The Caste War 1847 - 1900 - Tulum, Mexico
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denben
N 20° 12.798 W 087° 25.822
16Q E 455041 N 2235143
This information panel is located in Tulum, the site of a pre-Columbian Mayan fortified town serving as a major port for Cobá, in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo.
Waymark Code: WMY4H2
Location: Quintana Roo, Mexico
Date Posted: 04/19/2018
Views: 4
"The Caste War of Yucatán (1847–1901) began with the revolt of native Maya people of Yucatán, Mexico against the European-descended population, called Yucatecos. The latter had long held political and economic control of the region. A lengthy war ensued between the Yucateco forces in the north-west of the Yucatán and the independent Maya in the south-east. There was regular raiding between them.
In the 1850s the United Kingdom recognized the Maya state because of the value of its trading with British Honduras (present-day Belize). In addition, by 1867 the Maya occupied parts of the western part of the Yucatán, including the District of Petén, where the Xloschá and Macanché tribes were allied with them. With growing investment in Mexico, in 1893 the United Kingdom signed a new treaty with the national government, recognizing its control of all of the Yucatán, formalizing the border with British Honduras, and closing its colony to trade with Chan Santa Cruz.
The war officially ended in 1901 when the Mexican army occupied the Maya capital of Chan Santa Cruz and subdued neighboring areas. Another formal end was made in 1915, when a Mexican general was sent to subdue the territory. He introduced reforms from the revolution that ended some of the grievances. However, skirmishes with small settlements that refused to acknowledge Mexican control continued until 1933, and non-Maya were at risk of being killed if they ventured into the jungle." (
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The information panel says:
"The caste war 1847 - 1900 - The exploitation of indigenous people caused the Mayas in the easrtern region of the Yucatan Peninsula to rise up arms on a number of occasions.
In 1847 an armed uprising called the Caste War began and a new religion known as the Cult of the talking crosses developed. The rebel capital was Noh Cah or Chan Santa Cruz (now Carrillo Puerto), with smaller centers like Tulum adjutant to the military and religious headquarters.
When the capital fell, the Villa Grande de Santa Cruz Tulum became an important center, directed by Maria Uicab, known as the Queen of Tulum.
The rebels (cruzoob) recognized that the ruins were sacred and placed a cross in the temple known as El Castillo (The Castle).
At the beginning of the 20th century, the Mexican army put down the rebellion, although the worship of the cross was maintained at Tulum's Castillo. Archaeological expeditions were initiated at that time.
In the mid-1930s the Mexican government took charge of the site and assumed responsibility for investigation, conservation, and tourist visits."