Ancestors
Before
the arrival
of the Incas,
the Azuay
region was
inhabited
by the Canaris:
quiet and
gentle people
but proud
and strong
fighters when
facing attack.
This characteristic
feature was
well known
by the Inca
Tupac Yupanqui,
who was forced
to collaborate
with the Canaris
in order to
expand his
empire towards
the North.
Tupac
established
his royal
seat in Tumipamba,
where his
succesor Huayna
Capac was
born. Capac
later continued
the Inca expansion.
During this
time the Incas
mixed with
the Canaris.
The first
Canaris were
hunters and
gatherers,
and the land
that they
occupied was
bigger than
the current
provinces
of Azuay and
Canar. Archaeologists
have discovered
interesting
evidence of
the Canan
culture, especially
ceramic art
(highly varied
in art technique)
and goldwork.
In
the struggle
for the throne
between Huascar
and Atahualpa,
the Canaris
were attacked:
chiefs were
beheaded and
Tumipamba
was destroyed.
During the
Spanish conquest
the Canaris
helped Benalcazar
carry out
his march
towards the
North against
Ruminahui.
Archaeological
Remains
The Azuay-Canan
region is full
of archaelogical
remains from
the Canari and
Incasica periods.
In Cuenca in
1972 a series
of remains were
discovered that
belonged to
the Pre-Inca,
Inca and Colonial
periods.
The
Origins of
the name 'Azuay'
Not
until Independence
was this province
known as 'Azuay',
a name that
originates
from the mountains.
After independence
the province
was officially
recognised
by Quito.
During the
long period
of colonisation,
the region
was governed
by Cuenca.
Cuenca
Before
its Spanish
foundation,
Cuenca was
merely a backwater
inhabited
by a few Spanishmen
who called
it Santa Ana
de los Rios.
The Viceroyalty
Andres Hurtado
from Mendoza
decided to
name this
town Cuenca
of Ecuador,
after the
Spnaish town
Cuenca. According
to the Viceroyalty's
instructions,
the Governor
of Quito,
Ramirez Davalos,
founded the
city on April
12th 1557.
During the
Colonial period
there were
certain important
events worth
mentioning.
In 1736, members
of the French
expedition
team 'Condamine'
arrived to
measure the
arc of the
Earth's meridian.
One of the
points of
triangulation
was the Tarqui
Valley. Cuenca
was also visited
by Alejandro
Humboldt who
carried out
scientific
investigations
in the area.
Cuenca's Independence
Cuenca was
officially
declared independent
from Spain
on November
3rd 1820,
although it
didn't gain
full independence
until two
years later.
The participation
of Cuenca's
population
in the process
was very important.
Abdon Calderon,
a child-hero
from Cuenca,
played a key
role in the
Battle of
Pichincha.
Cuenca also
played an
important
part in the
Tarqui battle
in the war
against Peru.
Republican
Cuenca
In 1830 the
Southern region
of Ecuador
was separated
from the 'Gran
Colombia'
region, under
the orders
of Gen. Flores.
The people
of Cuenca
began to participate
in the political
activities
of the Republic,
such as the
monk Fray
Vicente Solano,
journalist
and politician.
Since then,
various presidents
of the Republic
have come
from this
region, including
Antonio Borrero
Cortazar,
Luis Cordero
and Manuel
Maria Borrero.
Last
updated 6th
July 2006
