Tabscoob

He decided to anchor his ships and enter the river in skiffs, looking for the great city of Indians described by Juan de Grijalva.

"[3] But Cortés, seeing that the natives were still threatening, commanded weapons be brought onto the skiffs and handed them to archers and musketeers, and he began planning how to attack the town.

The forces of Alonso de Ávila arrived at the rear of the settlement, making the natives flee and consummating the Spanish conquistadors' takeover of the town.

[5]: 69–71 On March 14, the hosts of Tabscoob, estimated by Cortes to be 40,000 men, fought on the plains of Centla against the Spaniards led by Hernán Cortés.

The power of the Spaniards' firearms and the surprise and fear caused by the appearance of the cavalry (since the natives had never seen horses and thought that animal and rider were one) eventually gave victory to the Spanish army of over 410 soldiers.

[5]: 74–78 Days later, on April 16, chief Tabscoob and his entourage appeared before Cortes, swearing allegiance and subjection to the Spanish Crown.

It would take 45 years of struggles and intense military campaigns, before the Spanish conquistadors could break the fighting spirit of the indigenous people of Tabasco.