Nubarrones y tormentas sobre la sierra zapoteca: luchas de poder en San Juan Yasona (1674-1707)

Abstract

This investigation is based on the judicial archives from the rich Alcaldía Mayor of Villa Alta, where almost a hundred towns used to manufacture blankets and grana. Among these comunities, the one called Yasona —known as Yatzona nowadays— is practically unknown in the documentation before 1674 and after 1707. In this short period of time a number of tensions and crisis emerged, both internally and regionally. The main nobles (caciques) from Yasona led two bands, manipulating rudimentary forms of democracy, angainst and pro traditions, the Church and the authority of the Mayor. From Yasona they tried to confederate the politic oposition and embroiled the Royal Court of Justice (Audiencia) of Mexico in their play with the mechanism of the real provisions. The tragic uprising of Cajonos in 1700 and the actions of the state authorities thereafter put an end to this situation, and Yasona was reincorporated to the pax hispanica...