Pre-Inca
Quito
Quito
dates back
to pre-Colombian
times, at
least to 900
A.D.
The area's
first known
inhabitants
were the Quitu
people, a
peaceful civilisation
who gave the
city its name.
The Caras
from the coast
were integrated
with the Quitus
consequently
forming the
Shyris peoples.
The Shyris
were eventually
joined through
a matrimonial
connection
to the Puruhas
in the 14th
century.
Their descendents
eventually
fouhgt against
the Inca's
when they
invaded in
the late 1400s.
Quito
during the
Inca period
Quito
became a major
Inca city
by the time
the Spanish
invaded in
1526.
Quito was
made into
the main economic
and communication
centre of
the country,
as it was
considered
by the Incas
as good as
Cuzco with
regards to
terrain and
location.
After numerous
bloody battles
Huayna Capac
defeated the
Cayambes
and Caranquis.
Before his
death the
Inca crown
was passed
to his son
Atahualpa
who governed
the region
of Quito.
According
to some historians
this is seen
as the ultimate
division of
the Inca empire,
between his
sons Huascar
and Atahualpa.
Atahualpa
was the 'preferred'
son, who married
a Quitenean
princess and
converted
himself into
defender of
the empire
when the Spanish
arrived.
Foundation
of Quito
General
Ruminahui,
commanded
by Atahualpa,
suceeded in
dismantling
the city before
it fell into
the hands
of the Spanish.
Therefore
there are
no Inca remains
in Quito.
The capital
as is stands
today was
built on the
remains of
the destroyed
Inca city
in 1534.
Quito was
founded from
the then-Riobamba
(also known
as Cicalpa)
near to Riobamba's
current location.
On 15th August
1534 Diego
de Almagro
founded the
city under
the name Santiago
de Quito.
Thirteen days
later, on
the 28th August,
the villa
of San Francisco
was founded.
On 6th December
1534 Sebastian
de Benalcazar
decisively
established
the city of
Quito, distributing
plots of land.
On 14th of
March 1541,
Spanish King
Carlos V granted
the villa
city status,
assigning
it a coat
of arms.
Colonial
Quito and
Independence
During
the colonial
period, Quito
was the Real
Audiencia
which depended
on the viceroyalties
of Lima and
Nueva Granada.
Quito was
the central
commercial
point in the
country; art
and culture
flourished.
Quito was
also renowned
for its rebellious
character
during the
Spanish domination.
In 1592 Quito
protested
against the
government
of the Real
Audiencia
for the royal
bonds which
ordered the
payment of
taxes.
Indigenous
Quitenean
Eugenio de
Santa Cruz
y Espejo was
one of the
most famous
poets and
writers of
the period,
considered
as one of
the precursors
of the independence
movement.
On the 10th
August 1809,
on learning
of Napoleon's
invasion of
Spain, the
American criollos
established
a governmental
Junta, an
outright expression
of the desire
to govern
themselves
on their terms.
The
Battle of
Pichincha
With
the Battle
of Pichinicha,
Ecuador's
independence
was sealed.
This was achieved
thanks to
the efforts
of Simon Bolivar
who sent General
Antonio Jose
de Sucre and
his troops
to Quito to
defeat the
realists.
The famous
battle took
place on the
slopes of
Volcano Pichincha
where today
a monument
commemorating
the spot can
be visited.
In Plaza Santo
Domingo in
the colonial
quarter there
is a monument
of Sucre.
His ashes
are currently
in the Catedral
Metropolitana.
Quito
in the Republica
era
After
independence,
Quito and
its territories
were incorporated
into Bolivar's
dream, Gran
Colombia along
with Venezuela
and Nueva
Granada (present
day Colombia).
Ecuador in
its present
state was
born when
the nation
separated
from Gran
Colombia in
1830; Quito
was made capital
of the new
republic.
Since then,
political
power has
been concentrated
in Quito.
Last Updated
17th August
2006 (DLW)
