The Mayans meet the Spanish

[OB]

I thought I’d take another look at Bernal Diaz’s first- hand account of a battle between the Mayans and the Spanish.  As always with Bernal’s history there is a wealth of detail.

If you are interested in the Conquistadores and their opponents you might find it of interest.

https://youdonotknowthenorth.blogspot.com

OB
http://withob.blogspot.co.uk/

[Gone Fishing]

OB, I’ll be following this with great interest. The whole of the Spanish conquest of the Americas, massive subject that it is, is probably my top historical interest, and of all the foes the conquistadors faced the Maya are probably my favourite. So your post is of great interest, as I say. Your figures look wonderful. Interested, too, in whatever rules you come up with.

If the subject takes your fancy, do take a look at the later conquest of the Yucatan as well. It’s actually a fairly gripping story, one that doesn’t get reported on that often, overshadowed as it is by the campaigns against the Aztecs and Incas. And then there’s the unusual fun to be had with not one, not two, but three of the principal characters sharing the same name: Francisco de Montejo (father, son and nephew). It can get a little bewildering sometimes.

You probably already know them, but two other sources besides Diaz might be of interest: for information on the Maya Fray Diego de Landa’s work is essential (a huge slice of what we know of them at that period comes from him); then there is the modern The Conquest and Colonization of the Yucatan by Robert S. Chamberlain, which is a very good read and hugely informative. Though out of print, it pops up on e-bay pretty frequently. You may know these books already, but I just thought to mention them on the off chance… Keep up the great work!

[OB]

Thanks Gone Fishing, we have a shared interest.  I’ll check out Chamberlain’s book.

OB
http://withob.blogspot.co.uk/

[Autodidact-O-Saurus]

Well done!

We three, we interested three.

Everybody loves Mesoamericans. Very few take the plunge, though.

Self taught, persistently behind the times, never up to date. AKA ~ jeff
More verbosity: http://petiteguerre.blogspot.com/

[OB]

Thanks, and yes indeed that is true.

I think part of the problem is people think it was a walk over and no fun to game.

OB
http://withob.blogspot.co.uk/

[Mark Morin]

Exceptional.  I also am into the period – as you can see at markamorin.com

Hernán Cortés de Monroy y Pizarro Altamirano, 1st Marquess of the Valley of Oaxaca

Mark A. Morin

[OB]

Thanks Mark.  Yeah I’ve seen your city, lovely work.  I also thought your Cortez very good, it looks like him.

OB
http://withob.blogspot.co.uk/

[Mark Morin]

Thanks.  When my updated stuff gets published I’ll let you know (rules and scenarios).  Of course I need to get through this weekend’s gaming (traveling) and then more painting.  Maya, Inca, brigantines, war canoes, oh my!

Mark A. Morin

[Bowman Stringer]

The great thing about Bernal Diaz was that he was there from the beginning, recording all the events. He was present at both of the first forays into the Yucatan, under Cordoba and Grijalva. Of course, he was with Cortes all the way to the fall of Tenochtitlan. The downside is that his book was written about 3 decades after the events. I’ll cut him some slack because his book was in response to de Gomera’s writings, which Diaz thought was full of inaccuracies. Lol. Another excellent write up, thanks.

[OB]

Thank you Bowman.

Yes, Bernal wanted to set the record straight and he was there for all the action.  While the mind can play tricks with memory I think he had honest intent.  I think this comes across strongly when, finally disappointed in Cortez, he regrets his decision to strike out in another venture.  Years later and waiting for death he still ponders his decision.

OB
http://withob.blogspot.co.uk/

[Author]

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