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82-458: Sociedad is a municipality in the Morazán department of El Salvador . It lies between La Unión and San Miguel, both of which are departments of El Salvador. The town was founded on April 18,1838 by the political and military Governor of San Miguel, Colonel Narciso Benítez of Colombian nationality, who had been Simón Bolívar's lieutenant. In 1874 the town was granted the title of "town", and it

164-598: A Christian cross was put up on one of them. From Cozumel, the fleet looped around the north of the Yucatán Peninsula and followed the coast to the Tabasco River. In Tabasco, the fleet anchored at Potonchán , a Chontal Maya town. The Maya prepared for battle but the Spanish horses and firearms quickly decided the outcome. From Potonchán, the fleet continued to San Juan de Ulua. The crew stayed only

246-491: A Xinca army soon after leaving Taxisco. Many indigenous allies were killed and most of the baggage was lost, including all the crossbows and ironwork for the horses. This was a serious setback and Alvarado camped his army in Nancintla for eight days, during which time he sent two expeditions against the attacking army. Alvarado sent out Xinca messengers to make contact with the enemy but they failed to return. Messengers from

328-488: A different language altogether; these people were probably Xinca. At this point Alvarado's force consisted of 250 Spanish infantry accompanied by 6,000 indigenous allies, mostly Kaqchikel and Cholutec. Alvarado and his army defeated and occupied the most important Xinca city, named as Atiquipaque. The defending warriors were described by Alvarado as engaging in fierce hand-to-hand combat using spears, stakes and poisoned arrows. The battle took place on 26 May 1524 and resulted in

410-440: A friendship with Hernán Cortés , who at the time was serving as public scribe. Alvarado joined Cortés to participate in the conquest of Cuba , under the command of Diego de Velázquez . The conquest of Cuba was launched in 1511, and Pedro de Alvarado was accompanied by his brothers. Soon after the invasion, Alvarado was managing a prosperous hacienda in the new colony. It is around this time that Pedro de Alvarado emerges into

492-592: A lone ship could be lost. After this, the Spanish referred to the river as the Río de Alvarado ("Alvarado's River"). A little further along the coast, the fleet encountered settlements under Aztec dominion, and was met by Aztec emissaries with gifts of gold and jewels sent by the Emperor Moctezuma II . As punishment for entering the Papaloapan River without orders, Grijalva sent Alvarado with

574-473: A municipal council, which is elected by the residents and functions as the local legislative body. The head of the council, typically a mayor, oversees the executive functions within the municipality. The concept of municipalities in El Salvador dates back to colonial times, with administrative divisions that evolved over centuries. Municipalities originally developed as autonomous entities meant to address

656-538: A picture of him, the Aztecs referred to him as Tōnatiuh . The Aztecs gave Alvarado this name because of his blond hair, and also his infamous temper. He was handsome, and presented an affable appearance, but was volatile and quick to anger. He was ruthless in his dealings with the indigenous peoples he set out to conquer. Historians judge that his greed drove him to excessive cruelty, and his Spanish contemporaries denounced his extreme brutality during his lifetime. He

738-441: A reputation for greed and cruelty, and was accused of various crimes and abuses by natives and Spaniards alike. In 1541, while attempting to quell a native revolt, Alvarado was accidentally crushed by a horse, dying a few days later. Pedro de Alvarado was flamboyant and charismatic, and was both a brilliant military commander and a cruel, hardened man. He is described as having "good features and bearing", and when presented with

820-559: A short time before relocating to a promontory near Quiahuiztlan and Cempoala , a subject city of the Aztec Empire. Some of the Spaniards stayed near the coast when Cortés journeyed inland but Alvarado accompanied Cortés on the inland march. While marching toward Tenochtitlan, the expedition made a slight detour to travel through Tlaxcalteca lands. The Tlaxcalteca attacked the Spanish force numerous times but they were unable to rout

902-452: A significant reduction of the Xinca population. Alvarado's army continued eastwards from Atiquipaque, seizing several more Xinca cities. Because Alvarado and his allies could not understand the Xinca language, Alvarado took extra precautions on the march eastward by strengthening his vanguard and rearguard with ten cavalry apiece. In spite of these precautions the baggage train was ambushed by

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984-613: A smaller group in 1528) to bring the Pipil under Spanish control. In 1528 the conquest of Cuzcatlán was completed and the city of San Salvador was established. On 18 December 1527, the king of Spain named Alvarado as governor of Guatemala; two days later he granted him the coveted military title of Adelantado . Alvarado's close friendship with Cortés was broken in the same year; Alvarado had promised Cortés that he would marry Cecilia Vázquez, Cortes' cousin. Alvarado broke his promise and instead married Francisca de la Cueva. Technically, this

1066-455: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Municipalities of El Salvador The municipalities of El Salvador ( Spanish : municipios ) are the second-level administrative divisions within the Republic of El Salvador. These municipalities divide the country's departments and serve as the fundamental administrative units of local government. Historically, El Salvador

1148-654: Is known of Pedro de Alvarado's early life before his arrival in the Americas. During the conquest of the Americas , tales of his youthful exploits in Spain became popular legends, but their veracity is doubtful. An example is the tale then current that when he was a youth awaiting passage to the Americas, he climbed the church tower in Seville with some friends. A banner pole extended some 3.0 to 3.7 metres (10 to 12 ft) from an upper window. One of his companions walked out to

1230-651: Is the first municipality established in Central America. The Spanish organized the cabildos and ayuntamientos in the cities. In the first Constitution of the State of El Salvador, the limits of each municipality were established. On September 4, 1832, the Reglament of Political Governors, Municipalities and Mayors was emitted. This reglament established limits and jurisdictions for the Departments and regulated

1312-672: The Aztecs desist from idol worship and human sacrifice ; in order to ensure their own safety, the Spaniards took the Aztec king Moctezuma hostage. When Cortés returned to the Gulf coast to deal with the newly arrived hostile expedition of Pánfilo de Narváez , Alvarado remained in Tenochtitlan as commander of the Spanish enclave, with strict orders to make sure that Moctezuma not be permitted to escape. During Cortés' absence, relations between

1394-553: The Samalá River in western Guatemala. This region formed a part of the K'iche' kingdom , and a K'iche' army tried unsuccessfully to prevent the Spanish from crossing the river. Once across, the conquistadors ransacked nearby settlements in an effort to terrorise the K'iche'. On 8 February 1524 Alvarado's army fought a battle at Xetulul, called Zapotitlán by his Mexican allies (modern San Francisco Zapotitlán ). Although suffering many injuries inflicted by defending K'iche' archers,

1476-469: The First Alcalde, the parroquial priest, one Regidor, those trained in or practicing medicine or surgery and one neighbor named by the municipal council. The municipality was in charge of the statistics and public works of its jurisdiction. On December 9, 1854, the government decreed various changes for the governance of municipalities. The number of members of the municipal councils was reformed in

1558-469: The K'iche' militarily and they asked for peace and offered tribute, inviting Pedro de Alvarado into their capital Q'umarkaj , which was known as Tecpan Utatlan to the Nahuatl-speaking allies of the Spanish. Alvarado was deeply suspicious of the K'iche' intentions but accepted the offer and marched to Q'umarkaj with his army. In March 1524 Pedro de Alvarado entered Q'umarkaj at the invitation of

1640-584: The Kaqchikel capital on 23 July 1524 and on 27 July, Pedro de Alvarado declared Iximche as the first capital of Guatemala, Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala ("St. James of the Knights of Guatemala"). The Kaqchikel appear to have entered into an alliance with the Spanish to defeat their enemies, the Tz'utujil, whose capital was Tecpan Atitlan. Pedro de Alvarado sent two Kaqchikel messengers to Tecpan Atitlan at

1722-513: The Legislative Assembly. The municipal government is exerted by a Consejo Municipal (Municipal Council), which has the characteristics of deliberative and normative. It is integrated by an Alcalde (Mayor), one Sindico (Legal representative) and a number of proprietary Regidores (Council members) that is proportionate to the population and 4 auxiliary Regidores . The proportion of the amount of Regidores is: Members of

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1804-639: The Municipal Branch was issued. The Constitution of 1939 passed the election of local governments to the executive office, but in the constitutional reforms made in 1945 and in the Constitution of 1950, political autonomy was returned to the municipalities. According to Chapter I, Title IV of the Municipal Code, the requirements for the creation of a municipality are: The creation, fusion or incorporation of municipalities corresponds to

1886-451: The Municipal Code, which was enacted on January 31, 1986. The code establishes each municipio as the primary unit of political administration in El Salvador, with a defined territory and political autonomy. According to this code, municipalities are responsible for various local government functions, including infrastructure maintenance, public health services, local education, and promoting community development. Each municipality operates with

1968-618: The New World. The only one of the Alvarado brothers that appears in the registers is Juan de Alvarado, in 1511, leading to the assumption that the rest were already in the Americas by the time the licensing system was established. The Alvarado brothers stopped off at Hispaniola , but there are few mentions of their stay there in historical documents. Soon after arriving in Santo Domingo , on Hispaniola, Pedro de Alvarado established

2050-560: The Pipil lords demanding their surrender, otherwise he would lay waste to their lands. According to Alvarado's letter to Cortés, the Pipil came back to the town and submitted to him, accepting the king of Spain as their overlord. The Spanish force camped in the captured town for eight days. A few years later, in 1529, Pedro de Alvarado was accused of using excessive brutality in his conquest of Izcuintepeque, amongst other atrocities. In Guazacapán , Pedro de Alvarado described his encounter with people who were neither Maya nor Pipil, speaking

2132-459: The Pipil of Panacal or Panacaltepeque near Izcuintepeque on 9 May. Alvarado described the terrain approaching the town as very difficult, covered with dense vegetation and swampland that made the use of cavalry impossible; instead he sent men with crossbows ahead. The Pipil withdrew their scouts because of the heavy rain, believing that the Spanish and their allies would not be able to reach the town that day. Pedro de Alvarado pressed ahead and when

2214-549: The Spaniards and their hosts went from bad to worse, and Alvarado perpetrated the Massacre in the Great Temple , killing Aztec nobles and priests observing a religious festival. Alvarado claims he did so because he feared the Aztecs were plotting against him but there is no physical evidence to support this claim and the alleged warnings he received came from tortured captives that very likely would have said anything to make

2296-445: The Spaniards' indigenous allies and managed to kill one of the Spanish soldiers. At this point Alvarado decided to have the captured K'iche' lords burnt to death, and then proceeded to burn the entire city. After the destruction of Q'umarkaj and the execution of its rulers, Pedro de Alvarado sent messages to Iximche , capital of the Kaqchikel, proposing an alliance against the remaining K'iche' resistance. On 14 April 1524, soon after

2378-548: The Spanish Crown to establish ordered taxation in Guatemala, and refused to acknowledge such attempts. As governor of Guatemala, Alvarado has been described by W. George Lovell et al. as "an insatiable despot who recognized no authority but his own and who regarded Guatemala as little more than his personal estate." American historian William H. Prescott described Alvarado's character in the following terms: Alvarado

2460-461: The Spanish and their allies stormed the town and set up camp in the marketplace. Alvarado then turned to head upriver into the Sierra Madre mountains towards the K'iche' heartlands, crossing the pass into the fertile valley of Quetzaltenango. On 12 February 1524 Alvarado's Mexican allies were ambushed in the pass and driven back by K'iche' warriors but the Spanish cavalry charge that followed

2542-413: The Spanish entered the town the defenders were completely unprepared, with the Pipil warriors indoors sheltering from the torrential rain. In the battle that ensued, the Spanish and their indigenous allies suffered minor losses but the Pipil were able to flee into the forest, sheltered from Spanish pursuit by the weather and the vegetation. Pedro de Alvarado ordered the town to be burnt and sent messengers to

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2624-519: The Spanish forces. After making an alliance with the Tlaxcalteca, the Spanish went on to conquer the Aztecs. Alvarado commanded one of the eleven vessels in the fleet and also acted as Cortés' second in command during the expedition's first stay in the Aztec capital city of Tenochtitlán . Relations between the Spaniards and their hosts were uneasy, especially given Cortés' repeated insistence that

2706-479: The Spanish. Alvarado's letter to Hernán Cortés describing his passage through Soconusco is lost, and knowledge of events there come from the account of Bernal Díaz del Castillo , who was not present, but related the report of Gonzalo de Alvarado. By 1524, Soconusco had been completely pacified by Alvarado and his forces. Pedro de Alvarado and his army advanced along the Pacific coast unopposed until they reached

2788-615: The administration of president Francisco Dueñas , the House of Senators issued the Código Político y Municipal (Political and Municipal Code), it entered into validity after its publication in the official newspaper El Constitucional on April 4, 1867. this code replaced the Reglament of 1861 which was considered to be in disharmony with the laws that assured the independence of municipal and judicial functionaries and contained "dispositions which were too complicated and impracticable in

2870-427: The approach to Quetzaltenango in his 3rd letter to Hernán Cortés Cortés despatched Pedro de Alvarado to invade Guatemala with 180 cavalry, 300 infantry, crossbows, muskets, 4 cannons, large amounts of ammunition and gunpowder, and thousands of allied Mexican warriors. Pedro de Alvarado passed through Soconusco with a sizeable force in 1523, en route to conquer Guatemala. Alvarado's army included hardened veterans of

2952-675: The assembly, but such funds are earmarked in the budget and are not incorporated into the central government's general fund. Among the duties relegated to the municipal councils under the Salvadoran Municipal Code is the holding of town meetings ( cabildos abiertos ) at least once every three months. The council is enjoined from acting against the majority opinion expressed at the town meetings. The municipal councils also grant legal recognition (personalidad juridica) to communal associations in their municipios. The councils are required to meet periodically with representatives of

3034-453: The city of Pazaco , in the modern department of Jutiapa, offered peace to the conquistadors but when Alvarado arrived there the next day the inhabitants were preparing for war. Alvarado's troops encountered a sizeable quantity of gathered warriors and quickly routed them through the city's streets. From Pazaco, Alvarado crossed the Río Paz and entered what is now El Salvador. Alvarado led

3116-439: The coast. On Ascension Thursday the fleet discovered a large bay, which the Spanish named Bahía de la Ascensión. Grijalva did not land at any of these cities and turned back north to loop around the north of the Yucatán Peninsula and sail down the west coast. At Campeche the Spanish opened fire against the city with small cannon; the inhabitants fled, allowing the Spanish to take the abandoned city. The Maya remained hidden in

3198-502: The communal associations and to consult with them on the appointment of representatives to advisory and other local commissions. The councils also issue local ordinances and regulations. Municipalities are subdivided into one urban area which is the municipal capital and various cantons which compromise its rural population. Cantons are composed of Caseríos. Pedro de Alvarado Pedro de Alvarado ( Spanish pronunciation: [ˈpeðɾo ðe alβaˈɾaðo] ; c. 1485 – 4 July 1541)

3280-460: The conquest of the Aztecs, and included cavalry and artillery; there were also a great many indigenous allies from Cholula , Tenochtitlan, Texcoco , Tlaxcala , and Xochimilco . Alvarado was received in peace in Soconusco, and the inhabitants swore allegiance to the Spanish Crown. They reported that neighbouring groups in Guatemala were attacking them because of their friendly outlook towards

3362-493: The defeat of the K'iche', the Spanish were invited into Iximche and were well received by the lords Belehe Qat and Cahi Imox. The Kaqchikel kings provided native soldiers to assist the conquistadors against continuing K'iche' resistance and to help with the defeat of the neighbouring Tz'utuhil kingdom. The Spanish only stayed briefly in Iximche before continuing through Atitlán, Escuintla and Cuscatlán . The Spanish returned to

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3444-541: The delicate position he occupied, was a quality of more worth than all the rest. Spanish chronicler Antonio de Remesal commented that "Alvarado desired more to be feared than loved by his subjects, whether they were Indians or Spaniards." In his easy recourse to violence, Alvarado was a product of his time, and Alvarado was not the only conquistador to have resorted to such actions. Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro carried out deeds of similar cruelty, but have not attracted as much criticism as Alvarado. Pedro de Alvarado

3526-457: The end of the pole after removing his cloak and sword, and returned to the tower backwards. Alvarado, afraid of being mocked, walked out onto the pole with both sword and cloak, and turned around at the end to return to the tower facing it. Alvarado's paternal grandfather was Juan Alvarado "el Viejo" ("the elder"), who was comendador of Hornachos , and his paternal grandmother was Catalina Messía. Pedro de Alvarado's uncle on his father's side

3608-534: The feast day of St. John. Alvarado's company was the first to make it to the Tlateloco marketplace, setting fire to the Aztec shrines. Cortés' and Sandoval's companies joined him there after four more days of fighting. ... we waited until they came close enough to shoot their arrows, and then we smashed into them; as they had never seen horses, they grew very fearful, and we made a good advance ... and many of them died. Pedro de Alvarado describing

3690-566: The first effort by Spanish forces to extend their dominion to the nation of Cuzcatlan (in modern El Salvador ), in June 1524. These efforts established many towns such as San José Acatempa in 1525 and Esquipulas in 1560. Spanish efforts were firmly resisted by the indigenous people known as the Pipil and their Mayan speaking neighbors. Despite Alvarado's initial success in the Battle of Acajutla ,

3772-506: The following way: there would be 1 Alcalde and 1 Síndico for each population and the number of regidores would be determined according to the following criteria: This decree also established the Juzgado de Paz (Justice of the Peace) which separated judicial matters from the political government of the municipalities. These were established with the following numbers: On November 12, 1861,

3854-531: The forest, so the Spanish boarded their ships and continued along the coast. At Champotón , the fleet was approached by a small number of large war canoes, but the ships' cannon soon put them to flight. At the mouth of the Tabasco River the Spanish sighted massed warriors and canoes but the natives did not approach. By means of interpreters, Grijalva indicated that he wished to trade and bartered wine and beads in exchange for food and other supplies. From

3936-474: The forests and hills on 28 August 1524. Ten days later the Spanish declared war on the Kaqchikel. Two years later, on 9 February 1526, a group of sixteen Spanish deserters burnt the palace of the Ahpo Xahil , sacked the temples and kidnapped a priest, acts that the Kaqchikel blamed on Pedro de Alvarado. The Kaqchikel kept up resistance against the Spanish for a number of years. On 9 May 1530, exhausted by

4018-527: The government of president Gerardo Barrios decreed the Reglamento de Gobernadores, Jefes de Partido, Concejos Municipales, Alcaldes y Jueces de Paz . This bylaw had the purpose of remediating the confusions caused by the various and diverse laws emitted for the regulation of municipalities and to regulate the attributions of Jefes de Partido (District Chiefs) and to ensure the collection and legal investment of municipal funds. On February 15, 1866, during

4100-456: The historical record as a prosperous and influential hacienda -owner, already well connected with Velázquez, who was now governor of Cuba . Diego Velázquez, the governor of Cuba, was enthused by Francisco Hernández de Córdoba 's report of gold in the newly discovered Yucatán Peninsula . He organised an expedition consisting of four ships and 260 men. He placed his nephew Juan de Grijalva in overall command; Pedro de Alvarado captained one of

4182-449: The indigenous people of Cuzcatlán, who according to tradition were led by a warlord called Atlácatl , defeated the Spaniards and their auxiliaries, and forced them to withdraw to Guatemala. Alvarado was wounded on his left thigh , remaining handicapped for the rest of his life. He abandoned the war and appointed his brother, Gonzalo de Alvarado, to continue the task. Two subsequent expeditions were required (the first in 1525, followed by

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4264-597: The inland estates of Cuba. The crew included officers that would become famous conquistadors, including Cristóbal de Olid , Gonzalo de Sandoval and Diego de Ordaz . Also aboard were Francisco de Montejo and Bernal Díaz del Castillo , veterans of the Grijalva expedition. Alvarado once again commanded the San Sebastián , with 60 men under his orders. The fleet made its first landfall at Cozumel, and remained there for several days. Maya temples were cast down and

4346-582: The island. This battle took place on 18 April. The following day the Spanish entered Tecpan Atitlan but found it deserted. Pedro de Alvarado camped in the centre of the city and sent out scouts to find the enemy. They managed to catch some locals and used them to send messages to the Tz'utujil lords, ordering them to submit to the king of Spain. The Tz'utujil leaders responded by surrendering to Pedro de Alvarado and swearing loyalty to Spain, at which point Alvarado considered them pacified and returned to Iximche. Three days after Pedro de Alvarado returned to Iximche,

4428-454: The lakeshore after a day's hard march, without encountering any opposition. Seeing the lack of resistance, Alvarado rode ahead with 30 cavalry along the lake shore. Opposite a populated island the Spanish at last encountered hostile Tz'utujil warriors and charged among them, scattering and pursuing them to a narrow causeway across which the surviving Tz'utujil fled. The rest of Alvarado's army soon reinforced his party and they successfully stormed

4510-602: The lords of the Tz'utujil arrived there to pledge their loyalty and offer tribute to the conquistadors. A short time afterwards a number of lords arrived from the Pacific lowlands to swear allegiance to the king of Spain. Pedro de Alvarado rapidly began to demand gold in tribute from the Kaqchikels, souring the friendship between the two peoples. He demanded that their kings deliver 1000 gold leaves, each worth 15 pesos . The Kaqchikel people abandoned their city and fled to

4592-537: The management and counting of municipal funds." According to the Code, the municipal councils were proportioned with 1 Alcalde and 1 Síndico with: The Constitution of 1886 established the character of popular elections in the municipal government. On May 8, 1897, the National Assembly emitted a Law of the Municipal Branch which was sanctioned by the executive office on May 16. On April 28, 1908 another Law of

4674-440: The municipal councils must be both at least 21 and residents of the municipality. Directly elected, municipal officials serve three-year terms and may be re-elected. Municipios are not all of equal size but are required to have a population of at least 10,000. Boundaries are determined by the Legislative Assembly. The powers of local government are those given by the central government. Because department governors are appointed by

4756-477: The municipalities and the position of Mayors. According to the reglament, the municipal councils were organized according to the following criteria: To become a member of the municipal council the requirements were: citizenship, 25 years of age, of "known morality", and being a neighbor of the territory or region of the municipality. The municipalities that were capitals of partidos (districts) had to establish Juntas de sanidad (boards of sanitation) composed of

4838-552: The natives they received a few gold trinkets and news of the riches of the Aztec Empire to the west. The expedition continued far enough to confirm the reality of the gold-rich empire, sailing as far north as Pánuco River . At the Papaloapan River , Alvarado ordered his ship upriver, leaving the rest of the small fleet behind to wait for him at the river mouth. This action greatly angered Grijalva, who feared that

4920-493: The population. The municipalities, despite the reduction in their number, retain political autonomy within the state's organizational structure, enabling them to address issues specific to their jurisdictions. The restructured municipalities may lead to expanded geographical areas for each municipal council, potentially increasing the scope of local governance and the level of resources required for public services. San Salvador, founded in 1525 by Pedro de Alvarado ,

5002-437: The president, their independence is questionable. Despite their status as elected representatives, the powers of municipal officeholders are also limited in certain key areas. The most glaring example is taxation. Although the municipal councils are allowed to suggest local taxes and tax rates, only the Legislative Assembly has the power to levy the taxes. Therefore, all funds used by the councils are appropriated and disbursed by

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5084-501: The proposal on 13 June 2023, reducing the number of municipalities from 262 to 44, a change that went into effect on 1 May 2024. This significant restructuring aimed to modernize local governance, with proponents claiming it would allow for better distribution of resources and improved access to public services across the nation. Opponents, however, raised concerns that it could diminish local representation and reduce citizen engagement with government. The municipalities are governed under

5166-464: The rear-guard and was badly wounded. According to satirical verses by Gonzalo Ocampo, in reference to Alvarado crossing a causeway gap during the escape, Alvarado's escape became known as Salto de Alvarado ("Alvarado's Leap"). Pedro then participated in the Siege of Tenochtitlan , commanding one of four forces under Cortés. Alvarado was wounded when Cuauhtemoc attacked all three Spanish camps on

5248-601: The reform anticipate it will bring more centralized resources to each municipality, though it remains to be seen how the changes will impact local identities and community participation. The reduced number of municipalities continues to follow the administrative structure laid out in the Municipal Code. Each municipality is governed by a municipal council ( Concejo Municipal ), responsible for local legislative decisions, budget allocation, and implementation of public policies. These councils are intended to ensure that community needs are met and that local governance remains responsive to

5330-617: The remaining lords of the K'iche' after their catastrophic defeat, fearing that he was entering a trap. He encamped on the plain outside the city rather than accepting lodgings inside. Fearing the great number of K'iche' warriors gathered outside the city and that his cavalry would not be able to manoeuvre in the narrow streets of Q'umarkaj, he invited the leading lords of the city, Oxib-Keh (the king) and Beleheb-Tzy (the king elect) to visit him in his camp. As soon as they did so, he seized them and kept them as prisoners in his camp. The K'iche' warriors, seeing their lords taken prisoner, attacked

5412-432: The request of the Kaqchikel lords, both of whom were killed by the Tz'utujil. When news of the killing of the messengers reached the Spanish at Iximche, the conquistadors marched against the Tz'utujil with their Kaqchikel allies. Pedro de Alvarado left Iximche just 5 days after he had arrived there, with 60 cavalry, 150 Spanish infantry and an unspecified number of Kaqchikel warriors. The Spanish and their allies arrived at

5494-531: The ship San Sebastián to relay news of the discoveries back to Cuba. Alvarado made a triumphal entry to Santiago de Cuba , with a great display of the wealth that had been gained from the expedition. His early arrival in Cuba allowed him to ingratiate himself with the Governor Velázquez before Grijalva's return. The rest of the fleet put into the port of Havana five months after it had left. Grijalva

5576-483: The ships. The small fleet was stocked with crossbows , muskets , barter goods, salted pork and cassava bread . The fleet left Cuba in April 1518, and made its first landfall upon the island of Cozumel , off the east coast of Yucatán. The Maya inhabitants of Cozumel fled the Spanish; the fleet then sailed south from Cozumel, along the east coast of the peninsula. The Spanish spotted three large Maya cities along

5658-408: The torture stop. When Cortés returned to Tenochtitlan, he found the Spanish force under siege. After Moctezuma was killed in the attempt to negotiate with his own people, the Spaniards determined to escape by fighting their way across one of the causeways that led from the city across the lake and to the mainland. In a bloody nocturnal action of 10 July 1520, known as La Noche Triste , Alvarado led

5740-580: The trade and cultivation of indigo, but the works were suspended. of exploitation of the mineral and because of the fall in the price of indigo, cultivation and commercialization were stopped. This caused a "paralysis" of the progress of the population. The report also describes the town: it had a "nice" church, a spacious town hall with secure jails, and a room used for school. The cemetery was surrounded by an adobe wall. The Patron Saint Festivities of Society are celebrated from June 23 to 24 in honor of San Juan Bautista. This El Salvador location article

5822-511: The unique needs of their respective communities. The establishment of 262 municipalities provided residents with local governance; however, over time, critics argued that the large number of municipalities contributed to inefficiencies and financial burdens on the government. The decision to reduce the number of municipalities to 44 is part of broader governmental reforms initiated under Bukele's administration, which aims to centralize certain aspects of governance to enhance efficiency. Proponents of

5904-474: The warfare that had seen the deaths of their best warriors and the enforced abandonment of their crops, the two kings of the most important clans returned from the wilds. A day later they were joined by many nobles and their families and many more people; they then surrendered at the new Spanish capital at Ciudad Vieja . On 8 May 1524, Pedro de Alvarado continued southwards to the Pacific coastal plain with an army numbering approximately 6000, where he defeated

5986-523: Was Diego de Alvarado y Messía, who was the comendador of Lobón , Puebla , and Montijo , alcalde of Montánchez , and lord of Castellanos and of Cubillana. Diego was a veteran of the campaigns against the Moors . Alvarado and his brothers crossed the Atlantic Ocean before 1511, possibly in 1510. By 1511 a system of licenses had been established in Spain to control the flow of colonists to

6068-605: Was a Spanish conquistador and governor of Guatemala . He participated in the conquest of Cuba, in Juan de Grijalva 's exploration of the coasts of the Yucatán Peninsula and the Gulf of Mexico , and in the conquest of the Aztec Empire led by Hernán Cortés . He is considered the conquistador of much of Central America, including Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and parts of Nicaragua. During his life, Alvarado developed

6150-543: Was a cavalier of high family, gallant and chivalrous, and [Cortes'] warm personal friend. He had talents for action, was possessed of firmness and intrepidity, while his frank and dazzling manners made the Tonatiuh an especial favourite with the Mexicans. But, underneath this showy exterior, the future conqueror of Guatemala concealed a heart rash, rapacious, and cruel. He was altogether destitute of that moderation, which, in

6232-555: Was a poor governor of territories he had conquered, and restlessly sought out new adventures. His tactical brutality, such as the massacre in the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan , often undermined strategic considerations. He was also accused of cruelty against fellow Spaniards. Alvarado was little suited to govern; when he held governing positions, he did little to establish stable foundations for colonial rule. His letters show no interest in civil matters, and he only discussed exploration and war. Alvarado stubbornly resisted attempts by

6314-470: Was a shock for the K'iche', who had never before seen horses. The cavalry scattered the K'iche' and the army crossed to the city of Xelaju (modern Quetzaltenango) only to find it deserted. Almost a week later, on 18 February 1524, a K'iche' army confronted the Spanish army in the Quetzaltenango valley and were comprehensively defeated; many K'iche' nobles were among the dead. This battle exhausted

6396-414: Was annexed to the department of Morazán the following year. An infamous event that occurred in the jurisdiction of the town was the execution of Braulio Carrillo Colina, who had served as president of Costa Rica. In the report of May 16, 1878 made by Governor Jacinto Aguirre describes a time of rapid progress lasting 30 years, stimulated by the exploitation of the mineral of "Monte Mayor" and the dedication to

6478-400: Was born in 1485 in the town of Badajoz , Extremadura . His father was Gómez de Alvarado, and his mother was Leonor de Contreras, Gómez's second wife. Pedro de Alvarado had a twin sister, Sarra, and four full-blood brothers, Jorge , Gonzalo , Gómez , and Juan. Pedro had an illegitimate half brother, also named Juan, referred to in contemporary sources as Juan el Bastardo . Very little

6560-473: Was coldly received by the governor, who Alvarado had turned against him, claiming much of the glory of the expedition for himself. Grijalva's return aroused great interest in Cuba. A new expedition was organised, with a fleet of eleven ships carrying 500 men and some horses. Hernán Cortés was placed in command; Pedro de Alvarado and his brothers Jorge, Gómez and Juan "El Bastardo" joined the expedition. Cortés charged Pedro de Alvarado with gathering recruits from

6642-482: Was divided into 262 municipalities, each with a local municipal council responsible for governance and community services. However, on 1 June 2023, President Nayib Bukele announced a proposal to reduce the number of municipalities to streamline administrative efficiency and reduce bureaucratic overhead. Bukele argued that the reduction would enable more effective public service delivery by consolidating local governments and resources. The Legislative Assembly approved

6724-486: Was not his first marriage as he married an indigenous woman, daughter to Xicotencatl the Elder , who was referred to as Dona Luisa by Spanish speakers and Tlecuiluatzin by Nahuatl speakers. Francisca de la Cueva was well connected at the royal court, being the niece of Francisco de los Cobos , the king's secretary, and a member of the powerful noble house of Albuquerque. This marriage gave Alvarado extra leverage at court and

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