It took four attempts to establish Guadalajara. Spanish lawyer and slave trader Nuño de Guzmán, hoping to redeem himself by conquering new lands, founded a capital but failed to defend it.
Constant attacks forced settlers to move repeatedly. After a devastating revolt by the Cazcana tribe in 1538, Beatriz Hernández, the outspoken wife of a city official, allegedly led settlers to the peaceful Atemajac Valley. On February 14, 1542, officials were sworn in at the site where Guadalajara thrives today. Guzmán, meanwhile, died in a Spanish prison.
It’s unlikely that Guadalajara’s pious founders saw any significance in establishing their city on Valentine’s Day—known in Mexico as the “Day of Love and Friendship.” In fact, the holiday’s origins are anything but romantic.
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