The history of Piura begins with its founding under the name of San Miguel de Piura, on August 15, 1532. Before the arrival of the Spanish colonizers, Piura was home to numerous ethnic groups that established disputes among themselves to seize the territory and exercise your power over others.
The primary communities of the Ayabacas, Huancabambas and Bracamos were invaded, captured and destroyed by the Inca armies that imposed the dominance of their empire.
Main Square of Piura
Piura is also known as the Wandering or Flying City, due to the fact that the territory in which it is currently located is its fourth settlement.
Outstanding events in the history of Piura
The imposition of Inca rule over the indigenous communities existing in the territory of Piura caused the loss in conflict of more than 8000 men who were members of its army.
The weakening of the Inca warlike force constituted a fortress for the subsequent imposition of Spanish rule.
Conquest and Viceroyalty
Upon the arrival of Francisco Pizarro and his soldiers on the third trip undertaken to conquer Peru, intense battles were fought with the natives of Tumbes.
This caused that the Spaniards chose to look for less hostile places for the establishment of their base of operations.
This is how they arrived in the Tangarará valley and on August 15, 1532, they founded San Miguel, the first city built in Peru.
As with other towns founded by the Spanish, Piura had to be moved on several occasions, motivated by the unsanitary conditions of the territories in which it was established.
Finally, on August 15, 1588, it was founded in the place it currently occupies. In that same year, on December 7, through a Royal Certificate, she was distinguished with the rank of city and her coat of arms was conferred on her.
During the colony, the Piura region was a center of agricultural importance, however, geographically it was very remote from the capital of the Viceroyalty.
This situation caused the most important center in the north to be transferred to the city of Trujillo and with it, the city lost the relevance it had had in the early days.
Independence
Piura ceased to be a quiet city when the Piura patriots joined the independence movement.
This sect of revolutionaries was headed by José Lamas, Santiago León, Baltazar Taboada, Fernando Córdova, Miguel Seminario and Tomás Cortez.
On January 4, 1821, the emancipation of the city was proclaimed in the San Francisco church of San Francisco. Its independence was decisive for the later liberation of Peru.
In particular, the role played by the division made up of more than 1000 Piurans in the victory of Pichincha on May 24, 1822 stands out.
Republic
Piura was elevated to the category of Litoral Province during the first years of republican life.
In 1861 the department of Piura was created with 3 Provinces: Piura, Paita and Ayabaca. Later, in 1865 Huancabamba was converted as its fourth province.
The material progress of the department was slow in republican times despite its agricultural wealth.
It is from 1980 on when the industrial, commercial and economic development of the region was unleashed until it became one of the most solid economies in the country.
References
- History of Piura. (sf). Retrieved on November 23, 2017 from: munipiura.gob.pe.
- History of Piura. (sf). Retrieved on November 23, 2017 from: piuraperu.org.
- History of Piura. (sf). Retrieved on November 23, 2017 from: piuraperu.com
- History of Piura. (sf). Retrieved on November 23, 2017 from: enperu.org.
- Historical Review of Piura. (sf). Retrieved on November 23, 2017 from: congreso.gob.pe.