History through the Caste War
Chetumal, beautiful Mexican city, capital of the state of Quintana Roo and head of the municipality of Othón P. Blanco, surrounded by a system of bodies of water that make paradisiacal this wonderful municipality , in the east and southeast it culminates in the Bay of Chetumal, low and stony coast covered for the most part by mangrove; in the southwest is the riverbed of the "Río Hondo" and its mouth; towards the north, the population is practically connected with Calderitas village. The formation of gouges and swampy areas during the rainy season is very common in this zone.
The origins of Chetumal date back to the time of the Mayan culture; which, before the arrival of the Spanish, was a Mayan chiefdom called Chactemal that controlled what is nowadays the southern Quintana Roo and northern Belize; it was consolidated as an important agricultural area. The last cacique who ruled Chactemal was Nachan Can; who had received, after several years as slaves, two survivors of the Spanish shipwreck of 1511 in front of the coast of Yucatán: Gonzalo Guerrero and Jerónimo de Aguilar.
Chetumal, beautiful Mexican city, capital of the state of Quintana Roo and head of the municipality of Othón P. Blanco, surrounded by a system of bodies of water that make paradisiacal this wonderful municipality , in the east and southeast it culminates in the Bay of Chetumal, low and stony coast covered for the most part by mangrove; in the southwest is the riverbed of the "Río Hondo" and its mouth; towards the north, the population is practically connected with Calderitas village. The formation of gouges and swampy areas during the rainy season is very common in this zone.
The origins of Chetumal date back to the time of the Mayan culture; which, before the arrival of the Spanish, was a Mayan chiefdom called Chactemal that controlled what is nowadays the southern Quintana Roo and northern Belize; it was consolidated as an important agricultural area. The last cacique who ruled Chactemal was Nachan Can; who had received, after several years as slaves, two survivors of the Spanish shipwreck of 1511 in front of the coast of Yucatán: Gonzalo Guerrero and Jerónimo de Aguilar.
Gonzalo Guerrero, unlike Aguilar, adapted to the new society in which he lived, learned the Mayan language and soon taught the warriors of Nachán Can war tactics to fight, through the time he was gaining the appreciation and admiration of Nachán Can who made him head of his armies and even gave him his daughter in marriage, Zazil Há, also called Ix Chel Can, and they had children, who are known as the first mestizos; reason for which, Chetumal is considered as “Cuna del Mestizaje”. Gonzalo Guerreo was known as the Renegade by his Spanish compatriots, while in Mexico is called Father of Mestizaje. He fought alongside the Mayan people during the Spanish conquest and died in battle in 1536. This episode of the conquest, took place between 1520 and 1697.
After "La Guerra de Castas" broke out in 1847 where the Mayan rebels attacked and killed many white and mestizo people, since then until 1898, the region was occupied only by the Mayan people.
The government of Porfirio Diaz decided to end that situation, by fighting against the rebellious Mayans and in order to achieve this, it established definitively the borderline with British Honduras in the Río Hondo , and sent the army to fight against the Mayans. The first step to be able to combat them was to prevent the traffic weapons from Belize and to affirm Mexican sovereignty in that part of the territory that was known as Payo Obispo. An officer of the navy, Vice Admiral Othón Pompeyo Blanco Núñez de Cáceres, suggested that because it is an unexplored place it would be better to send a ship (Pontoon boat) to the place that anchored at the point of the bay or the "Río Hondo", could serve as a barracks and customs section while a permanent establishment was achieved. The ship was built in New Orleans and was given the name "Ponton Chetumal".
After "La Guerra de Castas" broke out in 1847 where the Mayan rebels attacked and killed many white and mestizo people, since then until 1898, the region was occupied only by the Mayan people.
The government of Porfirio Diaz decided to end that situation, by fighting against the rebellious Mayans and in order to achieve this, it established definitively the borderline with British Honduras in the Río Hondo , and sent the army to fight against the Mayans. The first step to be able to combat them was to prevent the traffic weapons from Belize and to affirm Mexican sovereignty in that part of the territory that was known as Payo Obispo. An officer of the navy, Vice Admiral Othón Pompeyo Blanco Núñez de Cáceres, suggested that because it is an unexplored place it would be better to send a ship (Pontoon boat) to the place that anchored at the point of the bay or the "Río Hondo", could serve as a barracks and customs section while a permanent establishment was achieved. The ship was built in New Orleans and was given the name "Ponton Chetumal".
DON'T MISS
The impressive history of the South of Quintana Roo, narrated through colors and strokes of the mural "Forma, color e historia" painted by Elio Carmichel, located inside the State Congress.
The impressive history of the South of Quintana Roo, narrated through colors and strokes of the mural "Forma, color e historia" painted by Elio Carmichel, located inside the State Congress.
The houses were made of wood in the English Caribbean style, as well as in Belize or Jamaica, built above ground level and brightly painted and with wooden lattices on the windows. The water for human consumption was collected from the rain through paddles on the roofs that led to (Curvatos) for storage, which were made initially of cypress wood brought from New Orleans, to be later adapted with wood from the region. Years later, the residents built concrete tanks (aljibes de concreto), of which each house used to have one, and the water was collected in the same way, although later a large public cistern was built.
During the government of Rafael E. Melgar, 1935-1941, the first concrete buildings were built, these being the Government Palace, the Morelos Hospital and the Belisario Domínguez School, which motivated the beginning of emigration to Quintana Roo to increase the population. of the territory and in accordance with the postulates of the time, he resolved to remove all names of religious origin from the towns and cities of the territory, being renamed Payo Obispo in 1937 with the new name of Chetumal.
DID YOU KNOW WHAT?
Morelos Hospital and Belisario Dominguez School are of great cultural importance since it lies in their architectures decorated with reliefs and friezes by the sculptor Rómulo Rozo Peña. The architectural decoration made by Rozo integrated the indigenous roots of the Federal Territory with its mestizo ramifications and its national and continental link. Chetumal developed economic activity with logging, rubber and chewing gum.
Morelos Hospital and Belisario Dominguez School are of great cultural importance since it lies in their architectures decorated with reliefs and friezes by the sculptor Rómulo Rozo Peña. The architectural decoration made by Rozo integrated the indigenous roots of the Federal Territory with its mestizo ramifications and its national and continental link. Chetumal developed economic activity with logging, rubber and chewing gum.
One of the most important events in the history of Chetumal occurred on September 27, 1955, Category 5 Hurricane Janeth with maximum winds of 280 km/h hit the city, almost completely destroying it, causing the death of around 1,000 inhabitants. . During the natural disaster, a series of events occurred that the residents tell as anecdotes, such as the case of a piece of wood that went through a light pole due to the force of the winds; currently there is a replica on the esplanade of the flag in front of the fisherman's fountain.
Belisario Dominguez School
Curves for water storage
Anglo-Caribbean style constructions
“The Flying House”
Renaissance Monument
DID YOU KNOW WHAT?
There are two possible translations of the Mayan name Ch’aak Temal: ‘Where the red trees grow’ and “Where the rains come down”.
There are two possible translations of the Mayan name Ch’aak Temal: ‘Where the red trees grow’ and “Where the rains come down”.
Mural: “Shape, color and history”
Finally, Vice Admiral Othón Pompeyo Blanco Núñez de Cáceres, officially founded the new town on May 5, 1898, giving it the name "Payo Obispo", as the region was already known. About the origin of this name it is mentioned that comes from Fray Payo Enríquez de Rivera, who was Archbishop of Mexico and Viceroy of New Spain.
At the beginning Payo Obispo was a small border town, dedicated fundamentally to the surveillance of the border and whose economic activities were concentrated in the exploitation of forest resources such as the chico zapote tree for the extraction of gum or the dye stick for Its timber commercial value, communication with the town was only by sea.
At the beginning Payo Obispo was a small border town, dedicated fundamentally to the surveillance of the border and whose economic activities were concentrated in the exploitation of forest resources such as the chico zapote tree for the extraction of gum or the dye stick for Its timber commercial value, communication with the town was only by sea.
Part of the Mural: “Shape, color and history”.
Another much-told anecdote is that of a house made of wood and zinc sheet that was dragged more than 500 meters from its original location, with about 25 people inside, during the impact of Janet without suffering any damage. It is currently known as “The Flying House”.
It is currently located on Av. Calzada Veracruz and 22 de Enero very close to Bahia Boulevard.
After the hurricane, Chetumal was rebuilt as a modern city, leaving behind its old Caribbean appearance.
It is currently located on Av. Calzada Veracruz and 22 de Enero very close to Bahia Boulevard.
After the hurricane, Chetumal was rebuilt as a modern city, leaving behind its old Caribbean appearance.
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