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Continuing my Mesoamerican Historical Figures streak, I drew a quick illustration of the first "Indian Knight": Sir Lorenzo Maxixcatl (circa 1520 AD).

Lorenzo was the eldest son of the Tlaxcalan Lord of Ocotelolco, Maxixcatl. After the death of his father, Lorenzo would be personally knighted by Hernan Cortes. As far as we know, this was the first time knighthood and the order of chivalry would be conferred on a Native American. According to Cortes, the boy's father, Maxixcatl (sometimes rendered Magiscacin) was "a great friend of mine" and his death by the "Great Rash" (smallpox) sadden him greatly. During the ceremony, Cortes told Lorenzo to “act in the manner of your noble and honored father, whom we all respected and loved”. Cortes also recognized the 13-year-old Lorenzo as his father's heir. He would serve as the ruler of Ocotelolco, a thriving market city (which was now a Spanish royal subject).

Little is known about what happened to Lorenzo after these events. He unfortunately disappears from the historical record. We can only assume that he must have died serving under the Spanish in the subsequent Conquest wars for Mexico or of smallpox/disease.

In my drawing, Lorenzo kneels for his knighthood. He wields a Tepoztopilliv, a wooden spear with an obsidian tipped point. The feathered shield he is holding is based on his father Maxixcatl's personal shield. Funny enough, the device/sigil on the shield is actually a pun on the syllables of his name in Nahuatl, "maitl" = hand, "ixtli" = eye, "atl"=water.

Description
Continuing my Mesoamerican Historical Figures streak, I drew a quick illustration of the first "Indian Knight": Sir Lorenzo Maxixcatl (circa 1520 AD).

Lorenzo was the eldest son of the Tlaxcalan Lord of Ocotelolco, Maxixcatl. After the death of his father, Lorenzo would be personally knighted by Hernan Cortes. As far as we know, this was the first time knighthood and the order of chivalry would be conferred on a Native American. According to Cortes, the boy's father, Maxixcatl (sometimes rendered Magiscacin) was "a great friend of mine" and his death by the "Great Rash" (smallpox) sadden him greatly. During the ceremony, Cortes told Lorenzo to “act in the manner of your noble and honored father, whom we all respected and loved”. Cortes also recognized the 13-year-old Lorenzo as his father's heir. He would serve as the ruler of Ocotelolco, a thriving market city (which was now a Spanish royal subject).

Little is known about what happened to Lorenzo after these events. He unfortunately disappears from the historical record. We can only assume that he must have died serving under the Spanish in the subsequent Conquest wars for Mexico or of smallpox/disease.

In my drawing, Lorenzo kneels for his knighthood. He wields a Tepoztopilliv, a wooden spear with an obsidian tipped point. The feathered shield he is holding is based on his father Maxixcatl's personal shield. Funny enough, the device/sigil on the shield is actually a pun on the syllables of his name in Nahuatl, "maitl" = hand, "ixtli" = eye, "atl"=water.