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This Constituciones of 1601, represents not only a continuity with respect to the official documents of the Franciscans in Peru since the 16th century, but -as a legal document- it contains a better organization for the administration of the flourishing province. The founding of the Franciscan Province of the Twelve Apostles dates back to the mid-16th century.

The Lima Franciscan fray Diego de Córdova y Salinas (1957) reports in his Crónica that the provincial chapter convened for the foundation of the Province of the Twelve Apostles of Peru was celebrated in the year 1553, a fact that is corroborated even with some anticipation, since that, in a Royal Decree of 1550, the King’s order is expressed to the Peruvian provincial to send missionaries to evangelize the Indians. Likewise, in another letter written on September 4, 1551, a similar request is requested from the provincial of Peru. In any case, it is most likely that the Province of the Twelve Apostles of Peru had a provisional character before 1550, since the official confirmation of its creation reached Peru between 1552 and 1553.

Jean Christian Egoavil
Proyecto Estudios Indianos