initially, the franciscans were in charge of evangelizing the area, but soon after this task fell to the regular clergy. during the mexican war of independence, insurgent forces under generals joaquin canseco, jose maria oviedo, felipe nubi and vicente vargas fought against general porlier of the royal spanish army in 1811. later general ignacio lópez rayón used tetepetl hill as a strategic lookout. after the independence of mexico and the creation of the state of mexico in 1824, tenango del valle become one of the new state's first municipalities. the municipal seat gained the status of town in 1847. in 1861, the seat officially changed its name to tenango de arista to honor mariano arista, who was president of mexico from 1851 to 1853. for its strategic role during the war of independence, the state congress gave the seat the official name of heroica villa de tenango de arista in 1868.