In 1521-22, Franciscan evangelists,
sent from Spain by Catholic King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella to Christianize
the natives, baptized Chief Chapalac, and named him "Martin of Chapala," master
of the people, owner of the land. In exchange, the Taltica Indian chief destroyed
his god, Iztlacateotl.
In 1538, Franciscan Fray Miguel Bolonia founded the city of Chapala. He built
a hermitage on Chapala's highest hill, Cerro San Miguel, where he lived until
his death. He built another hermitage on the island of Mezcala, where native
children were given religious instruction.
In 1548, a church was built of adobe and grass, and named San Francisco after
the order of the padres. A hospital was constructed, adjoining the church.
By 1550, Chapala had a population of 825 married persons and 349 children.
About this time, a scholar from Spain, studying Indian cultures of the Chapala
shores, found that each lakeside community seemed to have its own language.
Probably, the lack of transportation (the rough dugout fishing canoes were
not capable of crossing the lake) had prevented a common language from developing.
On September 10, 1864, Chapala became a municipality by decree of the Jalisco State Congress
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