Big Houses (Mexico)

Casas Grandes (Paquimé or Place of large mansions in Tarahumara or Rarámuri) is a town in the Mexican state of Chihuahua, head of the Municipality from Casas Grandes, located three kilometers from the city of Nuevo Casas Grandes and next to the archaeological zone of Paquimé.

Origin of the name

The viceroy Luis de Velasco ordered the Spanish explorer Francisco de Ibarra to mount an exploratory trip towards the north of New Spain, some territories still unexplored and of which there was news through the adventure of Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca and his companions, who due to a shipwreck traveled on foot from Florida (United States) to Culiacán (Mexico).

In an area of the Sierra Madre Occidental the explorers found a town that had buildings that reached up to seven stories high, and they asked the Jumas natives for the name of the town. They responded that Paquimé, but amazed by the height of the houses in which the Jumas lived, Don Francisco de Ibarra gave the town the name of Casas Grandes.

History

It is said that the region was one of the seats of the Nahua Indians (the Aztecs were Nahuas, but not all the Nahuas were Aztecs) in their migration from the great American North to central Mexico, in search of better conditions of life; It is said that, from the stay of the Nahuas in the place, there are still some ruins near the municipal seat. Jovas and Apache Indians also lived in the region.

In the 18th century, the town of Casas Grandes was the first and largest center of authority in the region with the degree of Mayor. Over time the population became subordinate to the San Buenaventura prison. Around 1820 the region of Casas Grandes acquired the status of municipality, a category that it retains to this day.

Battle of the Great Houses

This battle was fought on March 6, 1911, it was fought between the Revolutionary Army of Francisco I. Madero and the Federal Army of Porfirio Díaz.

The battle of Casas Grandes began at 05:00 in the morning on Monday, when the revolutionaries, who were around 800 men of infantry and cavalry, which were commanded by Madero, attacked the military garrison, which It included more than 500 men, led by Colonel Agustín Valdez.

After two hours of combat, Madero pointed out a second unit of 560 men from the Federal Army, which were equipped with two mortars, and commanded by Colonel Samuel García Cuéllar, arrived at Casas Grandes at 07:15 hours to reinforce Colonel Valdez's local garrison.

Despite his heroic drive to try to take the town, he retreated since his men were outnumbered, in training, and in firepower. And so around 5:00 p.m., the battle had concluded with the victory of the Federal Army.

Madero's Army suffered more than 100 casualties, of which 58 were killed on the battlefield, the rest were wounded. Their commander Madero was also slightly injured in the hand. For this reason he had to hide in the refuge hacienda, this hacienda belonged to the administrator of the San Diego Hacienda, Don Jacobo Anchondo, and was also used as the headquarters of Madero's troops.

Hours later the revolutionaries retired to the San Diego Hacienda, where Madero signed some decrees and promotions of revolutionary soldiers. In accordance with the San Luis Potosí Plan. At the San Diego Hacienda, Madero was recognized as provisional President of Mexico. This Hacienda was owned by Luis Terrazas, and became the first place where the National Palace of the Revolutionary Government was established and Madero became a hero.

Paquimé Culture

The Paquimé or Casas Grandes culture was undoubtedly the most advanced in North America, this culture developed in several stages:

• Old period (700-1060 AD) Paquimé culture begins.
• Average period (1060-1340 d.C.) Age of greatest splendor.
• Final period (1340- 1519 AD) Decaying era.