# Cempoala's Cacique Gordo: The Totonac Revolt Against Aztec Rule

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-conquistadors-exploration-greed-and-destruction-fexingo-history-7864470/cempoala-s-cacique-gordo-the-totonac-revolt-against-aztec-rule
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-conquistadors-exploration-greed-and-destruction-fexingo-history-7864470/cempoala-s-cacique-gordo-the-totonac-revolt-against-aztec-rule.md
Podcast: [The Conquistadors: Exploration, Greed, and Destruction — Fexingo History](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-conquistadors-exploration-greed-and-destruction-fexingo-history-7864470)
Published: 2026-06-23T15:26:56+00:00
Episode link: https://audio.fexingo.com/history/the-conquistadors/episode-0113.mp3
Audio file: https://audio.fexingo.com/history/the-conquistadors/episode-0113.mp3
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Duration seconds: 527

## Resource

Before Cortés ever set foot in Tenochtitlan, he forged a crucial alliance with the Totonac people of Cempoala. This episode explores the revolt led by the Cacique Gordo, a shrewd leader who saw the Spanish as a tool to break free from Aztec tribute demands. We delve into the Totonac city-state's prosperity, their resentment of Moctezuma's tax collectors, and the pivotal Battle of Cempoala where Cortés proved his military worth. Discover how the Totonac alliance provided Cortés with hundreds of tameme porters, vital intelligence, and a base at Villa Rica de la Veracruz. We also examine the aftermath: the Totonac's disillusionment as the Spanish revealed their own greed, and the lasting impact on indigenous alliances that shaped the conquest of Mexico. #Cempoala #CaciqueGordo #Totonac #Cortés #Aztec #Veracruz #VillaRica #tameme #tribute #Mesoamerica #Conquistadors #IndigenousAlliance #Moctezuma #BernalDíaz #BattleOfCempoala #History #FexingoHistory #ColonialMexico Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

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