Note 4 — Chapter V · Founding of the City of Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz—Disaffected Caciques Join Cortes—Destruction of a Heathen Temple because of Human Sacrifices—Introduction of Christianity—Cortes Sinks his Fleet after Sending a Vessel to Spain

Villa Rica has been a movable municipality. It was nominally founded on the present site of Vera Cruz and known as Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz. This was in 1519. Later, actual settlement was made farther north. In 1525 the site was changed to a place on the Rio de la Antigua. The final removal to the present site was made in 1599, the city being known by its present name, Vera Cruz.