History of Chiapas in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 18, 2026

Chiapas is the southernmost state of Mexico, renowned for its profound cultural heritage, biodiversity, and complex political history. Home to significant indigenous populations, particularly of Maya descent, the region features iconic archaeological sites such as Palenque and Yaxchilán. Geographically, Chiapas is characterized by lush rainforests, mountainous terrain, and deep canyons like Sumidero. In recent history, it gained international prominence in 1994 when the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) launched an uprising demanding social justice, land rights, and autonomy for marginalized indigenous communities. Despite its natural wealth and tourism potential, the state continues to face significant challenges related to poverty and inequality. Its unique blend of pre-Columbian traditions, colonial architecture, and modern social activism makes Chiapas one of the most culturally significant regions in Mexico.

1911: Conflict over the state capital

In 1911, a conflict broke out between Tuxtla Gutiérrez and San Cristóbal, with the latter attempting to reclaim the title of state capital with the support of San Juan Chamula, though the attempt was unsuccessful.

1914: Constitutionalist occupation and labor reform

In 1914, Venustiano Carranza arrived in Chiapas to establish control and implement the Ley de Obreros, a labor law designed to combat the exploitation of indigenous workers, which subsequently sparked violent resistance from conservative landowners.

1916: Municipal Reorganization of Chiapas

In 1916, the territory of Chiapas underwent a significant administrative change when it was reorganized into municipalities to better manage the region.

1920: Political shift following Carranza's death

Following the assassination of President Venustiano Carranza in 1920 and the rise of Álvaro Obregón, the conservative Mapaches gained significant political influence in Chiapas, halting the implementation of various national social reforms.

1920: Initial Population Count of the Lacandon Region

In 1920, the combined population of the Altamirano, Las Margaritas, Ocosingo, and Palenque municipalities was recorded at 11,000 inhabitants.

1920: Baseline Population for Jungle Region

In 1920, the combined population of the Altamirano, Las Margaritas, Ocosingo, and Palenque regions was recorded at less than 11,000 people.

1920: Rise of Mapache Resistance

Starting in 1920, the Mapaches engaged in a protracted conflict against socialist and communist forces in Mexico, aiming to preserve their political control over Chiapas.

1921: Enactment of the Chiapas State Constitution

The current constitution of the state of Chiapas was authored and formally adopted in 1921, establishing the legal foundation for the state.

1936: Conclusion of the Mapache Conflict

By 1936, the long-standing struggle by the Mapaches to maintain regional power came to an end following the policies implemented by Governor Victorico Grajales.

1960: Samuel Ruiz Appointed Bishop of Chiapas

In 1960, Samuel Ruiz was appointed as the bishop of the Diocese of Chiapas, based in San Cristóbal. His tenure marked a significant shift as he collaborated with Marist priests and nuns to implement the principles of liberation theology among the local indigenous populations.

1967: Venustiano Carranza Land Grant Dispute

In 1967, President Gustavo Díaz Ordaz granted land to the town of Venustiano Carranza; however, violent conflict erupted when cattle ranchers already occupying the land refused to vacate, leading to the forced removal of peasant farmers.

1974: Organization of the Indian Congress

In 1974, Bishop Samuel Ruiz convened a historic statewide Indian Congress in Chiapas. Representatives from the Tzeltal, Tzotzil, Tojolabal, and Ch'ol peoples, alongside Marist clergy and the Maoist People's Union, gathered to initiate a political unification of indigenous communities, which helped lay the organizational foundation for the future EZLN.

1980: Decree of Sumidero Canyon National Park

In 1980, the Sumidero Canyon National Park was officially decreed as a protected area covering 21,789 hectares across multiple municipalities in Chiapas, marking a significant milestone in regional conservation.

1980: Formation of the Union of Ejidal Unions and United Peasants of Chiapas

In 1980, various communal land organizations known as ejidos merged to establish the Union of Ejidal Unions and United Peasants of Chiapas, a group commonly referred to as the Union of Unions (UU).

1988: Establishment of the ARIC-Union of Unions

By 1988, the Union of Unions joined forces with other organizations to create the ARIC-Union of Unions (ARIC-UU), which subsequently assumed control over a significant portion of the Lacandon Jungle in Chiapas.

1990: Estimated refugee population in Chiapas

By 1990, it was estimated that the refugee population in the region consisted of over 200,000 Guatemalans and approximately half a million individuals from El Salvador, the vast majority of whom were young peasant farmers.

January 1, 1994: Zapatista Uprising in Chiapas

On January 1, 1994, the day the North American Free Trade Agreement went into effect, the EZLN launched an armed uprising by occupying several towns in Chiapas, including San Cristobal de las Casas, Las Margaritas, Altamirano, and Ocosingo. The group released prisoners, seized weapons from a military base, and issued a formal proclamation of revolt against neoliberal economic policies.

January 1994: Zapatista Uprising

In January 1994, following a history of poverty and failed non-violent protests among Mayan Indians in Chiapas, the Zapatista Army of National Liberation initiated an armed struggle.

1994: Zapatista Emergence in Chiapas

In 1994, the Zapatista movement gained prominence in specific municipalities of Chiapas, including Ocosingo, Altamirano, and Las Margaritas, regions that continue to struggle with high rates of illiteracy and poverty.

December 1997: The Acteal Massacre

In December 1997, a government-backed paramilitary group killed forty-five unarmed Tzotzil peasants, primarily women and children, in the Zapatista-controlled village of Acteal, Chenhaló, Mexico. This event intensified media scrutiny and criticism toward the government's handling of the Zapatista conflict.

2000: Population Surge in the Lacandon Jungle

By the year 2000, migration from highland areas resulted in the population of the Lacandon Jungle towns of Altamirano, Las Margaritas, Ocosingo, and Palenque exceeding 376,000 residents.

2000: Population Surge and Environmental Impact in the Lacandon Region

By the year 2000, the population across the municipalities of Altamirano, Las Margaritas, Ocosingo, and Palenque reached over 376,000, leading to significant deforestation and land conflict due to agricultural demands on the rainforest soil.

September 2017: Municipal Reorganization of Chiapas

As of September 2017, the state of Chiapas reached a total of 124 municipalities, formalizing its administrative division within the Mexican federal structure.

November 2023: Dissolution of Rebel Zapatista Autonomous Municipalities

In early November 2023, Subcomandante Moises and the EZLN signed a treaty to dissolve the Rebel Zapatista Autonomous Municipalities (MAREZ). This decision was prompted by escalating violence from the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, as well as intensified border conflicts near Guatemala. While the Caracoles community centers remain accessible to locals, the autonomous governance system is being restructured.