The
province of
Cotopaxi used
to be known
as the province
of Leon .
Before the
Spanish conquered
this territory
was inhabited
by various
indigenous
groups who
migrated to
the area.
According
to some archaeologists
such as Max
Uhle, Jacinto
Jijon and
Zuniga the
primitive
ciivilsations
which inhabited
the region
were of descendents
of the Chibchas
.
Others
who migrated
to the area
were the Cayapas-colorados
from Central
America ,
the atacamenos
and
the quijos
from
the East among
other groups.
During pre-Inca
times the
zone was densely
populated.
When the Incas
invaded the
area the ethnic
composition
was altered
dramatically.
The tacungas
initially
defended resisted
Inca invasion
but thanks
to Huayna-Capac’s
political
skill they
put there
energies into
defeating
the Spanish
later on.
Nevertheless,
after some
bloody clashes
with the Incas,
some tribes
fled to Sigchos,
Angamarca
and eastern
zones. Before
the arrival
of the Spanish,
Latacunga
was an Inca
stronghold,
and remained
so even after
the conquest.
Latacunga
during the
colonial era
From the beginning
of the colonial
era territory
was divided
up among the
conquerors
and a regime
of hard work
was established
in the area.
Territory
was divided
from Quito
as Latcunga
formed part
of the Real
Audiencia
de Quito under
the name San
Vicente Martir.
Historians
are not sure
of the exact
date that
Latacunga
was founded
by the Spanish.
According
to some it
was formed
in 1573. The
area was coveted
by the nobility
in Quito .
Independence
and the
Republic
Latacunga
commemorates
its independence
on the 11
th November,
as on this
date in 1820
realist Miguel
Morales died
defeated by
the patriotic
troops who
had previously
taken the
explosives
factory and
other strategic
sites. After
this the patriots
were defeated
until independence
was finally
confirmed
with the patriotic
success in
the Battle
of Pichincha.
On 29 th November
1822 Liberator
Simon Bolivar
set foot for
the first
time Latacunga.
During Gran
Colombia ,
the Villa
of Latacunga
(Villa for
the first
time) belonged
to the department
of Quito and
on the 1 st
April 1851
was elevated
to provincial
status named
the province
of Leon .
Since 1938
it has been
known as Latacunga.
Until 1860
Ambato was
also under
its jurisdiction.
Last Updated
8th August
2006 (DLW)
