Resumen

BAHENA PEREZ, Martha Atzin. Land and conflict: Cristóbal Arias and the Tzotzil Mayas of the Zinacantán Common (1580-1599). Relac. Estud. hist. soc. [online]. 2025, vol.46, n.181, pp.136-160.  Epub 18-Feb-2025. ISSN 2448-7554.  https://doi.org/10.24901/rehs.v46i181.1090.

This article examines the dispute over the lands of Navenchave, Apas, and Puehtic between the Tzotzil Maya of the Zinacantán Common and the mayor of the “República de Indios” Cristóbal Arias. The lawsuit occurred during the process of land composition in the “Alcaldía Mayor de Chiapa” and the Kingdom of Guatemala in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. It argues that the disputes over land and the resources found on it reveal the conflicts between actors in the political communication for the decision-making of the indigenous government. In addition, it characterizes Cristóbal Arias and his family as indigenous authorities and explains the ties that helped him obtain the Puehtic site. Finally, it analyses the concepts of possession and appropriation of the land found in the arguments of the Tzotzil Maya Common and Cristobal Arias to achieve their interests. For this purpose, we study the proofs of Arias’ merits and services, the land litigation between him and the “Indios del común” as well as the land title granted to him by the Audiencia of Guatemala after the visit of the composing judge Barba Coronado in 1599.

Palabras llave : Indigenous authorities; land compositions; land litigation; Tzotzil Maya; Zinacantán.

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