Chichimec

Chichimec, a term of constant occurrence in the legendary history of the Aztecs, said to mean "barbarians," and applied generally to the uncivilised peoples who at various periods overran the Mexican plateau, and about the eleventh century destroyed the Toltec empire. Later, they were themselves expelled by the Aztecs and allied Nahua nations, who, two or three centuries before the arrival of the Spaniards, founded the city of Mexico, and in a sense restored the ancient civilisation of the Toltecs. Sahagun distinguishes two great classes, the Tamime, or "Archers," and the Techichimecs (Teochichimecs), the more savage of the two. Tribes known as Chichimecs are still found in several Mexican states, notably Guanajuato, Queretaro, Jalisco, Aguascalientes, and Zacatecas.