Tocaima
Encyclopedia
Tocaima refers to both a city and a municipality in Cundinamarca
, Colombia
.
site during religious holidays, especially for college students from Bogotá
and other surrounding areas.
The town is crossed by the Pati River
, which sometimes floods the town.
Guacana.
It is believed that Tocaima is the only city in the Cundinamarca Department
that presently has a royal title and coat of arms
issued by the Spanish Monarchy
. Charles V
issued the royal title and coat of arms on February 7, 1549, in appreciation of the city's loyalty and fame for being a powerful and wealthy region.
In 1581, the city was completely destroyed by an exceptionally devastating flood of the Pati River. President Juan de Borja
sent Captain Martin de Ocampo to refound the city, which he did on March 18, 1621 by constructing the Convent
of San Jacinto and its contiguous chapel.
During the decolonization of Columbia from Spain in 1810, Tocaima was represented in the electoral
and constitutional college
by jurist Miguel de Tobar y Zerrato and Don Juan salvador Rodriguez de Lago. The Cabildo
, or colonial administrative council, was re-established that same year.
The new Constitution of Cundinamarca, created in 1815, divided the nation into cantons
, which provoked a confrontation between the Tocaima Canton and the neighboring Canton of La Mesa. In 1816, Spain re-conquered the colonies and subsequently repressed the newly-created government.
After finally defeating the Spanish in 1819, the colonists declared total independence from Spain and created the Republic of Gran Colombia
, which—led by General Santander
in 1822—re-established the Tocaima Canton.
In 1906, Tocaima was notable for its gold and copper mines,
but neither mineral was mined there by 1920.
Cundinamarca Department
- Origin of the name :The name of Cundinamarca comes from Kundur marqa, an indigenous expression, probably derived from Quechua. Meaning "Condor's Nest", it was used in pre-Columbian times by the natives of the Magdalena Valley to refer to the nearby highlands....
, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
.
City
The city of Tocaima was founded on March 20, 1544 by the Spanish explorer Hernan Vanegas Carrillo. This small city is most well known for being a warm vacationTourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
site during religious holidays, especially for college students from Bogotá
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
and other surrounding areas.
The town is crossed by the Pati River
Pati River
Pati River is a river of Amazonas state in north-western Brazil.-References:*...
, which sometimes floods the town.
History
Before Spanish colonization, the area was home to the Guacana, an Amerindian tribe belonging to the Panche Amerindian Nation. Tocaima was named in honor of a legendary warrior from this tribe, during the ruling period of the CacicaCacique
Cacique is a title derived from the Taíno word for the pre-Columbian chiefs or leaders of tribes in the Bahamas, Greater Antilles, and the northern Lesser Antilles...
Guacana.
It is believed that Tocaima is the only city in the Cundinamarca Department
Cundinamarca Department
- Origin of the name :The name of Cundinamarca comes from Kundur marqa, an indigenous expression, probably derived from Quechua. Meaning "Condor's Nest", it was used in pre-Columbian times by the natives of the Magdalena Valley to refer to the nearby highlands....
that presently has a royal title and coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
issued by the Spanish Monarchy
Spanish monarchy
The Monarchy of Spain, constitutionally referred to as The Crown and commonly referred to as the Spanish monarchy or Hispanic Monarchy, is a constitutional institution and an historic office of Spain...
. Charles V
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
issued the royal title and coat of arms on February 7, 1549, in appreciation of the city's loyalty and fame for being a powerful and wealthy region.
In 1581, the city was completely destroyed by an exceptionally devastating flood of the Pati River. President Juan de Borja
Juan de Borja
Juan de Borja may refer to any one of four cardinal nephews of Pope Alexander VI:*Juan de Borja Lanzol de Romaní, el mayor, elevated 1492 *Juan de Borja Lanzol de Romaní, el menor, elevated 1496...
sent Captain Martin de Ocampo to refound the city, which he did on March 18, 1621 by constructing the Convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
of San Jacinto and its contiguous chapel.
During the decolonization of Columbia from Spain in 1810, Tocaima was represented in the electoral
Electoral college
An electoral college is a set of electors who are selected to elect a candidate to a particular office. Often these represent different organizations or entities, with each organization or entity represented by a particular number of electors or with votes weighted in a particular way...
and constitutional college
Constituent assembly
A constituent assembly is a body composed for the purpose of drafting or adopting a constitution...
by jurist Miguel de Tobar y Zerrato and Don Juan salvador Rodriguez de Lago. The Cabildo
Cabildo (council)
For a discussion of the contemporary Spanish and Latin American cabildo, see Ayuntamiento.A cabildo or ayuntamiento was a former Spanish, colonial administrative council that governed a municipality. Cabildos were sometimes appointed, sometimes elected, but were considered to be representative of...
, or colonial administrative council, was re-established that same year.
The new Constitution of Cundinamarca, created in 1815, divided the nation into cantons
Canton (subnational entity)
A canton is a type of administrative division of a country. In general, cantons are relatively small in terms of area and population when compared to other administrative divisions such as counties, departments or provinces. Internationally the best-known cantons, and the most politically...
, which provoked a confrontation between the Tocaima Canton and the neighboring Canton of La Mesa. In 1816, Spain re-conquered the colonies and subsequently repressed the newly-created government.
After finally defeating the Spanish in 1819, the colonists declared total independence from Spain and created the Republic of Gran Colombia
Gran Colombia
Gran Colombia is a name used today for the state that encompassed much of northern South America and part of southern Central America from 1819 to 1831. This short-lived republic included the territories of present-day Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Panama, northern Peru and northwest Brazil. The...
, which—led by General Santander
Francisco de Paula Santander
Francisco José de Paula Santander y Omaña , was a Colombian military and political leader during the 1810–1819 independence war of the United Provinces of New Granada...
in 1822—re-established the Tocaima Canton.
In 1906, Tocaima was notable for its gold and copper mines,
but neither mineral was mined there by 1920.