The population settlement of the Mayan civilization in what is now known as the city of Campeche took place around the third century AD. Giving shape to a fixed settlement called Ah-Kim-Pech (place of snakes and ticks). These settlers came mainly from other main Mayan cities such as Edzná, Calakmul, Becán, etc.
It is important to note that in the 16th century (the Post-Classic Maya stage) the Yucatan Peninsula consisted of farm houses and small towns politically divided by multiple Mayan chiefdoms that were frankly in decline.
The great Mayan cities and ceremonial centers had been abandoned. It is precisely at that moment when the military conquest of the Yucatan Peninsula, and the lands that currently make up the state of Campeche, by the Spanish conquerors begins.
The Founding of Campeche
The original foundation of what was eventually called the city of Campeche (or Ah-Kim-Pech in Maya) was made on October 4, 1540 by the Spanish conquistador Francisco de Montejo. This day is also known as San Francisco de Asís Day.
In reality it was a simple town since the title of Villa was granted in the year 1777 by the Spanish monarchy. From that moment on, the town and port of Campeche became the main port in the west of the Yucatan Peninsula. This was also the beginning of the commercialization of precious woods, dyewood, wax and, to a lesser extent, honey.
Pirate Attacks on Campeche
It should be remembered that during the conquest of what was known as Spanish America, the Kingdom of England was formally at war with Spain in 1585, and in stages not defined as belligerents prior to the war, such as incursions by corsairs and fortune-seeking adventurers trying to exploit the immensity of the territories and the lack of protection.
It is at this time (1596) that the first pirate attack on Campeche and Seyba takes place by the English corsair William Parker. Previously the famous John Hawkins and Francis Drake prowled the coasts but never attacked the port. It is William Parker’s raid of 1596 that produces enough loot to be included in future plans of attacks by pirates and corsairs in the Caribbean.
In 1633 when the first successful attack takes place on the Villa de Campeche by the Dutch pirate Cornelius Jol (wooden leg) and the Cuban former slave, Diego “El mulato”. In said assault the town was taken and looted and its inhabitants outraged, kidnapped and harassed.
The shortage of military garrisons, defense systems and slow communications caused this type of pirate raids to last days or even weeks in which they dedicated themselves to looting and demanding ransom for people captured in their raids since the majority of the population that was not used in the defense of the Villa, fled to the “mountains” and before doing so they buried or took with them their valuables.
Subsequently, more and less successful incursions continued to be made by the infamous Jean David Nau “El Olonés”, Laurent Graf “Lorencillo”, Rock Brasiliano and the famous Henry Morgan.
It is not until 1684 that the construction of 8 bastions of characteristic Italian layout and a wall on the land and seaside that circumscribe the Villa begins. It is worth mentioning that these expenses were borne entirely by the local population of the Villa without the participation of the Spanish crown. It is not until 1704 that the defensive constructions are concluded, being unnecessary due to the end of the piracy era. (The privateering and seizure of ships and merchandise on the high seas and coasts of antagonistic countries begins)
References
El primer ataque inglés a Campeche, por William Parker en 1596 Tzintzun. Revista de Estudios Históricos, núm. 41, enero- junio, 2005, pp. 117- 130 Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo Morelia, México
Wikipedia.-https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guerra_anglo-espa%C3%B1ola_(1585-1604)
https://programadestinosmexico.com/descubre-mexico/historia/historia-de-campeche.html
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