Editing Esquipulas (section)

=== 16th Century ===

==== Spanish colonization ====

[[File:Basilicaesquipulas1895.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Esquipulas Basílica in 1895]]
In 1524 Spanish forces first established themselves in the area now known as [[Guatemala]] with the settling of the area's first municipality at [[Tecpán Guatemala|Tecpan]]. By 1525 Spanish forces had reached the region South of the Valley of Monte Christo, this region then being inhabited by the Chorti Indians.

==== Conquest of Isquitzuchil ====

In 1525, the captains Juan Pérez Dardón, Sancho de Barahona and Bartolomé Becerra under the command of [[Pedro de Alvarado]] conquered the province of Chiquimula, and as a result the Catholic religion was imposed upon the conquered peoples. In April 1530 the locals led by chieftains Copantl and Galel again revolted against the conquerors and as a result, Don Francisco de Orduña ordered the captains Pedro de Amalina and Hernando de Chávez that they leave from Mitlan to "pacify" the region, who departed along with 60 Marines, 400 Allied Indians and 30 horses. The region was well defended and hindered the entry of the Spanish army.  After fighting for 3 days, the inhabitants of the region finally surrendered, mostly for peace and public tranquility, and also for fear of the Castilian arms, in the words of the Chief.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.esquipulas.com.gt/turismo/historia/ |title=Historia de Esquipulas |author=Nicolás Rodríguez |language=es |access-date=11 December 2012}}</ref>

==== Esquipulas ====

Between 1550 and 1560 the town of Yzquipulas (later Esquipulas) was founded in this region by Juan Pérez Dardón.  Dardón brought with him slaves of Mayan-Chortí and Mayan-Payaquí origin from other regions of the Province of Chiquimula de la Sierra. The main street in town was laid out, running from the main Iglesia de Santiago in the South, to the town's aqueduct in the North.  The city plan eventually grew to include two city plazas, now known as "Parque de la Basilica," in the South and in the North, adjacent to the older parish church "Iglesia de Santiago,"is the "Parque Centroamerica" plaza.

In the early 1700s Esquipulas was one of the most populous Spanish communities in the area. According to the town's baptismal registry, it then had a population of 198 people. A century later, the records reflected that the community had reached 851 inhabitants, representing 30% of the total population of the department of Chiquimula.  Apparently settlers were attracted to the region by the great fertility of its valleys.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.esquipulas.com.gt/turismo/historia/|title=Historia - Esquipulas|author=José Romilio Villeda Maderos |language=es|access-date=6 October 2012}}</ref>