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
THIS CITY IS THE RESULT OF FOUR PRE-HISPANIC SETTLEMENTS: XALLITIC, TECUANAPAN, TECUANAPAN, AND TLALNECAPAN
Pre-Hispanic Era
The exact date of Xalapa's foundation is not known.
However, the historian Rivera Cambas considers that it took place in the year 1313, around the time when Tenochtitlán was founded. The first settlers are also not known for certain, but it is believed that the Totonacas were among the first to establish themselves in the northern region, at the foothills of Macuiltépetl, where traces of their presence have been found. They later founded the settlement of Xallitic. Other historians argue that the first settlers were the Toltecs, who stopped in the area during their migration towards Yucatán and Central America.
During the 14th century, four indigenous groups successively settled in the area currently occupied by Xalapa, each founding a small settlement. These settlements were: Xallitic (in the sand) to the north, founded by the Totonacas; Techacapan (river of the waste) to the east, founded by the Chichimecas; Tecuanapan (river of the beasts) to the northeast, founded by the Toltecs, and Tlalnecapan (river of the vines) to the southwest, founded by the Teochichimecas.
Over time, the four settlements grew and eventually merged to form a single population that took on the name Xallapan. The settlements that gave rise to Xalapa are now neighborhoods in the city, still preserving their ancient names.
In the second half of the 15th century, Moctezuma Ilhuicamina, the fifth Aztec Emperor, invaded the current territory of Veracruz and in 1457, subdued numerous indigenous settlements, including Xallitic, Techacapan, Tecuanapan, and Tlalnecapan. From that year onwards, the settlements in the region came under the rule of the Aztec Empire until it was conquered by the Spanish in 1521.
History of Xalapa
Colonial Era
The first Spaniards to arrive in Xalapa were Hernán Cortés and his soldiers, who reached the settlement on August 17, 1519, during their journey from the Veracruz coast to Tenochtitlan.
After the conquest of Mexico, Spanish missionaries sought to convert the indigenous people to Christianity. In 1555, the San Francisco convent was founded in Xalapa, which is now located in Juárez Park. In 1560, numerous missionaries departed from this convent to evangelize Coatepec and other neighboring settlements.
The Spanish destroyed the indigenous temples and replaced them with Christian ones. Temples like El Calvario in Xallitic, San José de la Laguna in Techacapan, and Santiago in Tlalnecapan were built in place of the indigenous ones. In the center of the four settlements, the church of Santa María de la Concepción was constructed, which is now the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Xalapa.
At the arrival of the Spanish, the territory that is now Xalapa was sparsely populated. After the conquest, its population increased due to its strategic location along the Mexico-Veracruz route. However, with the opening of the Mexico-Orizaba-Veracruz route, Xalapa lost some importance as a transit point, leading to relatively stagnant population growth in the 17th century.
In 1720, the first "Feria de Xalapa" (Xalapa Fair) was held, which gradually increased the importance of the town as it attracted numerous traders from Nueva España (New Spain, now Mexico) who came to sell their products and buy goods from the peninsula. As a result, many Spanish families from nearby settlements settled in Xalapa, and by 1760, the population of Xalapa exceeded a thousand inhabitants, including indigenous, mestizo, and Spanish residents.
During the 18th century, Xalapa experienced significant growth in population, culture, trade, and importance, prompting its inhabitants to request the Viceroy Juan Vicente Güemes Pacheco Padilla, the Second Count of Revillagigedo, to request King Carlos IV of Spain to elevate the settlement to the status of Villa (town). The Spanish monarch granted Xalapa the title of Villa and Coat of Arms through Royal Decrees issued on December 18, 1791.
On May 18, 1784, José María Alfaro launched the first hot air balloon in America in the town of Xalapa.
The abundance of flowers in the region led Baron von Humboldt, who visited the Villa on February 10, 1804, to baptize Xalapa as the "City of Flowers."
War of Independence
On May 20, 1821, shortly before the Mexican Independence was achieved on September 27 of the same year, Xalapa was attacked by the forces of Antonio López de Santa Anna, who, along with Joaquín Leño, forced the Spanish captain Juan Horbregoso to surrender the town.
After the independence was achieved, and Agustín de Iturbide became the Emperor of Mexico, he traveled through the central region of the state of Veracruz. When passing through Xalapa, he was received coldly by the people.
On May 9, 1824, during the presidency of Guadalupe Victoria, the First Legislature of the State of Veracruz was installed in Xalapa. In the same year, Xalapa was declared the capital of the state, a role it has played ever since.
On November 29, 1830, by decree, Xalapa was elevated to the status of a city. In 1843, Antonio María de Rivera founded the Colegio Nacional de Xalapa (now Colegio Preparatorio), the oldest of its kind in the country.
Invasions and Reform
During the Mexican-American War in 1847, General Antonio López de Santa Anna tried to stop the enemy at Cerro Gordo, near Xalapa. The Mexican troops suffered a bloody defeat on April 18, and the next day, the invaders occupied the Veracruz capital.
Years later, in May 1854, Xalapa had the honor of hosting Licenciado Benito Juárez for a few days, as he stayed in a house on Nueva Street (now Benito Juárez Street).
During the French Intervention in Mexico, the city was occupied by the enemy in November 1862. Emperor Maximilian of Habsburg stayed in Xalapa on his way from Veracruz to Mexico City.
In 1888, the State Graphic Workshops were inaugurated, and in June 1890, the first locomotive arrived in the city for the Xalapa-Coatepec-Teocelo railway.
On March 17, 1892, General Juan de la Luz Enríquez, the state governor, passed away. On March 30 of the same year, a decree declared him a "Benemérito" of the State, and the city received the name Xalapa-Enríquez in his honor.
Mexican Revolution
On May 18, 1911, Francisco I. Madero visited Xalapa. On June 21 of the same year, a clash occurred in the city between federal forces and revolutionaries.
On January 3, 1920, a strong earthquake struck the city, causing numerous damages and destroying several buildings. Later that year, in December 1923, Xalapa fell into the hands of the Huertistas forces led by Guadalupe Sánchez.
Modern Era
On September 4, 1978, by decree number 325, the Local Legislature approved that the name Xalapa Enríquez, the capital city of the State of Veracruz Llave, should be written with an "X."
Throughout the 20th century, the city experienced economic growth and, more importantly, emerged as a cultural center, earning the nickname "the Athenas of Veracruz."
KNOWN AS "THE ATHENS OF VERACRUZ" FOR ITS INTENSE CULTURAL ACTIVITY
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