Monumento a Tlahuicole, Bronze statue in Tlaxcala de Xicohténcatl, Mexico
The Monumento a Tlahuicole is a bronze statue located at a roundabout at the entrance to Tlaxcala city, near the start of the Puebla-Tlaxcala Federal Highway. The work depicts the warrior wielding his distinctive heavy club, with two additional casts preserved in Mexico City at the National Institute of Fine Arts and the National Autonomous University.
Spanish sculptor Manuel Vilar y Roca created this bronze work in 1852 following his arrival in Mexico. The statue honors Tlahuicole, a notable Tlaxcaltec warrior whose story connects to the period of Spanish conquest.
The statue portrays a Tlaxcaltec warrior holding a large club that only a few soldiers could manage. It preserves the memory of a regional hero from before Spanish arrival and remains meaningful to the city's identity.
The monument sits at an easy-to-find location at the city entrance, making it a simple first stop when arriving. The statue is visible year-round and positioned along a busy road, so it remains accessible to passing travelers.
Tlahuicole earned such respect that even Moctezuma II offered him freedom from captivity and positions as a commander in the Aztec army. This recognition of an opponent by the most powerful ruler of the time reveals how exceptional this warrior truly was.
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