Conín

This statue, honoring Conín, is found at the entrance to the city of Santiago de Querétaro coming from de México-Querétaro highway, at 20°34′22″N 100°19′22″W / 20.57278°N 100.32278°W / 20.57278; -100.32278.

Conín (also known by his Christian name Fernando de Tapia) was a native Mexican of the Otomi people, who helped the Spaniards conquer territories in the central part of Mexico during the 16th century.

History

In 1521, the Spanish arrived in México, and soon conquered indigenous populations all over the country. Cristobal de Olid entered the Querétaro region the following year. Although the arrival of Spaniards was generally met with resistance by the indigenous cultures, the Otomí people aligned themselves with the Spaniards and fought beside them to defeat the Aztecs living in the Querétaro region. As a demonstration of loyalty, the Otomi leader Conin converted to Roman Catholicism between the years 1522 and 1526 and changed his name to Fernando de Tapia.^[1] In 1531 the city of Santiago de Querétaro was planned by Juan Sánchez de Alaniz and Conin.^[2]

Legends and Tradition

According to tradition, the conquest of Querétaro was accomplished without resorting to arms after seeing a vision of the Cross and Saint James the Great ("Santiago"), after whom the city was named.^[3][4]

References