Tecuexe

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The Tecuexe were an indigenous group found in the eastern part of present day Guadalajara, Mexico. It is believed that they derived from the dispersion of Zacateco groups from La Quemada. Like the Zacatecos, the Tecuexe were a tribe belonging to the Chichimeca nation. It is known that they established next to rivers which they took to their advantage to grow beans and corn. They were also expert artisans, carpenters and musicians. Toribio de Benavente Motolinia wrote "in any place… all know to work a stone, to make a house simple, to twist a cord and a rope, and the other sotiles offices that nondemand instruments or much art."

They were also known for their fierceness and cruelty towards their enemy. They were known to be so brave that it is said that one day when the Mexica (Aztecs) came from Chicomostoc, Zacatecas to the control of Xolotl and course on to the lagoon where they found an eagle devouring a serpent, they gained by the force the settlers of Acatic, Teocaltiche, Mitic, Teocaltitán and Xalostotitlán, but in Tecpatitlán, they knew that they were cruel in addition to poor men, and as they did not have much wealth, they avoided facing them. They wore dresses with classic tilmatl (tilma) and huipilli, worn with comfortable cactlis and adorning their body with necklaces, bracelets, earings and nose rings that they themselves made. They liked to make their houses in valleys and gorges near the rivers, always in a position ready to battle. They also had temples in Teocaltiche, San Miguel el Alto, Jalostotitlán and possibly in Tepatitlán.

They were conquered by Captain Nuño Beltrán de Guzmán who began in December 21 of 1529. His army consisted of 200 Spaniards on horse, 300 infantry on foot, 10,000 Mexicas (Aztecs) and 10,000 Tarascos and Tlaxcaltecas who had betrayed them as natives of Mexico. In the fight many died, some took refuge in the mountain areas and those that remained in the plains were enslaved and forced to work hard. About ten years later they took revenge. They were one of many tribes who fought under Tenamaxtli in the Mixton rebellion (1540-41). It is said that about 100,000 natives were gathered on the Mixton Mt., ready to end Spanish rule, and that behind each stone, land, tree or accident was native Caxcán, Tecuexe, Coca or Chichimeca, ready to subdue the invaders. The last Tecuexe chief is said to be Chapalac, who the lake of Chapala is named after. In the end the Spanish power won, but some natives far from surrendering, threw their women and their children head first off the cliffs, rather than be enslaved. This was soon stopped by Franciscanos. Fray Antonio de Segovia who took in his hands the venerated image of the Virgin of Zapopan. Acts like these are considered in parallel to Leónidas and his 300 soldiers who died fighting until the last man, in order to save their mother country. They being so fierce, are said to have protected their women from the Spanish, just as the Spaniard protected their women. It can't be said that mixing did not occur, but if it did it must have been very little. After enslavement it is said that by 1854 no one in the tribe could speak their native language, and much of their identity was forgotten. Although today some are still mostly pure indigenous, they no longer exist as a cultural group.