On August 16, 1519, the Spanish left Villa Rica for Tenochtitlan. They first encountered the independent city-state of Tlaxcala. After a costly series of battles, the Tlaxcalans sued for peace and joined the Spanish as allies. At the outset of the fighting, Xicotencatl, the Tlaxcalan general, threatened: "The Spaniards will be welcome in our city, where their flesh will be hewn from their bodies for sacrifice to the gods! Tomorrow I will deliver this answer in person!" In turn, Cortes inspired his troops with Spanish religio-nationalism: "Forward, comrades! If we fail now the cross of Christ can never be planted in the land. When was it ever known that a Castilian turned his back on a foe?"
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