Sanchez Carrion Province
The Sánchez Carrión province (historically and until 1976 called Huamachuco province) is one of the twelve that make up the department of La Libertad in northern Peru. It is located in the central and eastern part of the department. It borders on the north with the department of Cajamarca; to the east, with the province of Bolívar and the province of Pataz; to the south, with the province of Santiago de Chuco, and to the west, with the province of Otuzco.
From the hierarchical point of view of the Catholic Church, it is part of the prelature of Huamachuco.
Eponymy
This province was called Huamachuco from its creation at the time of independence until 1976, when, in honor of the hero of independence José Faustino Sánchez Carrión and on the bicentennial of his birth, it adopted this eponym, which perpetuates his illustrious son, collaborator of the Liberator, Simón Bolívar, according to verifiable data in the Illustrated Encyclopedia of Peru, by Tauro del Pino.
History
Preinca
This land was first inhabited by the Huachemines. During the height of the Mochica culture, they invaded the region and founded the domain of the Huamachucos.
The remains found of this distant civilization show the existence of a populous citadel, Marcahuamachuco, seconded by a smaller one, Wiracochapampa.
Max Uhle argues that the Huamachucos had their own culture, their own language: the Culli; They had Atagujo as their main deity, and their earthly god was elevated to the rank of god: Catequil. They had other gods, like Usquevil.
Incas
After the Inca conquest of Cajamarca in the 15th century, the Great Huamachuco welcomed Túpac Inca Yupanqui, crown prince Inca throne and gave him a splendid reception.
After the reception festivities, the Incas arranged for the local inhabitants —who lived dispersed— to unite to form towns, worship the sun, and remain subordinate to Inti, the Inca name of the sun; but they also allowed Atagujo and the other regional divinities to be kept from him.
During this period, the Huamachucos had many privileges, thus granting the Incas an acllahuasi (house of maidens), only granted to towns with a higher administrative rank.
The Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, in his Comentarios reales de los Incas, recounts the way in which the lordship of Huamachuco was incorporated into the Inca state, and describes the Great Province called Huamachuco, governed by "a great lord of the same name"; and after indicating his desire to amend the customs of his people and incorporate them into the empire, he notes that the Inca Pachacútec and his successors "always held great wealth and esteem for this Huamachuco and his descendants, and greatly ennobled his province."
Conquest
The inhabitants of Huamachuco were not oblivious to the arrival of the Spanish; for upon learning of Atahualpa's capture, they organized a powerful army to free their sovereign from prison. Upon learning of the warlike movements of the Indians, Hernando de Soto was sent to inspect the domains of the Great Huamachuco.
The Inca Titu Atauchu, upon learning of the death of his brother Atahualpa, recently crowned emperor, went to Cajamarca, at the head of hardened troops. In said place he hanged twelve Spaniards. Then he continued his pursuit and caught up with Pizarro on the plains of Huamachuco and defeated him. But he did not execute him due to the intervention of Francisco Chávez (documentary reference is missing).
The territory of Huamachuco was also the place where the execution of the Inca Huáscar, Atahualpa's rival in the fight for the succession of the empire, was consummated, being drowned in the Antamarka river (currently the Tulpo river).
Viceroyalty
The first religious order to arrive in Huamachuco was the Augustinians, in the year 1551. Two years later, the Augustinian mission established a convent, the first for aborigines in Peru. The cult of Our Lady of Alta Gracia was institutionalized, whose feast is held on August 15 of each year, a joy that is commemorated to this day.
During this time, Huamachuco became one of the most important districts of the Trujillo administration due to its extension, industries and its large income collected by the Spanish crown.
Emancipation
During this period, Huamachuco had a brilliant performance, highly patriotic and decisive for the triumph of the Revolution of Independence from the north of the country. Huamachuco was the active focus for preparing war preparations and stands as a bulwark of revolutionary agitation and propaganda.
In the Provisional Regulation, of February 12, 1821, Huamachuco appears among the provinces of the department of Trujillo, and since then it has continued in that category.
For his adherence to the independence cause and for his important services, San Martín issued a decree in Chancay on June 12 elevating Huamachuco to the rank of city, with the honorable description of "Very Illustrious and Faithful City".
Among the multiple services of Huamachuco, the following are worth mentioning: being one of the first towns to declare its independence, it served as a training center for the army that defeated the royalist armies in Junín and Ayacucho, it provided a large amount of resources: men, food, mules, clothing, weapons, gunpowder, jewelry and money, rabonas.
Bolívar in his letters to General Sucre says: «Although you have been told to carry out the withdrawal of the troops towards Trujillo; I have calculated that Huamachuco is a more central point to serve as a place for assembly and general headquarters; because it brings together everything: pastures, climate, food, plains and also ravines and eminences to choose, according to circumstances and forces, the terrain that best suits us ».
Republic
Among the illustrious figures who defended the implementation of the republican system in our country, José Faustino Sánchez Carrión, from Huamachuquino, who governed the country between 1823 and 1825, as a member of the Governing Board that left Bolívar after his departure from Peru.
In 1840 it was established that in the old premises of the Augustinian convent, courses in Latin grammar and philosophy would be taught, which gave the opportunity to the founding of the National College, at the request of the deputy for Huamachuco, Nicolás Rebaza Cueto.
During the War of the Pacific —or Salitre—, a Chilean division under the command of Colonel Gorostiaga found itself stationed in Huamachuco some time ago. Here the battle of Huamachuco was fought on July 10, 1883, a bloody and unequal encounter. But, at the same time, heroic for the Peruvian troops, under the command of Andrés Avelino Cáceres Dorregaray. Here, Colonel Leoncio Prado bravely lost his life, having been passed over by the Chilean police. The battle was lost, but with dignity and heroism, without neglecting national honor.
In the XX century, Huamachuco was also the cradle of distinguished Peruvians. Such is the case of Ciro Alegría, who was born on the Quilca Hacienda. This illustrious Huamachuquino became president of the Peruvian Association of Writers and Artists, and was a world-renowned great Peruvian writer. In this noble province, Abelardo Gamarra and Néstor Gastañadui were also born, among other notable characters.
Geography
It covers an area of 2486.38 km². It is 183 km to the east and 3 hours from Trujillo, by road.
Population
According to the 2007 population census, the province has a total population of 136,221.
Economic activities
In the 21st century, its people mainly engaged in agriculture, ranching, and raising domestic animals. Its production is very diverse, thanks to the fact that it extends in areas of Jalca and Temple, such as Cochorco and Sartimbamba next to the warm Marañón, where plum, banana, sweet potato, cassava, mango, orange, etc. are produced. In the heights of the province, a great variety of native potatoes are produced, such as carhuanaca, milkfish, and llamayina, among others. Huamachuco is nationally renowned in potato production, being the main supplier of the markets on the north coast of Peru. It also produces large amounts of wheat, corn, lentils, peas, broad beans, oca, mashua, and olluco. Sánchez Carrión also contributes to the mining industry with gold, silver, coal and kaolin. The gold is exploited by the Canadian company Barrik Gold Corporation, which was awarded by IPAE in 2005 with the Luis Hochschild Plaut award as an emblematic mining company for its cooperation in education and the development of the surrounding towns.
Administrative division
The province is divided into eight districts:
- Huamachuco
- Chugay
- Cochorco
- Curriculum
- Marcabal
- Sanagorán
- Sarin
- Sartimbamba
Authorities
Regionals
- Regional adviser
- 2019-2022: Miracles Jennifer Catalán Corman (Popular Force)
Municipals
- 2015-2018
- Mayor: Mag. Carlos Arturo Rebaza López, of Alliance for Progress (APP).
- Regidores: Joel Jesús Espinoza Alayo (APP), Rosa Nelly Salazar Rodríguez (APP), Jorge Antonio Acosta Acevedo (APP), Julissa Jovana Vera Paredes (APP), Ely Robles Campos (APP), Marcelo de la Cruz Llajaruna (APP), César Augusto Reyes Villalovos (APP), Carlos Alberto Pacheco Salazar (Súmate), José Vargas
Police
- Commissioner: Major PNP
Religious
- Huamachuco Prelature
- Prelate Bishop of Huamachuco: Monsignor Sebastian Ramis Torres, TOR.
Tourist attractions
Historical
José Faustino Sánchez Carrión's house: It is located between the José Balta and Sánchez Carrión streets, in the Plaza de Armas. It is the house where José Faustino Sánchez Carrión, the Father of the Republic, was born. General Simón Bolívar was received there and he was given the first dance in his honor.
This house, up to the present time, has undergone several modifications, from the subdivision into three houses, in one of which the Banco de Crédito operated, the others belong to different owners. It is expected that one day it will be expropriated and restoration work will be carried out; the premises can be used for a Museum of History and cultural archive of the province or a branch of the National Institute of Culture-Huamachuco.
Archaeological
Marca-Huamachuco: According to its toponymy, the place where the government functioned and the people of the great manor resided was named Marka Waman Churu. (brand = people, waman = hawk, churu = ' farm without fertilizer and many stones', and that would come to mean 'town of hawks in farm without fertilizer and many stones'.
In relation to the name of the place and that of its inhabitants, it is what names the hill with the name Marka Waman Chuco (marka = town, waman = falcon, chuco = cap; and that would come to mean "that it was a town of hawks with caps", since the hawk, when surprised by something strange, raises the feathers on its head in the form of a cap.
According to Mac Cown and Max Uhle, who verified using carbon-14, the first constructions carried out on the Marka Wamachuco plateau began between 400 and 300 BC. c.
The plateau covers a length of 4 to 5 km long by 400 to 600 m wide and lies west of the capital city at 3595 m s. no. m., 500 or 600 m from Huamachuco and 10 km from it. South latitude 7° 46' 15" and 78° 04' 45" west latitude. It is surrounded by steep rocks and deep ravines. It is surrounded by the Grande River and the Bado River, forming a warm microclimate that facilitates the existence of a highly varied vegetation.
It is possible that the archaeological remains of Marka Wamachuco belong to several periods, of the entire current set, the walls that rise over dangerous abysses for an extension of nearly 5 km stand out. Likewise, there are impressive rectangular towers that rise above 10 m, showing some characteristics that corroborate the three-story construction, such as the roof supports.
The material used in the constructions is stone, combining large blocks with other small ones that, together, have acquired a very particular color.
The construction and distribution of environments demonstrates a deep mastery of hydraulic engineering, urban planning and architectural art.
Perhaps the choice of this hill to build the political-religious center of the kingdom of the Great Huamachuco, was given by its pleasant climate, as well as by the visual domain of a vast region, to which are added the almost vertical rocky flanks that They are true natural defenses.
There is an archaeological museum of the same name at the intersection of the Sucro and San Martín streets in the Tauticuxi square, where ceramics and other finds from the Huamachuco culture are exhibited, as well as mummies from the Inca period found on the Cuyurga hill.
Wiracochapampa: Means 'pampa of the gods' or 'pampa de los caballeros'. Located 3 km north of Huamachuco.
La Escalerilla: Part of the great Inca trail or Capac Ñan. There are 15 km of roads of very ingenious construction.
Natural
Sausacocha Lagoons: It is located at 3200 ms. no. m. and 9 km east of the city of Huamachuco, it has an extension of 172 ha of water mirror; its soil is muddy and no less than 1.50 m deep on the banks and 12 to 15 m at its greatest depth. Its water is completely cold and trout and carp breed in it. In its surroundings there are a large number of reeds, reeds and other plants that serve as a habitat for wild ducks and coots.
The lagoon is fed by rainwater and seepage, it is navigable and sports competitions can be held.
The natives explain their origin through subjective legends and myths. According to its toponymy, Sausacocha means sawsi = willow, cocha = lagoon: 'willow lagoon' or 'lagoon surrounded by willows'. It is also called a lagoon that does not dry up.
Lagunas Collasgón: Located in the Curgos district very close to the Cuypampa hamlet, 13 km from Huamachuco, there are 500 ha of nature reserves, with abundant birds (ducks and others) and an area dedicated to the repopulation of the vicuña. Its shores are covered with swamps.
Water from the little birds: Spring located 10 minutes from the main square.
Aguas termales del Eden: In the district of Curgos, 17 km from Huamachuco at 2750 ms. no. m., on the left bank of the Chusgón river. These are ferruginous waters that reach temperatures of up to 70 °C. There are also salt mines from Inca times.
Yanasara Hot Springs: Located 26 km from Huamachuco at 2480 m s. no. m. Its waters reach temperatures of 40 °C, facilities equipped with private and public pools, showers and changing rooms. It has a hotel and restaurant.
Festivities
- July 10: Battle of Huamanchuco, homage to the hero Leoncio Prado.
- August: The Grand Chaccu, festival of the shear of the vineyard.
- August 15: Festival Patronal Virgen María de la Alta Gracia
- 4 October: Feast in Honor to San Francisco de Assisi
- Holy Week
Gastronomy
- Cuy fried with scramble
- Chicharrón with mote