Captaincy General of Guatemala: Difference between revisions
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The '''Captaincy General of Guatemala''' ([[Spanish language|Spanish]]: ''Capitanía General de Guatemala''), also known as the '''Kingdom of Guatemala''' (Spanish: ''Reino de Guatemala'') was an administrative division in [[Spanish America]] which covered much of [[Central America]], extending from the [[Soconusco|Soconusco region]] - located in what is now the southern part of Mexico (states of [[Chiapas]], [[Tabasco]], [[Quintana Roo]], and [[Yucatan]]) - to [[Costa Rica]]. It was founded in [[1540]], with the city of [[Ciudad Vieja]] as its capital. However, this settlement was destroyed in [[1542]] by a flood, and the new capital of [[La Antigua]] Guatemala, |
The '''Captaincy General of Guatemala''' ([[Spanish language|Spanish]]: ''Capitanía General de Guatemala''), also known as the '''Kingdom of Guatemala''' (Spanish: ''Reino de Guatemala'') was an administrative division in [[Spanish America]] which covered much of [[Central America]], extending from the [[Soconusco|Soconusco region]] - located in what is now the southern part of Mexico (states of [[Chiapas]], [[Tabasco]], [[Quintana Roo]], and [[Yucatan]]) - to [[Costa Rica]]. It was founded in [[1540]], with the city of [[Ciudad Vieja]] as its capital. However, this settlement was destroyed in [[1542]] by a flood, and the new capital of [[La Antigua]] Guatemala ([http://www.atitlan.net/riegel/Antigua/palace-of-the-captains-general/0.htm photos]), |
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was founded to replace the old capital. Although it became one of the richest of the [[New World]] capitals, this city was itself ordered abandoned in [[1776]], after further earthquakes destroyed it. The third capital was the modern-day [[Guatemala City]]. |
was founded to replace the old capital. Although it became one of the richest of the [[New World]] capitals, this city was itself ordered abandoned in [[1776]], after further earthquakes destroyed it. The third capital was the modern-day [[Guatemala City]]. |
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Revision as of 19:51, 19 February 2007
The Captaincy General of Guatemala (Spanish: Capitanía General de Guatemala), also known as the Kingdom of Guatemala (Spanish: Reino de Guatemala) was an administrative division in Spanish America which covered much of Central America, extending from the Soconusco region - located in what is now the southern part of Mexico (states of Chiapas, Tabasco, Quintana Roo, and Yucatan) - to Costa Rica. It was founded in 1540, with the city of Ciudad Vieja as its capital. However, this settlement was destroyed in 1542 by a flood, and the new capital of La Antigua Guatemala (photos), was founded to replace the old capital. Although it became one of the richest of the New World capitals, this city was itself ordered abandoned in 1776, after further earthquakes destroyed it. The third capital was the modern-day Guatemala City.
The Captaincy was effectively ended in 1821, when the Guatemalan elite rebelled against Spain. While the region remained politically cohesive for a short time, (in the form of United Provinces of Central America), centrifugal forces soon pulled the individual provinces apart.