The Spanish conquest of Petén was the last stage of the conquest of Guatemala , a prolonged conflict Hostile_encounter during the Spanish colonisation of the Americas .

A wide lowland plain covered Hiding_objects with dense rainforest , Petén contains Containing a central drainage basin with a series of lakes and areas of savannah .

The conquest of Petén , a region now incorporated Cause_to_be_included into the modern republic of Guatemala , climaxed in 1697 with the capture Conquering of Nojpetén , the island capital of the Itza kingdom , by Martín de Ursúa y Arizmendi .

Sizeable Maya populations existed Presence in Petén before the conquest Conquering , particularly around the central lakes and along the rivers .

Petén was divided into different Maya polities engaged Participation in a complex web of alliances and enmities .

Other groups with territories in Petén included Cause_to_be_included the Kejache , the Acala , the Lakandon Chʼol , the Xocmo , the Chinamita , the Icaiche and the Manche Chʼol .

Petén was first penetrated Attack by Hernán Cortés with a sizeable expedition that crossed Motion_directional the territory from north to south in 1525 .

Spanish missionaries laid the groundwork for the extension of colonial administration in the extreme south of Petén from 1596 onwards , but no further Spanish entry of central Petén took place Process_start until 1618 and 1619 when missionaries arrived at Arriving the Itza capital , having travelled Traveling from the Spanish town of Mérida in Yucatán .

Spanish missionaries laid the groundwork for the extension of colonial administration in the extreme south of Petén from 1596 onwards , but no further Spanish entry of central Petén took place Process_start until 1618 and 1619 when missionaries arrived at Arriving the Itza capital , having travelled Traveling from the Spanish town of Mérida in Yucatán .

In 1695 a military expedition tried to reach Arriving Lake Petén Itzá from Guatemala ; this was followed in 1696 by missionaries from Mérida and in 1697 by Martín de Ursúa 's expedition from Yucatán that resulted in Causation the final defeat Conquering of the independent kingdoms of central Petén and their incorporation Dispersal into the Spanish Empire .

In 1695 a military expedition tried to reach Arriving Lake Petén Itzá from Guatemala ; this was followed in 1696 by missionaries from Mérida and in 1697 by Martín de Ursúa 's expedition from Yucatán that resulted in Causation the final defeat Conquering of the independent kingdoms of central Petén and their incorporation Dispersal into the Spanish Empire .