San Matías Tlalancaleca HISTORY

Between the snow-covered mountains and what is now the modern town, human groups settled some 5,000 years ago. They lived in caves and later built houses and pyramids. To protect these structures from Iberian destruction in 1520, the inhabitants buried them. Today, archaeologists from the National Autonomous University of Mexico are studying these structures, elements, and excavation pits, which will provide valuable information about their ancient founders.

The Tlalancaleca Codex, written in 1550 in a style characteristic of the Nahuatl language and translated on September 17, 1865, by Don José María Cordero, states that the Church of Saint Matthias was founded in 1550. Its entrusted caretakers were Juan Cerón, Diego de Sabana, Diego Méndez, and Felipe Hernández.

During the colonial period, the town—like many others—suffered under imperialist despotism. In 1910, Don Sabino Díaz led an armed uprising; following his example, Don Santo Hernández and Don Rufino Macías also took up arms and, through their actions, attained the rank of generals. Don Sabino was assassinated in the Iztaccíhuatl mountains in 1917.

The town was officially declared a Free Municipality on April 15, 1926.