Northern Mexico
Central Mexico
Southern Mexico
Northern Mexico
Central Mexico
Southern Mexico
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AND POPULATED NOVOHISPANIC SETTLEMENTS DURING THE COLONIAL ERA
Pre-Hispanic Era
Approximately ten thousand years ago, the first settlers arrived in the current territory of Zacatecas.
They established themselves on the hill of La Bufa and its surroundings.
The diverse Chichimeca tribes that inhabited the Zacatecas territory included the Caxcanes, Guachichiles, Guamares Irritilas, Huicholes, Tecuexes, Teules, Tepehuanes, Coras, and Zacatecas. The latter tribe was one of the most important, and the capital city and state were named after them. The Caxcanes occupied a large part of what is now Jalisco and Zacatecas.
Colonial Era
After the Mixtón War, which the Caxcanes fought against the Spanish in 1541, some Hispanic soldiers set out to seek wealth in the north. Among them was Juan de Tolosa, who, guided by an indigenous person, arrived in what is now Zacatecas on September 8, 1546.
On that same day, he returned south with some samples of rocks, which, upon examination, were found to contain high concentrations of silver and lead. A few weeks later, many others interested in searching for veins arrived, including Tolosa, Diego de Ibarra, Baltasar Temiño de Bañuelos, Andrés de Villanueva, among others. Cristóbal de Oñate was one of the sponsors of the enterprise.
History of Zacatecas
The mineral wealth underground would attract many people and generate significant income for the Spanish crown. This led to the emergence of the "silver aristocracy." Consequently, Zacatecas became, within a few years, one of the most important and populated settlements in New Spain, after Mexico City.
In addition to wealth and a progressive increase in population, another element contributed to Zacatecas being considered the second most important city in New Spain: it became one of the main centers of missionary operations in the colony.
Before the end of the 16th century, Zacatecas received the privilege of being named "City of Our Lady of Zacatecas" through a royal decree issued in 1585 by the Spanish monarch Felipe II. Three years later, the same monarch granted the title of "Most Noble and Loyal" to the city, along with a coat of arms – a privilege enjoyed by very few towns and cities during the Viceroyalty.
It is worth noting that a significant portion of the silver and other minerals extracted from this land were transformed into genuine architectural jewels carved in pink quarry stone, resulting in a city of enormous beauty, magic, and nobility due to its layout and architecture. The construction of monumental buildings flourished during the 18th century.
War of Independence & the 19th Century
When the War of Independence began, Zacatecas was represented by notable figures such as Víctor Rosales and José María Cos. On September 21, 1810, the first news of the movement circulated in Zacatecas when Hidalgo entered Celaya. After ten years of struggle and the signing of the Treaties of Córdoba, Independence was proclaimed in the city of Zacatecas by local authorities on July 5, 1821.
During the early years of independent life, the state of Zacatecas and its capital adopted an emblem featuring a royal eagle devouring a serpent as their coat of arms, replacing the one granted by Felipe II in the 16th century.
Between 1824 and 1825, Zacatecas saw the operation of its first printing press, the establishment of the State General Treasury and the Capital Revenue Administration, and the creation of the Supreme Court of Justice. The first Political Constitution of the State came into effect during this period, one of the first in the country. Additionally, the Commercial Appeals Court and the Mining Appeals Court were established.
The Patriotic Society of Friends of the Country was founded, comprised of miners, merchants, farmers, artisans, and intellectuals with cultural, civic, and social purposes. Their publication, "Correo Político," began circulating in April 1825.
In 1826, the first normal school was opened, located in the upper part of a house known as "La Condesa." Slavery was abolished in the state in the same year. Construction of the Rosales Portal began in 1827, replacing the former jail.
In 1884, the first train arrived in the city, and electricity, telephone, and telegraph services were installed.
Mexican Revolution
During the Mexican Revolution, Zacatecas became the setting for one of the decisive battles in national history: the Taking of Zacatecas in 1914. The revolutionary forces triumphed, bringing about the end of Huerta's rule. For this event, the city earned another honorary title: "Heroic City." In those years, the city's original coat of arms – the one granted by Felipe II in 1588 – was dusted off and reused, not only as the official emblem of the city but also of the state of Zacatecas.
Modern Era
In the mid-20th century, efforts began to rescue and preserve the architectural character of the city. In December 1993, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee declared Zacatecas' historic center as a World Cultural Heritage site.
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