Guadalajara History, Mexico

Guadalajara is a Mexican city with a rich history dating back to the year 1542. The city was under Spanish rule from 1521 to 1821. It was the atrocious Nuno de Guzman who led the Spanish Conquistadores to settle in Guadalajara.

According to records, Guzman and his men had reached Guadalajara by raping, burning and assaulting the peaceful Native American tribes. This led to these tribes developing a sense of hatred, fury and bellicosity towards Guzman and his troops. And it was this bellicosity that prevented Guzman from naming the city Guadalajara, after his Spain hometown.

This matter was finally resolved with the Mixton War between the tribes and Guzman’s men, which lasted from 1540 to 1542. However, with this war, Guzman was arrested, and he died in a Spanish prison on the same year that Guadalajara of Mexico was declared an official city on February 14, 1542.

Founders of the city

The co-architects of this city were Dona Beatriz de Hernandez and Governor Cristobal de Onate. It was King Carlos I of Spain who had bestowed the Coat of Arms in1560 to decide and name the valley shelter of Mexico Guadalajara, the capital of Nueva Galicia or Jalisco as the state is known today.

Guadalajara was first more of an outpost in the Mexican west, only to grow into a tourist destination famous for its culture, conventions, customs and exhibits. The Universiadad de Guadalajara and the city’s first printing press were founded on 1972. This led to the publishing of the first autonomous newspaper of the city, El Despertador Americano in 1810.

Spurt in the growth of the city

Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, the Father of Independence then eradicated slavery in the same year by making a declaration in the building housing Palacio de Gobierno today. The Querra de la Reforma (War of Reform) took place between 1857 and 1860 in the state of Jalisco. The state faced two more years of battles in 1864, during the French intrusion.

Jalisco was also involved in the Querra Cristera, which started in 1926 and ended on June 29, 1929. With the demand for shoes and clothes increasing during the World War II, there was a boost in the growth of the city which lasted till the year 1960.

The authoritative ceremonies of the city were announced in 1965. These celebrations center on business, entertainment and tradition with the intention of attracting tourists. And with this, the popularity and growth of the city has undergone a steady growth.

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