Monsefú

Monsefú (Colonial Mochica: Omænssefæc), founded as San Pedro de Monsefú, is a city in northern Peru, located in the Department of Lambayeque. It is the capital of the district of the same name in Chiclayo province. Monsefú was elevated to the category of "city" on October 26, 1888, in the aftermath of the War of the Pacific—during which it was occupied—following a request of its deputy Manuel María Izaga. It is known today for its gastronomy and culture, being the birthplace of a number of cumbia musical groups.

Monsefú (Colonial Mochica: Omænssefæc), founded as San Pedro de Monsefú, is a city in northern Peru, located in the Department of Lambayeque. It is the capital of the district of the same name in Chiclayo province. Monsefú was elevated to the category of "city" on October 26, 1888, in the aftermath of the War of the Pacific—during which it was occupied—following a request of its deputy Manuel María Izaga. It is known today for its gastronomy and culture, being the birthplace of a number of cumbia musical groups.

Etymology

Spanish priest Fernando de la Carrera, in his work Arte de la lengua yunga (1644), argues that the word "monsefu" comes from Omænssefæc, meaning "God punishes the one who offends the earth".

History

Before the arrival of the Spanish, Monsefú would have been part of the chieftainship of Cinto, with the name of Chuspo, whose main center have been located in the vicinity of San Bartolo hill. The town was founded by the Spanish under the name "San Pedro de Monsefú". In 1578, heavy rains and floods blighted the crops and in 1612, the area was ravaged by a disease. The population was reduced by the disease and survivors after a few years were located in what is now Monsefú. The city's municipal government was established in the 1870s, replacing the Municipal Agency ( ) and establishing the office of mayor. In the early 1880s, the Chilean Army, under the command of Patricio Lynch, occupied the area and its surroundings during the War of the Pacific, where infrastructure was built by the Chilean authorities for both the locals and the troops' use, with the latter residing in a barracks. After the war, the town was elevated to city level on October 26, 1888 at the request of deputy Manuel María Izaga, under the presidency of Andrés Avelino Cáceres.

Government

Monsefú is administered by a municipal government that also governs Monsefú District. The Catholic Church in Peru administers both divisions as part of the Diocese of Chiclayo.

List of mayors

The following is a list of mayors since the establishment of a municipal government :

See also

War of the Pacific

Notes

References

Text derived from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1376839407 under CC BY-SA 4.0; modifications have been made.