Editing Antigua Guatemala (section)

=== 18th-century events ===

==== San Miguel Earthquake====
{{Main|1717 Guatemala earthquake}}
[[File:Antigua, Guatemala. Iglesia derruida.jpg|thumb|A church damaged by an earthquake]]

The strongest earthquakes experienced by the city of Santiago de los Caballeros before its final move in 1776 were the [[1717 Guatemala earthquake|San Miguel earthquakes]] in 1717. At that time, the power of the [[Catholic Church]] over the Spanish Empire's citizens was absolute and any natural disaster was considered as divine punishment. In the city, people also believed that the proximity of the [[Volcán de Fuego]] (English: Volcano of Fire) was the cause of earthquakes; the great architect Diego de Porres even said that all the earthquakes were caused by volcano explosions.<ref name=MelchorToledo2011/>{{rp|103}}

On August 27 there was a strong eruption of [[Volcán de Fuego]], which lasted until August 30; the residents of the city asked for help to Santo Cristo of the cathedral and to the Virgen del Socorro who were sworn patrons of the [[Volcan de Fuego]]. On August 29, a Virgen del Rosario procession took to the streets after a century without leaving her temple, and there were many more holy processions until 29 September, the day of San Miguel. Early afternoon earthquakes were minor, but at about 7:00&nbsp;p.m. there was a strong earthquake that forced residents to leave their homes; tremors and rumblings followed until four o'clock. The neighbors took to the streets and loudly confessed their sins, bracing for the worst.<ref name=MelchorToledo2011/>{{rp|104}}

The San Miguel earthquake damaged the city considerably, to the point that some rooms and walls of the Royal Palace were destroyed. There was also a partial abandonment of the city, food shortages, lack of manpower, and extensive damage to the city infrastructure, not to mention numerous dead and injured.<ref name=MelchorToledo2011/>{{rp|104}} These earthquakes made the authorities consider moving to a new city less prone to seismic activity. City residents strongly opposed the move, and even took to the Royal Palace in protest; in the end, the city did not move, but the number of troops of the Army Battalion required to maintain order was considerable.{{sfn|Rodríguez Girón|Flores|Garnica|1995|p=585}} The damage to the palace was repaired by Diego de Porres, who finished repairs in 1720, although there are indications that there was additional work done by Porres until 1736.{{sfn|Rodríguez Girón|Flores|Garnica|1995|p=585}}

==== San Casimiro earthquake ====
On March 4, 1751, the [[1751 Guatemala earthquake|San Casimiro earthquake]] destroyed the city of Santiago de Guatemala once more. The church roof of the [[Iglesia y Convento de la Compañía de Jesús, Antigua Guatemala|Society of Jesus complex]] fell to the ground, forcing the Jesuits once again to ask for help from the parishioners to rebuild. Once again, the building was among the most beautiful in the city when the repairs were completed.<ref name=Roca-deLeon-2008/>{{rp|9}} In fact, a period of prosperity began after the San Casimiro earthquake, as the city saw major improvements such as street embellishment and the introduction of a tap water system. A new City Hall was built, and on July 17, 1753, work on the Jesuit plaza in front of the church was finished.<ref name=Roca-deLeon-2008/>{{rp|9}}

==== Santa Marta earthquake ====
{{Main|Santa Marta earthquake}}
{{multiple image
| align             = right
| direction         = vertical
| width             = 220
| image1            = Patiodelosjesuitas.jpg
| caption1          = Ruins of the [[Church and Convent of Society of Jesus (Antigua Guatemala)|Society of Jesus]] school yard in 1880
| image2            = Interiordelosjesuitas.jpg
| caption2          = Ruins of the [[Church and Convent of Society of Jesus (Antigua Guatemala)|Society of Jesus]] church interior in 1880
}}

On 12 June 1773 Captain General [[Martín de Mayorga]] was inaugurated, and alongside Cortés y Larráz and the [[regular clergy]] vicars, were the top authorities in the Kingdom of Guatemala and would be the main characters in the events that followed the 1773 earthquakes.<ref name=MelchorToledo2011/>{{rp|117}}

In 1773, the [[Santa Marta earthquake]]s destroyed much of the town, which led to the third change in location for the city.{{sfn|Foster|2000|p=}} The [[Spanish monarchy|Spanish Crown]] ordered, in 1776, the removal of the capital to a safer location, the Valley of the Shrine, where [[Guatemala City]], the modern capital of Guatemala, now stands. This new city did not retain its old name and was christened Nueva Guatemala de la Asunción (New Guatemala of the Assumption), and its patron saint is Our Lady of the Assumption. The badly damaged city of Santiago de los Caballeros was ordered abandoned, although not everyone left, and was thereafter referred to as la Antigua Guatemala (the Old Guatemala).{{sfn|Foster|2000|p=}}

The Santa Marta earthquake practically demolished the church and sections of the convent of the Society of Jesus. Its cloisters and towers were in ruins, the walls were at dangerous angles, and the "Casa de Ejercicios" was turned into rubble. By a Royal decree of July 21, 1775, the city move to the "Virgin valley" was authorized. This was a final order that had to be obeyed by all the people, who started to move slowly, starting in December of that year. In order to build the new city it was necessary to get construction material from the old abandoned churches in Santiago de Guatemala. However, in the case of the Society of Jesus church, there was strong opposition from the neighbors to any possible dismantling of the structure since they considered that it could still be repaired.<ref name=Roca-deLeon-2008/>{{rp|11}}