Hello, young readers of Sinaloa! Did you know that our land played a very important role in Mexico’s Independence? This is the story of how Sinaloa experienced those exciting years. By the end, you’ll know who participated, what happened in each place, and why these events still matter today. It’s a story of pride that unites us!
Storybook
In late 1810, a cry for freedom echoed in Dolores, Guanajuato, launched by the brave Miguel Hidalgo. His call ignited the spark of Independence throughout Mexico.
Not only the large central cities joined; there were also routes that extended to the northwest, reaching our beautiful Sinaloa!
From Guadalajara, a brave man named José María González de Hermosillo received a very special mission from Hidalgo. His task was to carry the flame of insurrection to the Internal Provinces of the West and ignite the cause in Sinaloa and Sonora. Imagine the excitement of opening a new front along the Pacific!
Hermosillo and his column marched along a route we know well today: Escuinapa, San Sebastián (now Concordia), Mazatlán, El Rosario, and San Ignacio.
They carried with them the Guadalupan standard, a symbol of faith and struggle that united everyone under the same cause. It was a journey full of hope and challenges!
Upon arriving in Sinaloa, they coordinated with the brown militia companies of the Presidio of Mazatlán. But not only they joined; miners, muleteers, and residents of El Rosario, San Sebastián, and Cosalá provided horses, provisions, and guides. Among the young local collaborators, a very special one stood out: Pablo de Villavicencio, known as “El Payo del Rosario,” a messenger and organizer full of youthful enthusiasm for freedom.
The insurgents’ path, led by José María González de Hermosillo, took them to the Real de El Rosario. This was a mining town where many worked extracting silver and gold from the earth’s veins.
The wealth of its mines was known, but now, something more valuable was about to be born there: the hope of freedom!
In the early morning of December 18, 1810, something decisive happened in El Rosario. Hermosillo’s column, with stealth and strategy, surprised the royalist garrison guarding the town. It was a daring blow that changed the course of history in Sinaloa.
In the midst of the confusion, the insurgents managed to seize six cannons and capture Colonel Pedro Villaescusa, the leader of the royalist forces.
With his capture, Colonel Villaescusa had no choice but to sign the surrender. An important victory for the independence cause!
It was a moment of immense joy for all the people of El Rosario! For the first time, independence felt close, within reach, in the lands of Sinaloa. The news spread like wildfire, filling the hearts of its inhabitants with hope and pride.
Very soon, the cause of independence began to take strong hold throughout the region.
The presidio companies of Mazatlán, those soldiers accustomed to guarding the coast and the roads, decided to join the insurgents. They contributed their light cavalry and their valuable knowledge of the land!
Under the structure of the brown corps, local commanders, such as Sergeant Major and Political-Military Governor José Garibay and his assistant Domingo Espinoza de los Monteros, facilitated the link with González de Hermosillo’s column. At their call, captains and corporals came, offering mounts, spears, and discipline in the service of freedom.
But support didn’t just come from the military. Residents and miners from El Rosario, San Sebastián (Concordia), and Cosalá also joined. They provided horses, provisions, and guides, demonstrating that the fight for freedom was everyone’s.
And among the enthusiastic youth, Pablo de Villavicencio, “El Payo del Rosario,” shone as an emblem of Sinaloa’s impetus!
Think about what this meant: miners, muleteers, and entire families had to make a brave decision. They had to choose which side they were on, risking their work and their peace of mind. That decision is part of the true value of independence: not only soldiers fought, but common people too!
With all that momentum and support, the insurgent column advanced steadily towards Cosalá and San Ignacio. In every town they passed through, they ignited pride and hope in the hearts of the people. The spark of freedom spread throughout Sinaloa.
In San Ignacio de Piaxtla, on January 8, 1811, the insurgent forces encountered the royalist leader Alejo García Conde.
In San Ignacio de Piaxtla, on January 8, 1811, the insurgent forces encountered the royalist leader Alejo García Conde. The battle was intense, but the insurgent column showed its mettle: they held their positions for hours, relieved each other under fire, and protected the population and their wounded.
That day in San Ignacio is remembered for the courage and discipline with which the Sinaloans defended the cause. And among the combatants, our young 15-year-old hero stood out again: Pablo de Villavicencio! He distinguished himself by his bravery, loyalty, and his ability to transmit messages and keep up the spirits of his comrades.
After more than a decade of marches and battles, the awaited year of 1821 arrived, the year of the consummation of Independence. The struggle had been long and difficult, but finally, freedom was about to flourish throughout Mexico
In Sinaloa, the towns and royal mining camps dressed up for civic celebration. Bells rang out, salutes were fired, and town councils met. El Rosario (July 26) and Culiacán (October 6) proclaimed Independence according to the Plan of Iguala, under the Trigarante flag of Religion, Independence, and Union. Days of Sinaloan pride!
Young people of Sinaloa, this story is not just the past; it’s an invitation to action! Our heroes—from José María González de Hermosillo and the civic-military commanders, to the brave Pablo de Villavicencio, along with miners, muleteers, and families—teach us that honor, study, work, and service are the best way to love our homeland.
This September 15th, when you shout “¡Viva México!”, think of them and be good students, neighbors, and citizens!
This September 15th, when you shout “¡Viva México!”, think of the dawn in El Rosario, the resistance in San Ignacio, and the firm, though painful, steps of Pablo de Villavicencio. Sinaloa also gave the Cry, with gunpowder and with pen. That past invites you to be a good student, a good neighbor, and a good citizen. This is how you honor those who fought before you.
