Tarascan

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Image:Tarascan.jpg The Tarascan are a Native American people centered in the state of Michoacán, Mexico. Tarascan is also the name of their historic language. The Tarascan language was still spoken by somewhat less than 100,000 people at the end of the 20th century, mostly in small rural villages. Recent attempts have been made to introduce the teaching of this language in the local school systems.

The Tarascans refer to themselves as Purépecha, and there is an ongoing discussion about which name should be considered as the correct one. The name Tarascan (and its Spanish language equivalent, tarasco) comes from the word tarascue in their own language, which means indistinctly "father in law" or "son in law". The Spaniards took it as their name, for reasons that have been attributed to different, mostly legendary, stories. The Nahuatl name for the Tarascans was michoaque (those-who-have-fish) – whence also the name of Michoacán.

The Tarascans or Purépecha were one of the pre-Columbian civilizations of Mesoamerica. Their capital city was Tzintzuntzan. Tarascan architecture is noted for step pyramids in the shape of the letter "T". Pre-Columbian Tarascan artisans made feather mosaics making extensive use of hummingbird feathers which were a highly regarded luxury good throughout the region. The Tarascans were never conquered by the Aztec Empire, despite several attempts by the Aztecs to do so, including a fierce war in 1479. This was probablly due to the fact of Purepecha's knowledge of metal working, an advantage over the Aztec. Even though they were enemies, the Aztec still traded with them, mainly for copper axes.

After hearing of the Spanish conquest of the Aztecs and having the native population much diminished by an epidemic of smallpox, the last native Tarascan king, Tangaxoan II, pledged himself as a vassal of the King of Spain without a fight in 1525. It is said that the 16-17 year old Princess Erendira of the Purepecha, led her people into a fierce war against the Spanish. Using the stolen Spanish horses her people learned to ride into battle. If not for her mysterious disappearance after her father's murder, the Purepecha would have defeated the Spanish.

In 1530 the Governor and President of the Primera Audiencia, Nuño Beltrán de Guzmán, plundered the region and ordered the execution of Tangaxuan II, provoking a chaotic situation and widespread violence

In 1533 the Crown sent to Michoacan the experienced oidor and later bishop don Vasco de Quiroga, who managed to establish a lasting colonial order.

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