Northern Mexico
Central Mexico
Southern Mexico
Northern Mexico
Central Mexico
Southern Mexico
IT HAS AN IMPORTANT ROLE DURING THE REVOLUTION MOVEMENT
Pre-Hispanic Era
Its name comes from the word Cuauhnahuac, which means "near the trees."
However, the conquistador Hernán Cortés, unable to pronounce the name correctly, changed it to Coadnabaced, and even the chronicler Bernal Díaz called it Coadalbaca. Later, it became Cuatlavaca, evolving into the current name.
Cuernavaca was founded by the Tlahuicas, one of the seven Nahuatlaca tribes. The Codex Mendocino mentions that Cuauhnahuac was among the towns conquered by Acamapichtli, later by Itzcóatl, and finally by Moctezuma, making it a tributary city to the Aztecs until the arrival of the conquistadors.
Colonial Era
When the Spanish arrived, this city, along with Huaxtepec (which together form the current state of Morelos), was densely populated and prosperous due to its large orchards and the wooden bridges and lianas that crossed its deep ravines.
In 1523, Hernán Cortés founded the church of San José in Tlaltenango in this region, also building the first sugar plantation, setting the precedent for it to become the main economic activity in the region throughout the colonial era.
Juana de Zúñiga, Cortés' wife, lived in Cuernavaca in the palace built in 1526. Cortés later moved his estate from Tlaltenango to Amatitlán and permanently settled in Atlacomulco.
The Franciscans arrived in the city in 1529 and founded a convent. They first lived in the hermitage of San Francisquito and later built the open chapel of San José, which later extended to Tetecala, Xiutepec, Tlaquiltenango, and other neighboring villages.
When New Spain was organized into provinces, Cuernavaca became part of the province of Mexico, which remained throughout the Viceroyalty.
History of Cuernavaca
War of Independence & the 19th Century
Due to its strategic geographical location, Cuernavaca became a point of passage for many of the movements of the independence troops. José María Morelos, one of the important figures of independence, was captured in Texmalaca in 1815, and on his way to Mexico City, he was imprisoned for several days in the Palacio de Cortés. Later, Agustín de Iturbide passed through Cuernavaca with his army in 1820 and 1821.
After the Independence was achieved, privileges were again granted to the landowners who took possession of the rented lands. However, the Marqueses del Valle no longer had influence over what had been their possessions.
According to the Constitution of 1824, the current State of Morelos was part of the State of Mexico between 1827 and 1829, under the name of the District of Cuernavaca.
In 1834, in Cuernavaca, Ignacio Echeverría and José Mariano Campos drafted the Plan de Cuernavaca, which allowed Antonio López de Santa Anna to repeal the Law of Ecclesiastical Patronage, banishing Valentín Gómez Farías, and reopening the University. After the triumph of this pronouncement, the Legislature of the State of Mexico granted Cuernavaca the title of City on October 14, 1834.
During the Mexican-American War of 1846-1847, Cuernavaca was taken by the Cadwalader Brigade, and it was forced to pay contributions.
In 1854, General Juan Álvarez, as the leader of the Revolution of Ayutla, arrived in Cuernavaca and appointed a board of representatives to choose an interim president. The board elected Álvarez himself, and some countries supported him, including the United States, Great Britain, Belgium, Chile, and Guatemala, among others. The new president swore to uphold the Plan de Ayutla, leading to a war as conservatives rejected the liberal Constitution of 1857.
In Cuernavaca, Juan Vicario declared "religion and fueros" in 1858, and in the same year, the districts of Cuernavaca, Morelos, Jonacatepec, Tautepec, and Tetecala were created.
In 1862, President Benito Juárez sought to facilitate actions against the French and divided the State of Mexico into three military districts, with Cuernavaca grouped with Yautepec, Morelos, and Tetecala, and commanded by General Francisco Leyva.
During the Empire, Maximilian turned the Borda Garden into his summer residence and bought land in the nearby town of Acapantzingo to build a chalet. This circumstance led to the improvement of the road from Mexico City to Cuernavaca.
In the final years of the Empire, in 1867, the Republican forces of Francisco Leyva, Ignacio Figueroa, and Ignacio Manuel Altamirano besieged Cuernavaca, where General Joaquín Ayestarán was entrenched. Ayestarán was defeated and killed by Leyva's army.
In 1869, the State of Morelos was created, and General Leyva was elected as its first governor. On November 16 of that year, the Legislature declared Cuernavaca the capital of the state.
In 1877, under the mandate of Carlos Pacheco, the construction of the Toluca-Cuernavaca road and the Mexico-Cuernavaca railway began.
In 1882, to commemorate the promulgation of the Constitution of 1857, the Porfirio Diaz Theater in Cuernavaca was inaugurated, and on May 20th, the first Health Council in the State was established.
Mexican Revolution
In March 1903, the Bank of Morelos was founded.
By 1909, as dissatisfaction with the dictatorship of Diaz grew, anti-reelectionist groups formed in Cuernavaca and began operating guerrillas led by Genovevo De la O. That same year, Emiliano Zapata assumed the leadership of the Republic and appointed De la O as head of the western and southern areas of Cuernavaca.
In 1915, the government of the revolutionary convention was moved to Cuernavaca, and in 1918, the Spanish influenza severely reduced the city's population, bringing the number of inhabitants down to only 3,000.
With Zapata's assassination in Chinameca, revolutionary activities decreased, and things returned to normal.
In 1920, General Obregón left Cuernavaca after conferring with the revolutionaries and headed to the taking of Mexico City.
Modern Era
From the mid-20th century onwards, due to its climate and geographical location, it became one of the preferred tourist destinations for residents of the capital and for all those who want to enjoy its fabulous colonial architecture and rich gastronomy."
“THE CITY OF ETERNAL SPRING”