As the Mexican war for independence raged and Spain struggled to free itself from Napoleon's yoke, a friar in Chiapas translated into the Tzotzil Mayan language an 1812 proclamation aimed at inspiring loyalty to Spain among the inhabitants of its colonies. This translation, actually a lengthy adaptation and elaboration of the original Spanish text, is the oldest extant narrative in Tzotzil. It is of extraordinary value both as a source on the Tzotzil language and as a grass-roots commentary on Spanish policy at the end of the colonial period.

In this book, Robert M. Laughlin translates the proclamation and its Spanish source into English and provides a detailed and lively account of the proclamation's historical context, examining the surrounding political conflicts and intrigues on both sides of the Atlantic, as well as the situation of the Tzotzils at the time. He also explores the rich metaphorical language through which the friar attempted to make Spain's political problems meaningful and compelling to his intended Maya audience. Transcriptions of the Spanish and Tzotzil texts are included.

This highly original work will be of great interest to students of Mayan languages, historians of the colonial and early national periods, and anthropologists of the Maya region. As the Tzotzils and other Mayas of Chiapas have recently claimed a place on the stage of world events, this look at their role in an earlier period of conflict will be especially welcome.