History of Guadalajara
History of Mérida
History of Oaxaca
Northern Mexico
Central Mexico
Southern Mexico
History of Guadalajara
History of Mérida
History of Oaxaca
Northern Mexico
Central Mexico
Southern Mexico
FRAY BARTOLOMÉ DE LAS CASAS: A VERY IMPORTANT CHARACTER IN THE CITY'S HISTORY
Pre-Hispanic Era
Before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors, the current valley of San Cristóbal was known as Hueyzacatlán, which means "next to the large grass" in Nahuatl.
Colonial Era
On March 31, 1528, the Spanish conquistador Diego de Mazariegos founded the Villa Real de Chiapas in this valley. On June 21, 1529, at the request of Juan Enríquez de Guzmán, its name was changed to Villa Viciosa. On September 11, 1531, through a decision by the Cabildo, it was renamed Villa de San Cristóbal de los Llanos. On July 7, 1536, it was renamed Ciudad Real, and on July 27, 1829, its name was modified to Ciudad de San Cristóbal.
Elevated to the status of Ciudad Real soon after, it received the coat of arms from Charles V in 1535 and the seat of a bishopric from Pope Paul III in 1538. The first bishop was Don Juan de Arteaga, but he died before assuming his position. In his place, Friar Bartolomé de Las Casas, a priest from the Dominican order, was consecrated, and he began establishing convents and strengthening religious communities of the friars.
In 1712, credits from the crown were allocated to formally urbanize San Cristóbal and build its baroque monuments, which are characteristic of this colonial city.
History of San Cristóbal de las Casas
19th century
In 1821, a Criollo friend of Joaquín Miguel Gutiérrez, the Dominican Friar Matías de Córdoba, peacefully proclaimed independence. In 1824, Chiapas joined the Mexican Republic.
During this new urban period, the city experienced floods, earthquakes, plagues, and epidemics. The entire 19th century was marked by eternal conflicts between conservatives (centralists) and liberals (federalists) settling their scores with arms (until 1861). Later, the anti-interventionist war (in Chiapas 1861-1864) bombarded the city twice, followed by the anti-reelectionist struggle (1866-1876) with occasional battles.
Due to these conflicts, the city's population drastically decreased, and many people emigrated to nearby ranches. It wasn't until 1879 when General Miguel Utrilla took office as governor and restored peace. During this period, the neoclassical urban planner, engineer Carlos Z. Flores, modernized the city, remodeled some monuments, adorned the streets with Doric gates and Tuscan windows, and planted gardens and kiosks in the parks. This brilliant urban project was interrupted in 1892 when the government moved to Tuxtla.
On May 31, 1848, the name was changed to San Cristóbal de Las Casas, and on August 9, 1892, the state capital was definitively moved to the city of Tuxtla Gutiérrez.
20th Century
During the revolution, San Cristóbal joined the wrong side because it wanted to reclaim its status as the capital of the state and preserve its haciendas with tenant peons. After the Revolution's triumph, the ambitions of the people of San Cristóbal were punished.
On February 13, 1934, the name was changed to Ciudad Las Casas, but on November 4, 1943, it was restored to its former name, San Cristóbal de Las Casas, in honor of Friar Bartolomé de Las Casas, the protector of the indigenous people.
In 1947, the Pan-American Highway linked San Cristóbal to the rest of the country.
Since the late 20th century and until the present day, the city has been experiencing an increase in population and improvements in its tourism infrastructure.
BAROQUE CONSTRUCTIONS WITH INDIGENOUS TRADITION
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