Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz

Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz was the first Spanish town established in what is now Mexico, founded by Hernán Cortés on April 22, 1519. The date fell on Good Friday, the day of the “True Cross” (Vera Cruz), which gave the town its name.

By founding a town with its own council, Cortés created a legal government answering directly to the Spanish crown, freeing himself from the authority of Diego Velázquez, the governor of Cuba who had sponsored his expedition. Today’s port city of Veracruz descends from that foundation.