the surviving defenders melted away into the forests, leaving the Spanish to occupy an abandoned Maya town.<ref name="Jones00p362" /> Martín de Ursúa planted his standard upon the highest point of the island and renamed Nojpetén as ''Nuestra Señora de los Remedios y San Pablo, Laguna del Itza'' ("Our Lady of Remedy and Saint Paul, Lake of the Itza").<ref>Sharer and Traxler 2006, p. 778.<br>Jones 2009, p. 59.</ref> The Itza nobility fled, dispersing to Maya settlements throughout [[Petén Basin|Petén]]; in response the Spanish scoured the region with search parties.<ref>Jones 1998, p. 295.</ref> [[Kan Ekʼ]] was soon captured with help from the [[Yalain|Yalain Maya]] ruler Chamach Xulu;<ref name="Jones 1998, p. 306">Jones 1998, p. 306.</ref> The [[Kowoj]] king (Aj Kowoj) was also soon captured, together with other Maya nobles and their families.<ref name="Jones09p59">Jones 2009, p. 59.</ref> With the defeat of the [[Itza people|Itza]], the last independent and unconquered native kingdom in the Americas fell to the European colonisers.<ref name="Jones98pxix">Jones 1998, p. xix.</ref>