History of Santa Cruz de Mompox
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| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
|---|---|
 Santa Barbara Church | |
 Interactive map of Historic Centre of Santa Cruz de Mompox | |
| Location | Santa Cruz de Mompox, Bolívar Department, Colombia |
| Criteria | Cultural: (iv)(v) |
| Reference | 742 |
| Inscription | 1995 (19th Session) |
| Coordinates | 9°14′N 74°26′W / 9.233°N 74.433°W |
  History of Santa Cruz de Mompox Location of History of Santa Cruz de Mompox in Colombia | |
The Villa de Santa Cruz de Mompox was founded by Don Juan Quintero de Heredia, Adelantado of the Gobernation of Cartagena and brother of the founder of that city, Pedro de Heredia, on May 3, 1537, after fighting battles against the Kimbay tribe and defeating the Chieftain Mompoj.[1]
In the independence period, "Santa Cruz de" practically disappears and enters to denominate "Mompox" in the documents of the President Governor of the State of Cartagena de Indias dated November 3 of 1812. Since then, it has been called "Mompox" or "Mompos" in all official and notarial acts, both meanings being valid given the language evolution.
The name of Mompox comes from the great Cacique "Mompoj" (identification in Malibu language), whose tribe inhabited the area where today the city exists and came from the Malibu Indians civilization. By the time of the conquest, the Cacique already ruled about fifty small tribes, among them the Güitacas, Chilloas, Chimíes, Chicaguas, Jaguas, Malibues, Kates, Kimbayes, Menchiquejos, and Talahiguas. The tribes were formed by means of alliances, confederations subject to certain pacts, if not like vassals like allies and relatives who actaban the authority of the Cacique Mompoj.
Cacique Mompoj had as lieutenants the chiefs Zuzua and Mahamon who were the most important, although there were others such as Zimití, Zambe, Chilloa, and Omigale among others.
The foundation of the Convent of the Hermit Calced Fathers of St. Augustine in the 17th century means a new era of progress for this town, but also the arrival of the Inquisition. Mompóx is known as an inquisitorial center which issues condemnations for chiromancy, heresy, blasphemy, among others. The Jesuits founded the school of San Carlos, where young mompoxinos could study Latin grammar, philosophy and theology.
From very early in Colombian history, Mompóx stood out as a goldsmith's port. The workshops where gold is molded from nearby towns such as Loba and Guamocó are described by authors like Aníbal Noguera. The quality of its jewelry make of Mompóx a town with great influx of visitors throughout its history.
The commercial activity during the colony was active also thanks to the production of clay artifacts for domestic use (such as tinajones, moyos, pots, bottles, plates, etc.) and glazed earthenware ornaments (columns, herons, palm trees, toys, etc.). Likewise, it is a city that is soon known for the quality of its preserved sweets, jellies and fruits.
With its six churches (one of them adorned by a spectacular Baroque campanile donated by Don Martin de Setuain), its constant commercial activity and its privileged position on the map, Mompóx is one of the most flourishing cities of the New Kingdom of Granada. At its gates come people belonging to the creole nobility and illustrious personages of the world history of the time. Mompox was the target of pirates throughout the history of the Colony. Say that John Hawkins came to its port attracted by the reputation of port of riches and delights.
The Count of Santa Cruz de la Torre went up to Mompóx after being attacked by pirates in Rioacha and not having felt at home in Santa Marta or Cartagena de Indias. From there he manages his haciendas of Santa Cruz de Paparen in the savannas of Santo Toribío. Andrés de Madarriaga, a hero of the Cartagena resistance against the siege of Vernon and in defense of the river during that battle, chooses Mompox as an address after it acquires Pestagua County. Juan Bautista de Mier y de la Torre, the first Marquis of Santa coa, develops his fortune and has his base in Mompox, living in the house built by his father-in-law, Captain Pedro Gutiérrez, in what is known as the Portales de la Marquesa.
José Fernando de Mier y Guerra, married to his cousin sister and one of the two daughters of his uncle Juan Bautista de Mier y de la Torre (Juana Bartola), lives in Mompox, from where he launches his pacification campaign of the indigenous Chimilas tribes They inhabited what is today the department of Magdalena. He found more than twenty towns, such as El Banco, San Sebastián de Buenavista, Pijino, Cerro de San Antonio, Pedraza, Plato, Chimichagua, Chiriguana, etc. And from Mompox controls the properties of Calenturas (today La Loma de Calenturas is in the middle of the hacienda, as well as La Jagua de Ibirico), the lands of Loba that acquires by purchase in a public auction after having belonged by inheritance to Maria Nieto (of the mounts of Maria) and several haciendas and gold mines.
Julián de Trespalacios y Mier, second Marquess of Santa Coa, married with his cousin sister and one of the two daughters of his uncle Juan Bautista de Mier y de la Torre (Ignacia Andrea), lives in Mompox, from where he controlled the haciendas of Santa Bárbara de las Cabezas (today in Cesar), Cispataca (San Benito de Abad) as the gold mines of Cáceres and others.
Gonzalo José de Hoyos y Mier, the first Marquis de Torre Hoyos, married to a great-granddaughter of Juan Bautista de Mier y de la Torre, lives in the mansion of the Portales of the Marquess, a title inherited by his daughter María Josefa Isabel de Hoyos y Hoyos, who will face the war of independence, settling in Jamaica for more than ten years before returning and find his haciendas completely desolate.
In his passage through the city, Alexander von Humboldt is housed in a house on the Portales of the Marquise in La Albarrada, on the banks of the Magdalena River.