CHAN SANTA CRUZ

'Chan Santa Cruz' or 'U Noh Kah Balam Nah Chan Santa Cruz' is the Maya town now known as ''Felipe Carrillo Puerto'' in what is now the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. This name is often assigned to the Maya free state ruled from Chan Santa Cruz for much of the second half of the 19th century. Nonetheless, indigenous documentation including the 'Proclaimation' of The State of The Cross and copious correspondence on behalf of this same state give its true name as, 'Juan, (Huaan),' ''de la Cruz'', 'The State of The Cross'.

Contents

History

Pre-Columbian Period

Contact Period

Uaan

Pacification

Uprising

Betrayal and the fall of the Maya Free State

Religion

Maya Sacred Books

The Maya Church

God and His Angels

Worship

The Holy Cross

The state of the Cross

National Records

Official Correspondence and International Treaties of the Maya State

Officials

Religious Officials

Civil Officials

Military Officials

Traditional Occupations

References

See also

External links

History

Pre-Columbian Period

The people of the State of the Cross are predominantly indigenous descendants of the 'Iz'a' Maya state, which held sway over the eastern half of the Yucatan Peninsula during the decades preceding the European Invasion. Subsequent, influences include Carib refugees from the islands, shipwrecked Spaniards, escaped African slaves, and Chinese coolies (Villa Rojas 194x). More recently the state has been flooded with Mexican nationals, Hatians and Euro-American hoteliers/tourists.

Contact Period

After the Spanish had made their presence known for some years, the 'Xiu' Maya state of the western half of the peninsula allied itself with the Spanish Empire, which subsequently inflicted massive property and population losses upon the 'Iz'a' Maya state. Nonetheless, The 'Iz'a' state continued to train and educate indigenist Maya leaders in the sanctuaries of the southern province, 'Peten Iz'a', 'Lake of the Adepts', right through the invasion and sack of the island capitol 'Tayasil', by general ''Martin de Ursua'' in 1697, (Cogolludo 1xxx). Indeed, there is internal evidence that the Maya Hieroglyphic manuscript, now held in Paris France was created at 'Tayasil' some years after the invasion of Yucatan. This evidence includes paper from a Spanish book which was employed as a base for several pages of the manuscript (Coe 199x).

Uaan

The province of 'Uaan' 'Palm, Entity, State', remained unknown to the Spanish, although its capital, 'Chable', 'Anteater', is mentioned several times in the Books of 'Chilam Balam' as a cycle seat (Edmonson 1984). Upon the fall of 'Peten Iz'a', only the 'Iz'a' province of 'Uaan' maintained anything like an independent existence, and this only through strict secrecy.

Pacification

The Spanish were thoroughly occupied in 'pacifying' the Maya of the western half of the 'Iz'a' state through the 1700s. The most famous of these campaigns was against the indigenist 'Kanek'', and his followers during the early 1700s, (Chamberlan 19xx).

Uprising

When the Spanish Creols declared Yucatecan independence and began fighting over the leadership of their infant slave state, the Maya leaders saw their best chance to recover their freedom and independence. This action had been in the planning for some time as revealed by recently discovered letters (constituting written orders, through an established military chain of command, to step up the plan) written in the wake of the martyrdome of the 'Batab' of 'Chichimilla', ''Antonio Manuel'' 'Ay', on August 26, 1847 at 'Saki', the sacred 'White' city of the north. Exactly three days after 'Ay''s murder, the eastern Maya, now identified as 'Uiz'oob', 'Loincloths', rose in a general uprising which nearly drove the invaders entirely from the peninsula (Huchim 1997:97-107). This uprising in 1848, called ''La Guerra de las Castas'', Caste War of Yucatan by the Spanish, resulted in the liberation of the old 'Iz'a' Maya state, leaving the old 'Xiu' Maya state in the hands of the ''Yucateco'' Creols. The descendants of the short-lived Maya free state and those who live like them are commonly known as 'Cruzoob', (Reed 1964).

Betrayal and the fall of the Maya Free State

From the late 1850s through 1893 the United Kingdom recognized the Maya free state as a ''de facto'' independent nation, even sponsoring treaty negotiations between the Spanish ''Yucateco'' state and the Maya Crusoob state. These negotiations resulted in a signed international treaty, which was never ratified by either party. The Maya state had extensive trade relations with the British colony of British Honduras, and its military was substantially larger than the garrison and militia in British Honduras. In contrast to the Yucatecans and the Mexicans, the British found it both practical and profitable to maintain good relations with the Maya free state for some years. The murder of British citizens along with most of the Yucatec 'Creol' garrison after the siege and fall to the Maya of their southern holy city of 'Bak Halal', 'Water Narrows', changed all that, (Reed 195x). No one will ever know for sure why the commanding general ordered a wholesale slaughter of the garrison, possibly he was tired of retaking the city from the more aggressive ''Yucateco'' state. Regardless, this action frightened the tiny British Colonial establishment in neighboring British Honduras and they got busy.
The British Government assigned Lord Spenser to disentangle Her Royal Majesty's Government from indigenous free states and the Maya free state in particular. Shortly thereafter HRMG signed a treaty "Spenser Mariscal" which ceded all of the Maya free state's lands to Mexico. Meanwhile the 'Creols' on the west side of the Yucatan peninsula had come to realize that their minority-ruled ministate could not outlast its indigenous neighbor. After the Creols offered their country to anyone who might consider the defense of their lives and property worth the effort, Mexico finally accepted. With both legal pretext and a convenient staging area in the western side of the Yucatan peninsula, Chan Santa Cruz was occupied by the Mexican army in the early years of the 20th century, (Reed 1964). Various treaties with Mexico were signed by the leaders of the indigenous state through the late 1930s and 1940's. These treaties, "Letters of General May", make very interesting reading today. Following General May's death the remaining Maya officials initiated contacts with Washington through the archaeologist and American Spy, (see: "The Archaeologist Was a Spy'), Sylvanus Morley, (Sullivan 199x).

Religion

One of the notable aspects of the Maya free state was the reappearance of Maya religion in an indigenous form, sometimes called "The Cult of The Talking Cross". This was most probably a continuation of native folk beliefs, reemerging when the Spanish colonist's civil war released the Maya from the repressions of Yucatán's Hispanic population. The indigenous priests had maintained their ancient Religious Texts and the spiritual knowledge contained therein, as they continue to do today, (Roys 195x, Thompson 196x).

Maya Sacred Books

Upon the arrival of Friar ''Jacobo de Testera'', leading the first of the Franciscan Missions to the Maya in 156x, a Maya encyclopedia project was begun. This project was designed to collect prayers, orations, commentaries and descriptions of native life as aids to the destruction of Maya culture in general and Maya religion specifically. ''Diego de Landa's famous ''Relación de las cosas de Yucatán'' contains much of the Spanish explanatory text of this encyclopedia without however, employing any of the actual indigenous texts, (Tozzer 1941).
The Maya elders who participated in this project, including ''Juan'' 'Na Chi Kokom', former leader of the 'Iz'a'' state in eastern Yucatan, were most likely willing volunteers who saw the project as a way to preserve Maya culture and religion. After the project was anathemized by the Roman Church the former Maya collaborators collected and reconstructed as much as they could and assembled them into a loose collection of texts which is now known as the Books of 'Chilam Balam' (Roys 195x). It is a testament to the human spirit that it was the Maya whose hopes ultimately triumphed in this project.
The Books of 'Chilam Balam', 'Spokesman of the Patron', (''Barrera Vasquez'' 19xx, Roys 195x, Edmonson 1982, 199x, Bricker & Miram 2001). Copies from 'Calkini, Chan Kan, Chumayel, Ixil, Kaua, Mani, Tixkakal' and 'Tisimin'. (''Barrera Vasquez'' 19xx). Usually translated as a collection of historical and mythological texts, this book actually contains a great deal of information specifically pertaining to the ancient Maya Calendar and the priests who maintained it. For example, there are texts recording the reminders for each day for diviners, natal charts for each day, a list of rituals associated with each day, a discussion of the selection, training and initiation of Maya calendar priests, a Maya rosary prayer, a divination prayer, a discussion of sacrifices at the sacred well of 'Chi Ch'en Iz'a', an explanation of auto sacrifice, a list of pilgrimage places, discussions of the Maya years and cycles, advice to a woman already seven months pregnant, and a discussion of Maya family life.
The Songs of 'Z'itbalche', (''Barrera Vasquez'' 19xx) is a collection of songs, prayers and ritual speeches. This collection includes traditional girls' songs, prayers for seating images, and others.
The Ritual of the 'Bakabs', (Roys 1965, ''Marin'' 198x, etc.). Usually translated as a collection of medical texts. The first half of this book is comparable to the books of 'Chilam Balam' of 'Chumayel' and 'Tisimin' and actually contains songs, advice, prayers and ritual speeches. These texts include one on the Maya Pontiff, one on the 'Chiuoh' lineage, one on seers, several for novice diviners, a midwife's prayer and a renewal prayer for the divining seeds. The second half of this book is comparable to the second half of the 'Chilam Balam' of 'Kaua' and Maya herbals, it also contains, mostly herbal, medical remedies for a wide variety of ailments.
Maya Herbals, (Roys 19xx, Ethnobotany of the Maya).

The Maya Church

Shortly after Yucatan was declared an independent state, the Yucatan Peninsula was divided into two independent warring states: a Hispanic slave state in the west, and a Maya freestate in the east. For the first time in centuries the indigenous Maya were not only free of persecution, but were now in charge of a state which actually sponsored their one true faith. (The Roman Church had consistently refused even to ordain native Maya as Priests). Previously, the village lay assistants ''maestros cantores'', who were sons of Maya priests often acted as members of their fathers' profession as well, (Clendenin 197x).
The authority of Maya religious leaders, is by divine appointment and cannot be refused. Signs of divine appointment include specific dreams or ailments or even a summons without explanation from the current, retiring, office holder (Tedlock 1982, Redfield and Villa Rojas 194x).
The Maya Church in every ''Crusero'' village and town, houses the Holy Cross in her sanctuary. Maya churches are easily distinguished from Roman churches by the presence of a walled inner sanctum, the ''gloria'', inside the Maya church (Villa Rojas 194x).

God and His Angels

'K'u', 'God', is one, undepictable and incorporeal, (Motul Dictionary).
'Hunab K'u', 'Unique God', (Motul Dictionary).
'Hahal K'u', 'True God', (Motul Dictionary).
'Tepal', 'Lord', epithet for God and His Angels, (Motul Diactionary).
'Ahau', 'Lord', epithet for God and His Angels, (Motul Dictionary).
'Yumil Kaan', 'Father Sky', widespread indigenous epithet for God and His Angels (Berendt 18xx).
'Chakoob', 'Angels', are God's active force, who manifest his will on earth and can be petitioned for aid. There are 1, 4, 5, 6, or 7 'Chakoob', one for each direction addressed in a particular ritual. The directions are color coded along with their 'Chakoob'. Thus, east is red, north is white, west is black, south is yellow, sky is blue, earth is green and the center is clear, (Thompson 1965).
'Kiichpam Kolel', 'Beautiful Grandmother', ''Guadelupe'', any of the feminine principles of the universe, (Gann 18xx, Thompson 1933, Villa Rojas 194x).
'Yumz'iloob', 'Fathers', 'Patrilineage Ancestors' are autonomous and can be petitioned for good or ill through prayers before the appropriate lineage crosses, (Villa Rojas 194x).
'Balam', 'Jaguar', 'Patron' of the village, town, province, state, nation which acts as agent and protector for the social unit in question, (Proskouriakoff 196x, Villa Rojas 194x).
'Balamoob', 'Jaguars', Twenty 'Patrons' of the days of the 260 day Sacred Round, the four 'Yearbearers' of the 365 day year, the 'Ahauoob' of the 360 day "year", and the 'K'atun', (Proskouriakoff 196x, Villa Rojas 194x).
'Ik'oob', 'Spirits', are autonomous and can be petitioned for good or ill, (Villa Rojas 194x).
'K'asal Ik'oob', 'Evil Spirits', are autonomous and chaotic and must be exorsized before any ritual can begin, and appeased before any ritual can end, Villa Rojas 194x).
'Ix Ceel', 'Little Tree', family devotional cross, (Roys 1965).

Worship

There are two great annual festivals, both descended from the two great annual festivals of the Precolumbian Maya. 'U K'in Crus', 'The Day of The Cross', is the ancient Maya New (365 day) Year Festival and 'U K'in Kolel', 'The Feast of Our Mother' (Guadelupe), is the ancient Maya New (360 day) "Year" Festival, .
The Crusoob also celebrate a "Mass" and "Novenas" which always include corn tortillas and typically tamales, fruit, atole, pepper, chocolate, a desert and an alcoholic beverage, (Villa Rojas 194x).

The Holy Cross

The Holy Cross must be guarded and fed several times a day. Every householder has a small domestic cross with a diminutive huipil, 'woman's dress', and a mirror around its neck. This little female cross was known in Precolumbian times as 'Ix Cel', 'Little/female Tree'. In addition to the village Patron Cross and the Household crosses, there are special Lineage Crosses for important lines and four Guardian Crosses at the entrances to town, (Villa Rojas 194x). The religion of the people now is quite mixed, with some devoted exclusively to the indigenous church and its ritual calendar, while others are exclusively or partially Roman Catholic or Protestant.
The shrines of the "Talking crosses" remain a vital part of the local culture to this day. Indeed, as recently as 2002 the Mexican Government finally lifted the stigma of witchcraft, to which indigenous priests had been subject under Mexican Civil and Roman Church law, recognizing the Church of The Talking Cross as a legitimate religion, (plaque on shrine in Carrillo Puerto).

The state of the Cross

'Noh Kah Balam Nah Chan Santa Cruz' was founded in about 1850 near a sacred ''z'onot'', a natural well providing a year round source of holy water, where the talking cross continues to speak. The city was laid out in the Precolumbian Maya manner, surrounding a square with the Balam Nah, the 'Patron Saint's House', and the school at the east, the Pontiff's house at the west, the General's houses at the north and the storehouses and market to the south, (Reed 1964).
The regional capitals in 'Bakhalal, Chun Pom, Tix...' and 'Tuluum', were probably laid out on the same plan as the capital.

National Records

The 'Proclamation of Juan de la Cruz', or ''El Proclamo'', in Spanish is the Maya free state's formal declaration of independence. Appended to the Procamation are the state's constitution and by laws. In addition to responsibilities for military service (the constitution was written in time of war) and support for the indigenous church the Maya people (and those of any race) who consented to the sovereignty of the new state were guaranteed equal and fair treatment, (Bricker 197x).

Official Correspondence and International Treaties of the Maya State

Treaties with the ''Yucateco'' state.
Treaty with the ''Yucateco'' state sponsored by the British Government in Hondouras.
Treaties with the British Government.
Official correspondence with Washington, (Sullivan 199x).
Treaties with the Mexican Government, (Correspondence of General May)
Treaties of the Guatemalan Government.
Treaties of the ''Yucateco'' state.
Treaties between Mexico and the British Government. The Spenser Mariscal Treaty.

Officials

Most Maya offices are unpaid or are paid by donations from wealthy and/or devout members of the community. These officials are typically among the oldest and most impoverished of the people, having distributed most of their personal property to finance the associated community festivals, (Redfield and Villa Rojas 194x).

Religious Officials

'Ahau Kan, Ah Z'ab Kan', 'Supreme Wisdom', 'He Rattles Sky', the Supreme Pontiff of the Maya church, now known as 'Nohoch Tata', 'great father', (Tozzer 1941, Villa Rojas 194x).
'Kan Ek'', 'Wise Star', one of four Cardinals who held forth from the four holy cities: 'Bakhalal', now ''Bacalar'', in the east, 'Sakil', Spanish ''Valladolid'', in the north, 'Ich Kan Si Ho'', Spanish ''Merida'', in the west, and 'Cham Putun', now 'Champoton', in the south, disused, (Edmonson 1984).
'Ek'', 'Star', one of eight Archbishops in the Maya church, disused, (Motul Dictionary).
'Cho'op', 'Macaw', one of twenty Provincials or Bishops in the Maya Church, disused. Only the Province of 'Uaan' now survives, the 'Cho'opil Uaan' is now the Supreme Pontiff of the Maya church and is known as the 'Nohoch Tata', (Motul Dictionary, Villa Rojas 194x).
The first 'Nohoch Tata' was Manual Nahuat, 1847 until his death on March 23, 1851.
'K'in', 'Sun', one of eighty Priests, sometimes identified in Spanish as ''Sacerdote'', in the Maya Church. A diviner, one of a multitude who employs the Maya Sacred Calendar of 20 daily patrons and thirteen daily personalities/numbers, disused, (Tedlock 1982).
'Ik'', 'Wind', an ''Exorcista'', a blessing, (Motul Dictionary, Roys 195x).
'Uay', 'Familiar Spirit', 'Nagual', a Medium, one with good relations in the spirit world, (Motul Dictionary, Redfield 194x).
'Kay', 'Fish', a Cantor, (Motul Dictionary).
'T'an', 'Word', ''Rezador'', an Orator, (Motul Dictionary).
'Le', 'Leaf', ''Yerbatero'', a Herbalist, (Motul Dictionary).

Civil Officials

'Halac Uinik', 'Real Man, ''Presidente Municipal'', is a civil official at the level of provincial governor or higher, (Motul Dictionary). The first 'Halach Uinik' at Chan Santa Cruz was Jose Maria Barrera, who held the position until his assassination in 1852.
'Batab', 'Hatchet', ''Delegado'', is the local civil official at the village level or lower, (Motul Dictionary).
'Tupil', 'Earring', 'Novice', 'Alderman', is the entry level civil official at the village level or lower, including the 'Kambesah', 'Teacher' and the 'Kanan K'u', 'Sacristan', (Motul Dictionary).

Military Officials

'Ahau K'atun Kiuik'', ''General de la Plaza'', (Motul Dictionary, Villa Rojas 194x).
'Ahau K'atun', ''General'', there are four of these, one for each direction. Nonetheless, during the war of liberation it was the general of the north and of the south who garnered the most space in the Spanish and British colonial press, (Motul Dictionary, Villa Rojas 194x).
The General of The Plaza, the supreme commander of Maya Military forces, was an important office held by several different individuals. The last General of The Plaza was General May, who signed the final peace treaties with the Mexican government through the 1930s.
The first General of The North was Cecilio Chi, victor at ''Valladolid'' and 'Iz'amal', 1847 until his death in May of 1849. The second General of The North was Venancio Pec, 1849-1852.
The first General of The South was Jacinto Pat, victor at 'Peto, Tekax, Tikul', 1847 until his assassination in December of 1849. The second General of The South was Florentino Chan, 1849-1852.
''Coronel''
''Major''
'Ah K'atun', ''Capitan'', (Motul Dictionary, Villa Rojas 194x)
''Teniente''
''Sergento''
''Caporal''
'K'atun', ''Soldado'', 'Private, Soldier in general', (Motul Dictionary, Villa Rojas 194x)

Traditional Occupations

'Konol', 'Seller', is a member of the merchant class which, while maintaining homes in the communities, does little farming and travels frequently from market to market in search of the best prices, (Redfiel and Villa Rojas 194x).
'Ah Pak, Ah Nun Baal', ''Albanil'', 'Waller', 'Immovable Thing', is a mason, (Redfield and Villa Rojas 194x).
'Ah Kab', 'Beekeeper', (Redfield and Villa Rojas 194x).
'Ah Men Che', ''Carpintero'', (Motul Dictionary).
'K'ol Nal', ''Graniero'', 'Farm Corn', is the largest class consisting of subsistence farmers, (Motul Dictionary).

References

Berendt
'18xx' The Lord's Prayer in three languages, Smithsonian Institution, Washington.
Bricker, Victoria
'197x' The Indian Christ, The Indian King, the indigenous substrate of Maya myth and ritual. University of Texas Press, Austin.
(Author)
'199x' Las Cartas de General May, Ultimo General de la Plaza. , Universidad de Quintana Roo, Chetumal.
Clendenin, Inga
'197x' Ambivalent Conquest, Spaniard and Maya in the.
Chamberlan,
'19xx' Materials for a bibliography of the cast war in Yucatan.
Coe, Michael
'199x' Maya Scribes, etc.
Edmonson, Munroe
'1984' The Ancient Future of the Itz'a, The Book of Chilam Balam of Tizimin. University of Texas Press, Austin.
'199x' Heaven Born Merida, The book of Chilam Balam of Chumaye, .University of Texas Press, Austin.
Gann, Thomas
'1xxx' Explorations in British Honduras ?.
Harris, Charles & Sadler Louis
'19xx' The Archaeologist was a Spy.
Martinez Huchim, Patricia
'1997' The Uprising of the Men in Loincloths, ''Guerra de las Castas en Yucatan'', Sastun, ano. #1, Merida.
Proskouriakoff, Tatiana
'196x' The Jaguar Motif in Maya art and Hieroglyphs.
Reed, Nelson
'1964' The Cast War in Yucatan.
Roys, Ralph
'195x' The Book of Chilam Balam of Chumayel. Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington.
'1965' The Ritual of The Bacabs, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman.
Redfield, Robert & Villa Rojas
'194x' Chan Kom, a Maya Village. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago.
Sullivan, Paul
'199x' Unfinished Conversations, ,New York.
Tedlock, Barbara
'1982' Time and the Highland Maya. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque.
Thompson, J.E.S.
'1933' Explorations in British Honduras. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago.
'196x' Maya History and Religion. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman.

★ Villa Rojas, Alfonso '194x' The Maya of East Central Quintana Roo, Mexico. Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington.

See also

★ Caste War of Yucatán

★ Kakure Kirishitan, a Japanese evolution of Catholicism after the interdiction of ordained priests.

External links

★ A visit to Chan Santa Cruz