Research by Vincent H. Malmström (Dartmouth College) describes an interesting astronomical relationship between the three-round rings found at Cempoala.
The Totonacs moved onto this coastal plain during the height of the Toltec Empire (A.D. 1000-1150). Archaeologists believe the Toltecs had pushed the Totonacs out of their settlements on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Madre Oriental and down to the coast.
Cempoala lies on the flat coastal plain about six kilometers from the Gulf and a little more than a kilometer from the banks of the Rio Actopan (also called the Rio Chachalacas).
Alliance
Cempoala and other coastal Veracruz locations were defeated by the Aztec armies of Moctezuma I (mid-15th century).
They were heavily taxed (goods and sacrifice prisoners) and forced to send hundreds of people as a tribute for sacrifices and as slaves. This conditioning treatment at the hands of the Aztecs created the situation which led up to the defeat of the Aztecs by Cortez in the 16th century.
When the Spaniards led by Hernan Cortes arrived in 1519, the Totonacs had been suffering Aztec domination for several years.
The Spaniards heard of a town on the way named Zempoala while at their malaria-ridden camp of San Juan de Ulua. They marched over and sent word of their arrival, and upon their arrival were met by 20 Zempoalan dignitaries.
In town, they met with “Fat Chief” Xicomecoatl, who fed them and gave them quarters. The Totonac presented Cortez with numerous gifts, including gold jewelry.
Xicomecoatl made many complaints against the Aztec Empire and the great Montezuma.
Cortez promised to alleviate his concerns. At Quiahuiztlan, the Spaniards and Totonacs forged their alliance against the Aztecs.
Spaniards and Totonacs had the same fate. In August 1519, Cortés and 40 Totonac captains, which by a lower estimate equates to around 8000 soldiers, and 400 porters left for Tenochtitlan.
The effort ended with the fall of Tenochtitlan and Moctezuma II, the Aztec Tlatoani, as a hostage.
After conquest
Cempoala was a prosperous city in 1519 when the Spaniards under Hernan Cortes arrived in Mexico and established alliances with some groups to go towards the capture of Tenochtitlan.
The city of Cempoala then numbered approximately 20,000 inhabitants and was the most important ceremonial and commercial center of the Aztec empire, more so than Tlatelolco.
The Spaniards called it Villa Viciosa, meaning fertile village by the many festivals and vast orchards and gardens available and festive and joyful inhabitants character, was later known as new Seville for its resemblance, as per the Spaniards, with the Iberian town.
Between 1575 and 1577 smallpox (matlazahuatl) epidemic decimated the population, it is estimated that two million people lost their lives in Mesoamerica, the city was totally abandoned, and the few survivors moved to the city of Xalapa, which eventually fell into oblivion until archeologist Francisco del Paso and Troncoso rediscovered it.
After the victory and conquest, the Cempoala Totonacs soon took their new destiny next to their foreign partners: were relocated and had to leave the city as they were Christianized, banned from practicing their ancient cults, and were turned into slaves to work new Spanish sugar cane fields.
Cortés first arrived at Zempoala in 1519 with 500 conquistadores who then made a long trip up into the highlands using the same routes used to haul maize to Tenochtitlan. His was added by the lord of Cempoala, known by his extraordinary corpulence as the “fat Cacique”.
The town was settled around walled perimeters delimiting temples and palaces; dating back to the 11th to 16th centuries.
