In 1524-1525, Francisco Cortés de San Buenaventura conquered this region, giving orders to Martín Monje and Pedro Gómez in Tenamaxtlán.

It is not known about Pedro Gómez how long he kept his encomienda, but there is evidence that Martín Monje settled in Tenamaxtlán, and although he was recognized as a resident of Colima (where he had a house), he not only kept his lot but enlarged it, eventually owning a vast area that he bequeathed to his descendants.

Francisco toured Autlan, passing through Tenamaxtlán and Tecolotlan, heading to present-day Nayarit, where he was the protagonist of the passage through the Banderas valleys.

According to a document called “Title of the Legal Foundation of Tenamaxtlán”, (which is registered in the Public Property Registry of the City of Autlán), the settlement of this population took place on March 25, 1538.

That same year Fray Luis Maldonado, guardian of Tecolotlán, laid the first stone of the ancient temple of Tenamaxtlán that they dedicated to the Apostle Santiago.