The Tumbes history It begins in 1532, when the famous Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro arrives at his coasts along with his troops. Pizarro arrived specifically through the port of La Leña.
The territory that today is known as Tumbes was inhabited for centuries by pre-Hispanic peoples dedicated to agriculture, hunting and trade of their products throughout the Peruvian coast, thanks to their excellent skills as navigators.
Spanish conquest
Tumbes is an emblematic area for the Spanish conquest in Peru. The first encounter between the two civilizations takes place on its shores.
In 1532 the famous conqueror and explorer from Castile, Francisco Pizarro, arrives on the shores of Tumbes with dozens of his soldiers.
The meeting between the Spaniards and the natives was not at all cordial, given that this was an area dominated for centuries by the powerful Inca Empire, which also governed most of the territory of pre-Columbian America.
From the first contact, the indigenous natives offered a great opposition to the Spanish invasion.
It all started with the famous battle of the Mangroves, which took place in the estuary of La Chepa. The natives were led by the cacique Chilimasa, and the Spaniards were under the command of Hernando de Soto.
Although the battle lasted fifteen days and produced multiple losses in the Spaniards, these take the victory thanks to their superiority in terms of weapons and their multiple units of cavalry.
As a sign of victory, Francisco Pizarro placed a cross on the beach as a symbol of the triumph of Christianity. From that fact the beach known as La Cruz was founded.
The Spanish army finally withdrew from Tumbes, already destroyed, on May 16, 1532. They left enthusiastic for the ambition of gold and riches that existed in the city of Cuzco.
Republican era
Tumbes was the first Peruvian city to declare its independence from the Spanish Crown. This fact occurs on January 7, 1821 in the town hall of the city directed by Mr. José Jiménez.
From this fact begins a series of surveys throughout the Peruvian territory. The people of Tumbes were tired of the Spanish yoke, so they decided to join the emancipatory cause of General Don José de San Martín.
In 1941 the history of this city is again involved in military events, when they are forced to fight in the conflict against Ecuador called the Peruvian-Ecuadorian War, or the Conflict of 41.
This conflict is initiated by territorial disputes, due to the absence of clear borders in the regions.
In 1942, after the triumph and restoration of peace, the Peruvian government decided to grant the region the status of a department in gratitude for its support for the army during the conflict.
References
- Murua, M; Gaibrois, M. (1987). General history of Peru. Retrieved on November 25, 2017 from: espeleokandil.org
- Anello, G. (1998). History of the kingdom and provinces of Peru: Lima: Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú. Retrieved on November 25, 2017 from: books.google.es
- Ponce, E; Van Bladen, M (2015). Stories of Andean history. Retrieved on November 25, 2017 from: ufro.cl
- Declaration of Independence of Tumbes. Retrieved on November 25, 2017 from: lhistoria.com
- Department of Tumbes. Retrieved on November 25, 2017 from: en.wikipedia.org