Totonicapán is one of the 22
departments of
Guatemala. The capital is the city of
Totonicapán.
Municipalities
Geography
Totonicapán is in the mountainous occidental region of Guatemala.
Its Mayan inhabitants speak the
K'iche' language.
Cuatros Caminos ("four roads") is a well-known intersection of roads that go to
Quetzaltenango,
Guatemala City,
Huehuetenango and
Totonicapán.
History
Historical chronicler Francisco Antonio de Fuentes y Guzmán, described the municipalities of Totonicapán in his 1689 “Recordación Florida.” This record confirms the area's pre-Columbian origins.
In July, 1820, the indigenous residents of Totonicapán revolted against the government in response to excessive tributes imposed by the
Spanish King Ferdinand VII. The rebellion was led by
Atanasio Tzul and
Lucas Aguilar. After toppling the local government, Tzul declared himself king of the breakaway province, with Aguilar as president. The mayor of neighboring
Quetzaltenango,
Prudencio Cózar, along with hundreds of armed men, led an invasion to put down the rebellion. The rebel government lasted about 20 days. The rebels were captured, whipped, and imprisoned.
