Gonzalo Guerrero

All were captured by the local Maya s. A few of them were sacrificed almost immediately, while the rest were put into cages. Some escaped, others lived as slaves.

By , Lord of Chektumal, and Geronimo De Aguilar , a Spaniard who had taken holy orders in his country of origin. Aguilar had survived as a slave for another Maya lord. Guerrero had by then married a rich Maya woman and was the father of Mexico's first Mestizo children.

On arriving from Cuba at Cozumel, Cortes sent a letter by Maya messenger across to the mainland, inviting the two Spaniards, of whom he'd heard rumors, to join him. Aguilar became a translator, along with Doña Marina ("La Malinche") during the Conquest. Guerrero, upon reading the letter - delivered by Aguilar - said: "Look at my beautiful children, look at my beautiful wife. And how could I ever go back to Spain looking as I do?" He'd been extensively tattooed by then, in recognition of his achievements on the battlefield.

Years later it was reported that a bearded, tattooed foreigner, dressed as a Maya warrior was found dead on a battlefield after a fight with Spanish forces, who by this time were invading the Yucatán Peninsula . The man was thought to be Gonzalo Guerrero, still fighting for his people.

A book published in Mexico in 1990, "Guerrero and Heart's Blood" by Alan Clark tells of the inward life and history of these two men.

FURTHER READING

Information About

Gonzalo Guerrero