The Construction and Formation of a Colonial Cacicazgo in Nueva España: The Case of San Juan Teotihuacan
Abstract
This article, situated within the field of ethnohistorical studies, addresses the formation of one of the most complex colonial institutions in New Spain: the cacicazgo. To this end, the origins of the caciques and the cacicazgo will be analyzed, along with their possible connection to the Castilian institution of the mayorazgo and the transformations this institution underwent throughout the viceroyalty period. As a case study, the cacicazgo established in the town of San Juan Teotihuacan is examined, beginning with the appointment of its first cacique, Don Francisco Verdugo Quetzalmamalitzin, in 1533. Through this analysis, the article reflects on the adaptations and challenges faced by cacicazgos in the colonial context, as well as the impact of a cacique’s death on the structure and stability of the institution.
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