and 1552. The date and particulars of the founding are alike puzzling to the chroniclers; but from documentary evidence cited by Espinosa and Beaumont it would appear conclusive that the cacique Fernando de Tapia was its founder.[1]
Captain-general San Luis in 1552 continued the campaign against the hostile Chichimecs of Zacatecas. In 1552 he marched with the small army he had raised and organized in Tula against a famous captain named Maxorro,[2] routed him in every encounter, and finally took him prisoner. The end of this campaign was that Maxorro and his principal chiefs embraced Christianity, being baptized by Fray Juan de la Quemada, chaplain of the army. For the protection of travellers San Felipe Iztlahuaca, and San Miguel el Grande, later named Allende, were founded, and garrisons stationed in both places.
San Luis held his command till 1559, when he resigned,[3] and was succeeded by the famous chief of Jilotepec, Don Juan Bautista Valerio de la Cruz, whose appointment was made on May 12, 1559, with powers to wage war upon and punish all that should disregard his authority. It was approved later by Prince Philip in a letter highly commendatory of Valerio's services. The old chief continued
- ↑ Reference is made to the government books, i., ii., and iii., for Viceroy Velasco's period. Beaumont, Crón. Mich., v. 154-5. The parish books of Querétaro city were opened later. Bustamante, in Soc. Méx. Geog., Boletin, vii. 535. Espinosa states that the origin of the city of Querétaro was a fortification which Montezuma I. established on the northern frontier of his empire as a protection against the inroads of the Chichimecs. When the Spaniards came, some of the Otomis took refuge in Querétaro and entered into a defensive alliance with the Chichimecs. In an official document of the first viceroy it is called Taxco, which corrupted into Tlacho, in Mexican, means a game at ball, or the place where the game is played. The Tarascan word Querétaro has the same signification. Chrón. Apost., i. 1, 2, 10.
- ↑ A chief well informed on military tactics. He advised his followers not to attempt coping with the Spaniards in the open field; to concentrate in the fastnesses of the mountains near the passes, and thence harass the Spanish towns, and waylay travellers as opportunity offered. His advice was followed. Herrera, dec. viii. lib. x. cap. xxi.; Beaumont, Crón. Mich., v. 316; Cavo, Tres Siglos, i. 163-4; Panes, in Monumentos Domin. Esp., MS., 82.
- ↑ He died in Mexico some years later, and was interred in the Dominican convent. Zerecero, Mem. Hist. Rev., 511.
