The Huánuco coat of arms is the insignia of the department of Huánuco, in Peru. It was founded on August 15, 1539 by the Spanish Gómez de Alvarado y Contreras.
The first shield of the department of Huánuco was granted in 1543 by the governor Cristóbal Vaca de Castro. From that design, different modifications were generated over time.
History
In the colonial history of Peru, the invading Spanish forces constantly clashed in order to increase their power over Peruvian wealth and territories.
Such is the case of the Pizarristas and the Almagristas in 1538, who clashed in Cusco. The slates were victorious in this confrontation, with the death of Diego de Almagro.
After that, the head of the Pizarristas, Francisco Pizarro, sent a military force under the command of Captain Alonso de Mercadillo in order to conquer the lands of Villcomayos, Panatahuas and Rupa Rupa, a region that today is known as Huánuco.
This company would be sabotaged and prevented by the military forces and the strategic cunning of Illa Túpac, a skilled warrior who faced the colonizers countless times, and who emerged victorious.
At the same time, the Spanish Alonso de Alvarado leaves from Lima to Chacapoyas in search of the legendary city of El Dorado. He confronts Illa Túpac and saw his company defeated.
Given all this, Pizarro decides to send troops to the Huánuco Pampa regions to develop a strategy against the staunch warrior.
This is how, traveling the route of Canta, Gómez Alvarado and Contreras arrived at Huánuco Pampa or Huánuco Viejo, founding said region as the "city of Huanuco" on August 15, 1539.
Today that region is part of the Dos de Mayo province, since later the city of Huánuco, baptized as "León de Huánco", was located in the valley of the Huallaga river.
Historical evolution of design
As mentioned before, the first shield of Huánuco was granted in 1543 by Governor Cristóbal Vaca de Castro.
It was mainly characterized by a rampant golden lion wearing a crown with the writing "León de Huánuco de los Caballeros."
Later it underwent some changes in its design, appearing a golden crowned lion nailing its claw on the chest of a warrior. Said warrior refers to the rebel captain Francisco Hernández Girón.
The story goes that Hernández Girón, 10 years after the founding of the city of Huánuco, rose up against the Spanish crown in the city of Cusco.
As a result of this confrontation, a group of Spanish soldiers called "Los de Huánuco" faced Francisco Hernández Girón and managed to defeat and assassinate him.
In recognition of this feat, King Carlos V gave the city the title of "The very noble and very loyal City of León de Huánuco de los Caballeros."
The representation of Hernández Girón on the shield symbolizes the supremacy of the Spanish monarchy over any rebel movement that opposes it.
Two golden eagles are added to the current shield on its sides, as well as the plume located in the upper part of the blazon.
In the lower part of the shield, the legendary bird Pillco appears flying, whose song originated the name of Valle del Pillco, located in Huánuco.
The use of the rampant lion is frequently related to the birthplace of Governor Cristóbal Vaca de Castro, who was a native of the Kingdom of León, in Spain.
References
- Jinre. (February 20, 2012). Huánuco, from «León y caballeros», Obtained from La Mula: lamula.pe
- Nieves Fabián, Manuel (2006). "Huánuco Cultural Identity" Ediciones Rikchary, Huánuco.
- Symbols of Huánuco. (sf). Retrieved on October 6, 2017, from Peru Huánuco: peruhuanuco.com
- Symbols of Huánuco. (sf). Retrieved on October 6, 2017, from WebHuanuco: webhuanuco.com
- Huánuco Department. (sf). Retrieved on October 6, 2017, from Wikipedia: es.wikipedia.org
- Shield of Huánuco. (sf). Retrieved on October 6, 2017, from Wikipedia: es.wikipedia.org