HISTORY OF MICHOACÁN: PRE-HISPANIC PERIOD UNTIL TODAY - HISTORY - 2024

The history of Michoacán according to archaeological evidence dates back to the formative period or pre-classic period (2500 BC to 200 AD). In Michoacán, several indigenous peoples developed, among which the Purépechas stand out.

The Purépechas maintained their power until 1522, since on that date Cristóbal de Olid took the lands of Michoacán on behalf of Hernán Cortes. The conquest of this territory was continued by Nuño de Guzmán.

Michoacan

Initially Michoacán was part of the so-called Kingdom of Mexico and this belonged to New Spain, which today is known as the country of Mexico.

Later in 1786 with the administrative changes made by the King of Spain, it was renamed Intendencia Valladolid.

Michoacán played a fundamental role in the Mexican War of Independence, which began there and culminated in the taking of Valladolid by Iturbide.

After achieving independence from the Spanish, the Mexicans signed the Constitutive Act of the Federation and by January 31, 1824, the state of Michoacán had been created.

Michoacán Pre-Hispanic Period

Michoacán was inhabited by the Purépecha peoples. These towns were located in the vicinity of Lago de Patzcuaro (lake located in the west of Morelia, old Valladolid).

At first several indigenous peoples settled in the territory of Michoacán, they shared part of their culture and spoke similar languages.

Finally, in the fourteenth century, the Purépecha State was formed, through which different tribes were united into one.

The Purépecha State was formed thanks to the military action of Tariácuri, who managed to unify most of the peoples that lived near Lake Patzcuaro.

Tariácuri was not alone, but had the help of two nephews and their children, for which he gave each part of the territory.

Then, he granted the territory of Patzcuaro to his son Hiquingare. To his nephews he gave the territories of Tzintzuntzan and Ihualzio. These three territories were the pillars of the Purépecha people.

However, after the death of Tariácuri in the 15th century, the Purépecha State was divided into three manors.

These were ruled by his son and his two nephews. For a short time the Purépechas had three leaders.

The manors did not last long and in the end only the manor of Tzintzuntzan remained, and this extended its domain towards the regions that are now known as Colima, Nayarit, Querétaro, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Jalisco and part of San Luis Potosí and Sinaloa.

The Purépecha Empire was larger than the Aztec. Not so many archaeological remains are preserved of it because its forms of construction and worship were different.

Conquest of Michoacán

When the Purépechas found out that the Aztecs had been massacred by the Spanish, they surrendered to the first Spanish expedition that set foot on their lands, with the aim of avoiding the Aztecs' massacre and staying in power.

This expedition was commanded by Cristóbal de Olid, who in 1522 arrived from Michoacán and peacefully made an agreement with the Purépechas.

The agreement was that they would accept Spanish rule, as long as the natives were not harmed and their rulers were preserved.

This empire maintained partial control of their lands until 1530, the year in which Nuño de Guzmán continued with the Spanish conquest and broke the agreement they had reached with Cristóbal de Olid, assassinating the last Purépecha ruler.

Nuño de Guzmán used barbaric methods to conquer the lands. He used torture, burning and destruction of everything the natives had. All this he did with the sole objective of obtaining the gold that he considered that they had.

This situation brought discontent among the natives and they began to revolt. The King of Spain had to send Franciscan and Augustinian missionaries to calm the situation.

The missionaries' work was both the construction of schools and orphanages and the evangelization of the natives.

Colonial Period of Michoacán

After the Spanish managed to conquer all the territory that is currently known as Mexico, the Viceroyalty of New Spain was established.

The Viceroyalty of New Spain was made up of the Kingdom of Mexico and the Kingdom of New Galicia.

Michoacán was part of the Kingdom of Mexico, which was also made up of the territories that are currently known as Mexico, Querétaro, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, Veracruz, Morelo, Guerrero, Tabasco, Guanajuato, Jalisco and Colima.

In 1786 the King of Spain decided to apply the administrative system that existed in Europe at that time, so New Spain was divided into 12 Intendances and with this Michoacán was renamed Intendencia de Valladolid.

Michoacán during the independence process

Michoacán played an important role in Mexico's independence struggle. In 1809 the first conspiracy to seek to separate from the Spanish yoke was carried out in Valladolid.

The fight for independence was started in Guanajuato by Miguel Hidalgo. On July 30, 1811, after the capture and death of Hidalgo, the struggle for independence continued in Michoacán.

The second stage of the War of Independence was commanded by José María Morelos, a priest born in Valladolid and a student of Miguel Hidalgo.

After twelve years of war, independence was finally achieved on May 22, 1821, when the Municipality of Valladolid was taken.

Michoacán after independence

After the War of Independence, the Constitutive Act of the Federation is created and signed, and in article 5 it is established that Michoacán would be one of the states that would make up the Federation. Michoacán was divided into 4 departments, 22 parties.

Valladolid, the capital of Michoacán, was renamed and renamed Morelia in honor of José María Morelos.

References

1. Michoacan history. Retrieved on November 6, 2017, from traveltips.usatoday.com
2. Purhépecha Retrieved on November 6, 2017, from wikipedia.org
3. History of Michoacán. Retrieved on November 6, 2017, from explorandomexico.com
4. Nahua peoples. Retrieved on November 6, 2017, from wikipedia.org
5. Michoacán: a struggle for identily. Retrieved on November 06, 2017, from indigenouspeople.net
6. Michoacan. Retrieved on November 6, 2017, from wikipedia.org
7. Michoacan. Retrieved on November 6, 2017, from britannica.com