Tzeltal Rebellion of 1712 facts for kids
The Tzeltal Rebellion was a big uprising that happened in 1712. It took place in the Chiapas region of what is now Mexico. Many different Maya groups, like the Tzeltal, Tzotzil, and Chol, joined together. They rebelled against the Spanish rulers and the Catholic Church.
The people who rebelled wanted to create their own religious leaders. They also formed groups of fighters who called themselves "soldiers of the Virgin." This rebellion was a major challenge to Spanish power in the area.
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Why Did the Rebellion Start?
People have studied why the Tzeltal Rebellion happened. The main reasons were:
- The Spanish demanded more work from the local people.
- They also asked for more taxes.
- The population was low, making these demands even harder.
- People used to pay taxes with goods, but the Spanish started demanding money. This forced the local people into the Spanish money system.
The rebellion became very religious and against the Spanish. It wasn't just about making small changes. The rebels wanted to challenge Spanish rule completely. They did not want to follow the Spanish church or government anymore.
The Miracle of María de la Candelaria
The rebellion gained strength from a religious event. Local people believed that the Virgin Mary appeared to a young woman named María de la Candelaria. This happened near the town of Cancuc.
María said that the Virgin Mary asked for a special chapel to be built. But the local priest, Father Simón García Lara, did not believe her. He even punished the people who believed in the miracle.
The people of Cancuc wanted the Virgin's message to be accepted. Since their priest refused, they sent people to talk to the bishop in Ciudad Real. Sadly, the bishop put most of them in prison. Some managed to escape and told others about the unfair treatment.
New Religious Leaders
After the mistreatment, an indigenous man named Sebastián Gómez de la Gloria came to Cancuc. He was from a nearby town called Chenalhó. Sebastián said that since the Catholic Church wouldn't accept their beliefs, they should create their own religious leaders.
This idea spread quickly. The different indigenous towns started to form their own fighting groups. These groups were organized in a similar way to the Spanish army units.
The Rebellion's Actions
The rebels focused their attacks on the local Spanish people. Spanish women were made to wear local clothing and do tasks like grinding corn. This showed how the rebels were turning the tables on their former rulers.
The End of the Rebellion
The Spanish government was very worried about how big and organized the rebellion had become. It was a coordinated uprising involving many different groups. It openly challenged both the Spanish government and the church.
Because of this, the Spanish sent a large military force to stop the rebels. The Spanish soldiers defeated the "soldiers of the Virgin." After the defeat in 1713, the Spanish women who had been held by the rebels were questioned.
The town of Cancuc was completely destroyed, and its people were forced to move to other towns. The Spanish authorities punished many people. Nearly a hundred participants were executed. Those who escaped were hunted down for many years. The defeat was so complete that it left the area very poor.
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