ACUALMETZLI,
the Indian name of a Mexican warrior, born in Coyacan in 1520: died in 1542. His
Christian name was Ignacio Alarcón de Roquetilla. When he was a year old his
father and mother died, the former in battle against the Spaniards, and the
latter from the effects of punishment received because she insulted one of the
captains of Cortes. A Spaniard took care of the orphan, had him christened, and
gave him an education. But Acualmetzli, when about twenty years of age, learned
the cause of his parents' death and joined the Chichimeeas, then in revolt, in
order to seek revenge. He fought bravely, and instructed the Indians in
civilized warfare, until he fell in battle with the troops sent against them by
the viceroy Antonio de Mendoza.
Edited Appletons Encyclopedia by John Looby, Copyright © 2001 VirtualologyTM
