The monastery of the Assumption of Mary…
1529 CE
The monastery of the Assumption of Mary of Cuernavaca (Spanish: monasterio de la Asunción de María) is one of number of large fortress-style monasteries that are built in the early sixteenth century in what is now northern Morelos and far western Puebla states, near the Popocatepetl volcano.
These monasteries, built to evangelize and subdue the indigenous populations shortly after the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire, begin the evangelization effort that will spread south towards Oaxaca and Central America, then later throughout the colony of New Spain.
The organization of the Cuernavaca monastery had been founded in 1525 by the first twelve Franciscans to arrive to the new Spanish colony, along with some newer arrivals.
Among these were Antonio Maldonado, Antonio Ortiz, Alonso de Herrera and Diego de Almonte.
The original purpose of the monastery organization is the evangelization of the local indigenous peoples, and later to house and train missionaries to other parts of New Spain.
However, the main church and its walled atrium is originally off limits to all except the Spanish and indigenous nobles.
Building of the complex proper begins in 1529 on land donated by Juana de Zúñiga de Cortés, Hernán Cortés’s wife.
It is the fifth construction in New Spain by the order and supervised by Toribio de Benavente Motolinia.
Like other monasteries of the time, it is built with large, tall, thick walls and with merlons in order to defend the new missionaries from still hostile native peoples.
The monastery’s lands originally extend far beyond the current complex, and include large gardens and other lands used by the monks to produce food and other needed supplies.
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Middle America
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