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The name Ixtenco is from Nahuatl and means on the edge of water (or bank of river) . It is in this language and not Otomi because of the dominance of the Tlaxcallans in the late pre Hispanic period.
The Otomis were the first to settle this area, although the date of their arrival is in dispute. Over time, this migration came in waves, mixed with Nahua migrations which began after the fall of Teotihuacan in the last Classic period. The population became mixed in the state but eventually the Nahuas became dominant. By the 14th century, the last waves of Otomi migration came to the area, fleeing the rising Aztec Empire in the Valleys of Mexico and Toluca. The Otomis managed to remain relatively dominant in the Ixtenco /Huamantla area, but as vassals of the Tlaxcallan dominion, receiving land in exchange for military service. These same Otomi people were some of the first to fight Hernán Cortés’ initial incursion into central Mexico, and after defeat, allied with the Spanish to conquer the Aztecs .
Ixtenco and the surrounding area was one of the first to receive evangelist Franciscans in 1529, with churches and monasteries quickly constructed. The town itself is said to have been founded on January 8, 1532 although a copy of the royal decree states 1534. The decree by Charles V names the founders as Diego Gabriel, Juan Ponce de León, Francisco de Barba Torres y Paredes, Francisco Contreras and Antonio Gómez Fabián, all conquistadors.
Because of Tlaxcala's role in the conquest of the Aztec Empire, the Otomi of Ixtenco were able to avoid the establishment of encomiendas and some of the worst of Spanish abuse, although studies of human remains from that time indicated that the people still suffered from overwork and malnutrition. Unable to simply take possession of land, the Spanish began gaining access through private transactions, such as the purchase of land by Diego Muñoz Camargo and his indigenous wife Brigida de Contreras to form haciendas.
Although converted, some pagan practices remained and were persecuted. One instance of this in Ixtenco was the case of Juan Coátl and his followers in 1665, who worshipped in a mountain cave which contained a spring. For the indigenous of the area, Coátl was a priest and the mountain sacred, intercessing for the inhabitants of Ixtenco and Huamantla for good crops and other favors. However, he and his followers were denounced by a Spaniard. They were forced to show the Spanish the location of the cave, then eventually hanged.
During the colonial period, the area was governed as part of Huamantla, mostly as an Otomi area. These indigenous formed their own community in Ixtenco in 1681 called San Pedro Cuautla, just outside the main town, accounting for most of the population. While isolated both by geography and social caste, Ixtenco was officially expanded in 1695 and again in 1699, mostly to the north.
By the mid 18th century, the Ixtenco area had 2 ranches and four haciendas: Rancho de San Bernardino y Rancho San Miguel, haciendas de San Cristóbal, San José Bautista, San Antonio and San Santiago.
In the late colonial period, the town and area around it had disputes with neighbors over the use of regional natural resources, which had to be resolved by province authorities.
At the start of the Mexican War of Independence, Ixtenco was still a dependency of Huamantla district. After the war, the state was reorganized can elections were held in 1823. The relative peace allows the haciendas to recover and grow. In 1836 the state was reorganized again but Ixtenco remained under Huamantla. In 1849, the town was divided into five neighborhoods, San Antonio, San Juan, San Gabriel, La Resurrección and Santiago.
Ixtenco became an independent municipality sometime during the Reform War, consisting of the town and the haciendas of San Antonio Cuamanala and San Cristóbal Jalapasco along with the San Miguel and Ixtenco ranches. However, in 1874, the municipalities of Zitlaltepec and Huamantla claimed adjoining lands, but unsuccessfully.
Shortly before and during the Revolution, Francisco Bartolo Mendez was a major figure in the municipality, serving as municipal president and on the Agrarian Commission. He worked to return lands and natural resources to Ixtenco from the control of Huamantla.
Just before the Mexican Revolution, there were several anti reelection groups active in this area against Porfirio Díaz. The most important of these was the Partido Antirrelectionista Tlaxcalteca headed by Juan Cuamatzi. In 1910, this leader urged an armed uprising in San Bernardino Contla but was countered by an order from Aquiles Serdan in Puebla. Protests against the Diaz government continued here and elsewhere in Tlaxcala. After Diaz's resignation the Partido Antirrelectionista Tlaxalteca reorganized into the Constitucional Progresista.
In 1916, the state was reorganized and the municipality became part of District II.
In the 20th century, some industry came to Ixtenco but the major change was the area becoming a bedroom community for those working in Huamantla. However, much of its traditional way of life, farming, textiles and religion, have remained intact. Because of its relative isolation, it remains mostly Otomi in identity.
In 1951, the clock was installed at the municipal palace. In 1976 the first deep well was drilled for potable water, with the second drilled in 1986.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ixtenco, Tlaxcala.
