# Veragua

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Veragua
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Veragua.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veragua
> Source revision: 1354462271
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Short description|Spanish colonial territories}}
{{more citations needed|date=August 2023}}
The name '''Veragua''' or '''Veraguas''' was used for five Spanish colonial territorial entities in [Central America](/source/Central_America), beginning in the 16th century during the [Spanish colonization of the Americas](/source/Spanish_colonization_of_the_Americas).

The term comes from the name given to the region by Central American [indigenous peoples](/source/indigenous_peoples_of_the_Americas) and was used to designate colonial territories in what is now [Costa Rica](/source/Costa_Rica), [Nicaragua](/source/Nicaragua), and [Panama](/source/Panama).

Originally, the name was written without an "s" ('''Veragua'''). However, the form '''Veraguas''' began to be officially used following two royal documents: the Royal Decree of August 20, 1739, and the Royal Mandate of June 20, 1751.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Byrzdett |first=Elyjah |title=Ducado de Veragua |isbn=978-1672808910 |pages=67 |language=Spanish}}</ref>

== Indigenous people of Veragua ==
Chronicles narrate stories of the indigenous groups encountered by the explorers, as they did not come across a solitary territory. On the contrary, these ethnicities posed challenges for the conquistadors because many of these groups were strong and resilient, as in the case of the Doraces, also known as Dorás, Dorces, Dorados, or Dorasques.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Byrzdett |first=Elyjah |title=Ducado de Veragua |isbn=978-1672808910 |language=Spanish}}</ref>

The Doraces, also known as dorados, dorás, dorasques or dorces, were not a single homogeneous ethnic group. Rather, they represented a small nation that included multiple ethnicities, languages and allied tribes. Among these were the Aburema, Aoyaques, Barú, Borasi, Boquerón, Bugabas, Bulabá, Buricas, Caizanes, Calderas, Carabaro, Cébaco, Chalivas, Chiracona, Chiriluos, Chumulos, Dolegas, Duraria, dures, dururua, espalaba, guabalá, gualaca, guaniaga, iribolos, mariato, montijo, musá, nusa, saribas, querébalos, raquegua, suasimis, suríes, tabasará, tabor, vareclas, veragua, among others.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Byrzdett |first=Elyjah |title=Ducado de Veragua |isbn=978-1672808910 |pages=10 |language=Spanish}}</ref>

==Territorial entities==
The Spanish colonial territorial entities with the name Veragua include:

===Governorate of Veragua — 1502–1537===
*The Governorate of Veragua (''Gobernación de Veragua'') (1502–1537) included the Caribbean coast of present-day [Nicaragua](/source/Nicaragua) ([Mosquito Coast](/source/Mosquito_Coast)) and [Costa Rica](/source/Costa_Rica) and the coast of [Panama](/source/Panama) as far as the [Río Belén](/source/Bel%C3%A9n_River), namely, the coastline explored by [Christopher Columbus](/source/Christopher_Columbus) on his [fourth voyage](/source/Fourth_voyage_of_Columbus), in 1502. It was this area that Columbus (and his heirs) claimed as his private domain, but which the Crown did not recognize. Spanish governors of this territory were [Diego de Nicuesa](/source/Diego_de_Nicuesa) and [Felipe Gutiérrez y Toledo](/source/Felipe_Guti%C3%A9rrez_y_Toledo).

===Duchy of Veragua — 1537–1560===
*The [Duchy of Veragua](/source/Duchy_of_Veragua), created in 1537 from the Gobernación de Veragua in territory now belonging to Panama. The first duke was [Luis Colón y Toledo](/source/Luis_Col%C3%B3n_de_Toledo%2C_1st_Duke_of_Veragua), grandson and heir of Columbus, who received the title after a long lawsuit with the [Crown of Castile](/source/Crown_of_Castile). In 1556 he returned the territory to the Crown but retained the ducal title.

===Royal Veragua — 1537–1540===
*[Royal Veragua](/source/Royal_Veragua) (''Veragua Real'') (1537–1540) included those territories of the Governorate of Veragua not included in the [Duchy of Veragua](/source/Duchy_of_Veragua). These territories were in two parts, with the duchy separating them. In 1540 the western part, together with territories from [Castilla de Oro](/source/Castilla_de_Oro), became the Province of [Nuevo Cartago y Costa Rica](/source/Nuevo_Cartago_y_Costa_Rica) within the Spanish [Captaincy General of Guatemala](/source/Captaincy_General_of_Guatemala) (Kingdom of Guatemala).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Byrzdett |first=Elyjah |title=Ducado de Veragua |isbn=978-1672808910 |pages= |language=Spanish}}</ref>

===Province of Veragua — 1560–1821===
*The Province of Veragua, formed in 1560 from territories formerly in the [Duchy of Veragua](/source/Duchy_of_Veragua). Its first governor was [Francisco Vázquez](/source/Francisco_V%C3%A1zquez_(colonial_official)). This territory, slightly expanded to the west and the south, became a dependency of the Intendencia of Panama, and in 1821, of the Republic of [Colombia](/source/Colombia).

=== Province of Veragua — 1821–1903 ===

* In the year 1849, on May 26, the Senate and House of Representatives of New Granada, convened in Congress, issued a decree to divide the Province of Veraguas into two provinces. The first province would be composed of the canton of [Santiago](/source/Santiago_de_Veraguas) and would be named the Province of Veraguas, with its capital in the city of Santiago. The second province, composed of the canton of Alanje, would be named [Chiriquí](/source/Chiriqu%C3%AD_Province), with its capital in the [town of David](/source/David%2C_Chiriqu%C3%AD).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Byrzdett |first=Elyjah |title=Ducado de Veragua |isbn=978-1672808910 |pages= |language=Spanish}}</ref>

==Present day==

=== Veraguas Province ===
*[Veraguas Province](/source/Veraguas_Province) is a present-day [Province of the Republic of Panama](/source/Provinces_of_Panama).

==See also==
*[Indigenous peoples of Costa Rica](/source/Indigenous_peoples_of_Costa_Rica)
*[Indigenous peoples of Panama](/source/Indigenous_peoples_of_Panama)
*[Subdivisions of the Spanish Empire](/source/%3ACategory%3ASubdivisions_of_the_Spanish_Empire)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

*This article is a free translation of the article [Veragua](/source/%3Aes%3AVeragua) at the Spanish Wikipedia, accessed February 2, 2007.
Category:Regions of Central America
Category:Colonial Central America
Category:Colonial Panama
Category:History of Nicaragua
Category:History of Costa Rica
Category:Governorates of the Spanish Empire
Category:Provinces of the Spanish Empire
Category:1500s in North America
Category:1510s in North America
Category:1520s in North America
Category:1530s in North America
Category:1560 in North America
Category:16th century in Central America
Category:Spanish colonization of the Americas

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Veragua](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veragua) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veragua?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.