Nuevo Cartago y Costa Rica Province facts for kids
Nuevo Cartago y Costa Rica was an important area in Central America long ago. It was a special "province" (like a large region or state) that belonged to the Kingdom of Guatemala. This kingdom was part of the huge Spanish Empire. The province was created in the year 1540 by King Charles I of Spain.
This new province was made up of two older Spanish lands. One part was called Royal Veragua. This area was on the Caribbean Sea coast and included parts of what are now Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. The other part was the Pacific Ocean coast, which was called Castilla de Oro. This stretched from the Gulf of Nicoya (in modern-day Costa Rica) all the way to the borders of the Duchy of Veragua.
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Early Leaders of Nuevo Cartago y Costa Rica
The first person chosen to lead Nuevo Cartago y Costa Rica was Diego Gutiérrez y Toledo. He was named governor in 1540.
Diego Gutiérrez y Toledo's Time
Diego Gutiérrez y Toledo arrived in the territory in 1543. He worked to set up new towns. He founded a town called Santiago and a city named San Francisco. Sadly, he was killed by the local people in 1544.
Other Important Leaders
After Diego Gutiérrez y Toledo, other leaders were chosen for the province.
- In 1549, Juan Pérez de Cabrera was named to take over, but the King changed his mind.
- Later, in 1561, Juan de Cavallón y Arboleda became the alcalde mayor (a type of chief magistrate or mayor) of the province.
- His helper, Fray Juan de Estrade Rávago y Añez, took his place in 1562.
- In the same year, Juan Vázquez de Coronado was named the new alcalde mayor.
How the Province Ended
The province of Nuevo Cartago y Costa Rica did not last forever. In 1565, its name and status changed. The territory became known simply as the Costa Rica Province.
See also
In Spanish: Provincia de Nueva Cartago y Costa Rica para niños
