Bartolomé Gil Naranjo
Encyclopedia
Don Bartolomé Gil Naranjo was a Spanish Judge who founded several settlements in the province of Mérida
in what is today Venezuela
in the late 16th century. His purpose was to gather the indigenous people in villages under Spanish control in part to facilitate religious indoctrination, in part to control the workforce in cultivating the appropriated lands. Gil Naranjo chose the site of the town in a level area and marked the site of the main plaza and the church, which he named after a saint. He also chose the location of the school, the street plan and the location of other plazas, in some of which the tree of justice or pillory was placed.
An early source records that Gil Naranjo founded thirty three such villages, each dedicated to a particular saint.
Bartolomé Gil Naranjo founded Jají
in 1580 with the name San Pedro de Jají.
He established the first foundation at Mucurubá
on March 25, 1586, a school hosted by the Augustinian friars.
He also established Mucuchíes
in the same year.
Tabay, founded by Gil Naranjo in 1589, became the residence of landowners who years later turned this town into one of the largest producers of coffee in the country.
Mérida (state)
Mérida State is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. The state capital is Mérida.Mérida State covers a total surface area of 11,300 km² and, in 2007, had an estimated population of 843,800.- Climate and Vegetation :...
in what is today Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
in the late 16th century. His purpose was to gather the indigenous people in villages under Spanish control in part to facilitate religious indoctrination, in part to control the workforce in cultivating the appropriated lands. Gil Naranjo chose the site of the town in a level area and marked the site of the main plaza and the church, which he named after a saint. He also chose the location of the school, the street plan and the location of other plazas, in some of which the tree of justice or pillory was placed.
An early source records that Gil Naranjo founded thirty three such villages, each dedicated to a particular saint.
Bartolomé Gil Naranjo founded Jají
Jaji, Venezuela
Jají is a community in the Campo Elías Municipality of Mérida state in Venezuela, in the foothills of the Cordillera Oriental, at an altitude of 1781 m. It is 34 kilometers from the city of Mérida....
in 1580 with the name San Pedro de Jají.
He established the first foundation at Mucurubá
Mucurubá
Mucurubá is a community in Mérida state, Venezuela, in the foothills of the Cordillera Oriental. It is 2,407 m above sea level, about 32 kilometers from the city of Mérida. It is a parish within the Rangel Municipality. The name is derived from the words "muco" and "ruba" in the language...
on March 25, 1586, a school hosted by the Augustinian friars.
He also established Mucuchíes
Mucuchíes
Mucuchíes is a town in the Rangel Municipality of Mérida state, Venezuela. It is at an altitude of 2,983 meters and has a cool climate, with an average temperature of 11° C. Patron saint festivities are held during the month of December, with their patron saints St. Lucia and St. Benedict the...
in the same year.
Tabay, founded by Gil Naranjo in 1589, became the residence of landowners who years later turned this town into one of the largest producers of coffee in the country.