Muisca Confederation

Former Andean highlands confederation

See also: Muisca and Pre-Columbian cultures of Colombia

Muisca Confederation

Muysc Muyquyguamox (Chibcha)

c. 800[1]–1540

Flag of the Muisca Confederation

Location of the Muisca Confederation circa 1500; Zipa, Zaque, and Independent territory labelled

Capital| Bacatá (Bogotá), Hunza, and Suamox, Tundama
(800–1540)
Common languages| Muysccubun
Religion

| Muisca religion
Zaque and zipa|

• ~1450–1470

| zaque Hunzahúa
zipa Meicuchuca

• 1470–1490

| zaque Saguamanchica
zipa Michuá

• 1490–1537

1490–1514

| zaque Quemuenchatocha
zipa Nemequene

• 1514–1537

| zipa Tisquesusa

• 1537–1540
1537–1539

| zaque Aquiminzaque
zipa Sagipa
Historical era| Pre-Columbian

• Established

| c. 800[1]

• Spanish conquest begins

| March 1537

• Conquest of Funza (Bacatá)

| 20 April 1537

• Conquest of Hunza

| 20 August 1537

• Destruction of the Sun Temple

| September 1537

• Foundation of Bogotá
Battle of Tocarema

| 6 August 1538
20 August 1538

• Foundation of Tunja
Death of Tundama

| 6 August 1539
December 1539

• Execution of Aquiminzaque

| 1540
Area
1537| 46,972 km2 (18,136 sq mi)
Population

• Early 16th century[2]

| 2 million

• Density

| 42.58/km2 (110.3/sq mi)

Preceded by | Succeeded by

|

|  | Herrera Period

|

| New Kingdom of Granada |

|

Today part of| Colombia
- Cundinamarca
- Boyacá
- Santander

The Muisca Confederation was a loose confederation of different Muisca rulers (zaques, zipas, iraca, and tundama) in the central Andean highlands of what is today Colombia before the Spanish conquest of northern South America. The area, presently called Altiplano Cundiboyacense, comprised the current departments of Boyacá, Cundinamarca and minor parts of Santander.

According to some Muisca scholars the Muisca Confederation was one of the best-organized confederations of tribes on the South American continent.[3] Other historians and anthropologists, however, such as Jorge Gamboa Mendoza, attribute the present-day knowledge about the confederation and its organization more to a reflection by Spanish chroniclers who predominantly wrote about it a century or more after the Muisca were conquered and proposed the idea of a loose collection of different people with slightly different languages and backgrounds.[4]

## Geography

[edit]

See also: Altiplano Cundiboyacense, Bogotá savanna, and Tenza Valley

Topography Boyacá

### Climate

[edit]

Climate charts for the extremes and four most important settlements of the Muisca Confederation

NW: Vélez – 2050 m

Climate chart (explanation)

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113

102

119

112

█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm
Source: Climate-data.org – Bogotá
| Imperial conversion

J| F| M| A| M| J| J| A| S| O| N| D

1.3

1.8

2.6

4.4

2.5

1.9

1.9

2.2

4.7

4.4

2.4

█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches

Lowest: Charalá – 1290 m

Climate chart (explanation)

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157

272

283

176

175

192

224

312

244

103

█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm
Source: Climate-data.org – Charalá
| Imperial conversion

J| F| M| A| M| J| J| A| S| O| N| D

2.8

3.8

6.2

6.9

6.9

7.6

8.8

9.6

4.1

█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches

Highest: Aquitania – 3030 m

Climate chart (explanation)

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139

219

113

109

109

█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm
Source: Climate-data.org – Aquitania
| Imperial conversion

J| F| M| A| M| J| J| A| S| O| N| D

0.4

0.9

1.9

5.5

8.6

4.4

4.3

3.7

3.3

4.3

0.9

█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches

NE: Soatá – 1950 m

Climate chart (explanation)

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271

241

126

101

103

155

260

163

█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm
Source: Climate-data.org – Soatá
| Imperial conversion

J| F| M| A| M| J| J| A| S| O| N| D

1.6

2.3

3.5

9.5

4.1

6.1

6.4

3.3

█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches

SW: Tibacuy – 1647 m

Climate chart (explanation)

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109

170

155

214

216

100

█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm
Source: Climate-data.org – Tibacuy
| Imperial conversion

J| F| M| A| M| J| J| A| S| O| N| D

2.8

3.5

4.3

6.7

6.1

3.5

2.2

3.1

8.4

8.5

3.9

█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches
|  |  |

SE: Ubalá – 1949 m

Climate chart (explanation)

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136

216

290

360

332

276

205

188

132

█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm
Source: Climate-data.org – Ubalá
| Imperial conversion

J| F| M| A| M| J| J| A| S| O| N| D

1.9

3.7

5.4

8.5

8.1

7.4

5.2

2.8

█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches

Bacatá – 2700 m

Climate chart (explanation)

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113

102

119

112

█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm
Source: Climate-data.org – Bogotá
| Imperial conversion

J| F| M| A| M| J| J| A| S| O| N| D

1.3

1.8

2.6

4.4

2.5

1.9

1.9

2.2

4.7

4.4

2.4

█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches

Hunza – 2820 m

Climate chart (explanation)

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116

108

122

108

█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm
Source: Climate-data.org – Tunja
| Imperial conversion

J| F| M| A| M| J| J| A| S| O| N| D

0.9

1.2

2.5

4.6

4.3

3.6

2.8

2.7

2.8

4.8

4.3

1.7

█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches

Suamox – 2569 m

Climate chart (explanation)

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114

107

116

█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm
Source: Climate-data.org – Sogamoso
| Imperial conversion

J| F| M| A| M| J| J| A| S| O| N| D

0.7

1.2

2.3

4.5

4.2

2.6

1.9

2.5

4.6

3.5

1.4

█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches

Tundama – 2590 m

Climate chart (explanation)

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123

126

143

█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm
Source: Climate-data.org – Duitama
| Imperial conversion

J| F| M| A| M| J| J| A| S| O| N| D

0.8

1.7

2.6

4.8

2.1

2.1

2.9

5.6

3.6

1.7

█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches
The climates (Af-Cfb-Cwb) of the geographic (NW, NE, SW and SE) and topographic extremes and for the four main settlements of the Muisca Confederation situated on the Altiplano,
from SW to NE; Bacatá, Hunza, Suamox and Tundama are rather constant over the year with wetter periods in April–May and October–November

## Muisca Confederation

[edit]

Location of the Muisca Confederation on the map of the Republic of Colombia.

In the times before the Spanish conquest of the Muisca, the central part of present-day Colombia; the Eastern Ranges of the Colombian Andes was inhabited by the Muisca people who were organised in a loose confederation of rulers. The central authorities of Bacatá in the south and Hunza in the north were called zipa and zaque respectively. Other rulers were the iraca priest in sacred City of the Sun Sugamuxi, the Tundama of Tundama and various other caciques (chiefs). The Muisca spoke Chibcha, in their own language called Muysccubun; "language of the people".

The Muisca people, different from the other three great civilisations of the Americas; the Maya, Aztec and Inca, did not build grand stone architecture. Their settlements were relatively small and consisted of bohíos; circular houses of wood and clay, organised around a central market square with the house of the cacique in the centre. Roads were present to connect the settlements with each other and with the surrounding indigenous groups, of which the Guane and Lache to the north, the Panche and Muzo to the west and Guayupe, Achagua and Tegua to the east were the most important.

### History

[edit]

#### Prehistory

[edit]

See also: Altiplano Cundiboyacense § Prehistory

Early Amerindian settlers led a hunter-gatherer life among still extant megafauna living in cool habitats around Pleistocene lakes, of which the humedales in Bogotá, Lake Suesca, Lake Fúquene and Lake Herrera are notable examples. Multiple evidences of late Pleistocene to middle Holocene population of the Bogotá savanna, the high plateau in the Colombian Andes, have been found to date. As is common with caves and rock shelters, Tequendama was inhabited from around 11,000 years BP, and continuing into the prehistorical, Herrera and Muisca periods, making it the oldest site of Colombia, together with El Abra (12,500 BP), located north of Zipaquirá and Tibitó, located within the boundaries of Tocancipá (11,740 BP).[5][6] The oldest human remains and the oldest complete skeleton were discovered at Tequendama and has been named "Hombre del Tequendama" or Homo Tequendama. Other artefacts have been found in Gachalá (9100 BP), Sueva (Junín) and Zipacón.[7] Just west of the Altiplano, the oldest archaeological remains were found; in Pubenza, part of Tocaima and have been dated at 16,000 years Before Present.[8]

#### Pre-Columbian era

[edit]

Timeline of inhabitation of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense, Colombia

Altiplano

Muisca Confederation

##### Herrera Period

[edit]

Period
name  | Start
age  | End
age

|
|

Herrera  | 800 BCE  | 800
Early Muisca  | 800  | 1200
Late Muisca  | 1200  | 1537
Kruschek, 2003[1]

Main article: Herrera Period

The Herrera Period is a phase in the history of Colombia. It is part of the Andean preceramic and ceramic, time equivalent of the North American pre-Columbian formative and classic stages and age dated by various archaeologists.[9] The Herrera Period predates the age of the Muisca people, who inhabited the Altiplano Cundiboyacense before the Spanish conquest of the Muisca and postdates the lithic formative stage and prehistory of the eastern Andean region in Colombia. The Herrera Period is usually defined as ranging from 800 BCE to 800 AD,[10] although some scholars date it as early as 1500 BCE, considered as the "Early Herrera Period".[11]

Ample evidence of the Herrera Period has been uncovered on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense and main archaeologists contributing to the present knowledge about the Herrera Period are scholars Ana María Groot, Gonzalo Correal Urrego, Thomas van der Hammen, Carl Henrik Langebaek Rueda, Sylvia M. Broadbent, Marianne Cardale de Schrimpff and others.

##### Muisca

[edit]

Part of a series on
Muisca culture
Topics

* Agriculture
* Architecture
* Art
* Astronomy
* Calendar
* Cuisine
* Economy
* Language
* Mummies
* Music
* Mythology
* Numerals
* Religion
* Research
* Collections
* Scholars
* Sites
* Warfare
* Women

Geography

* Flora and fauna
* Altiplano
* Bogotá savanna
* Eastern Hills
* Tenza Valley

The Salt People

* Nemocón
* Zipaquirá

Main neighbours

* Guane
* Muzo
* Panche

History and timeline

* Prehistory
* Herrera Period
* Muisca Confederation
* Bacatá
* Hunza
* Suamox
* Tundama
* Spanish conquest
* Gonzalo
* Hernán
* Others

* v
* t
* e

Main article: Muisca

The Muisca were polytheistic and their religion and mythology was closely connected with the natural area they were inhabiting. They had a thorough understanding of astronomical parameters and developed a complex luni-solar calendar; the Muisca calendar. According to the calendar they had specific times for sowing, harvest and the organisation of festivals where they sang, danced and played music and drank their national drink chicha in great quantities.

The most respected members of the community were mummified and the mummies were not buried, yet displayed in their temples, in natural locations such as caves and even carried on their backs during warfare to impress their enemies.

Their art is the most famous remnant of their culture, as living spaces, temples and other existing structures have been destroyed by the Spanish who colonised the Muisca territories. A primary example of their fine goldworking is the Muisca raft, together with more objects made of gold, tumbaga, ceramics and cotton displayed in the Museo del Oro in Bogotá, the ancient capital of the southern Muisca.

The Muisca were a predominantly agricultural society with small-scale farmfields, part of more extensive terrains. To diversify their diet, they traded mantles, gold, emeralds and salt for fruits, vegetables, coca, yopo and cotton cultivated in lower altitude warmer terrains populated by their neighbours, the Muzo, Panche, Yarigui, Guane, Guayupe, Achagua, Tegua, Lache, Sutagao and U'wa. Trade of products grown farther away happened with the Calima, Pijao and Caribbean coastal communities around the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.

The Muisca economy was self-sufficient regarding the basic supplies,[clarification needed] thanks to the use of raised terraces in agriculture. The system of trade was well established providing both the higher social classes and the general population abundances of gold, feathers, marine snails, coca, yopo and other luxury goods. Markets were held every four to eight days in various settlements throughout the Muisca Confederation and special markets were organised around festivities where merchants from far outside the Andes were trading their goods with the Muisca.

Apart from agriculture, the Muisca were well developed in the production of different crafts, using the raw materials traded with surrounding indigenous peoples. Famous are the golden and tumbaga objects made by the Muisca people. Cotton mantles, cloths and nets were made by the Muisca women and traded for valuable goods, tropical fruits and small cotton cloths were used as money. The Muisca were unique in South America for having real coins of gold, called tejuelos.

Mining was an important source of income for the Muisca, who were called "Salt People" because of their salt mines in Zipaquirá, Nemocón and Tausa. Like their western neighbours, the Muzo—who were called "The Emerald People"—they mined emeralds in their territories, mainly in Somondoco. Carbon was found throughout the region of the Muisca in Eocene sediments and used for the fires for cooking and the production of salt and golden ornaments.

The people used a decimal counting system, based on the digits of the hand. Their system went from 1 to 10 and for higher numerations they used the prefix quihicha or qhicha, which means "foot" in their Chibcha language Muysccubun. Eleven became thus "foot one", twelve "foot two", etc. As in the other pre-Columbian civilizations, the number 20 was special. It was the total number of all body extremities; fingers and toes. The Muisca used two forms to express twenty: "foot ten"; quihícha ubchihica or their exclusive word gueta, derived from gue, which means "house". Numbers between 20 and 30 were counted gueta asaqui ata ("twenty plus one"; 21), gueta asaqui ubchihica ("twenty plus ten"; 30). Larger numbers were counted as multiples of twenty; gue-bosa ("20 times 2"; 40), gue-hisca ("20 times 5"; 100). The Muisca script consisted of hieroglyphs, only used for numerals.[12]

## Territorial organization

[edit]

History of the Muisca

Altiplano |
Muisca |
Art |
Architecture |
Astronomy |
Cuisine |
El Dorado |
Subsistence |
Women |
Conquest

### Bacatá

[edit]

The zipa ruled over the Bogotá savanna

* Capital – Bacatá
* Area – 5,430 square kilometres (2,100 sq mi)
* Average elevation – 2,470 metres (8,100 ft)
* Last rulers – zipas Tisquesusa, Sagipa
* Date of conquest – 20 April 1537 (Funza) – Jiménez & Pérez de Quesada
* First city – 6 August 1538 (Bogotá) – Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada

Municipality  | Department
bold is capital | Ruler(s)
bold is seat | Altitude
urban centre (m) | Surface area
(km2) | Remarks  | Map

|
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Bacatá | Cundinamarca | zipa | 2640  | 1587  | Muisca mummy found
Important market town
Petrographs found  |
Bojacá | Cundinamarca  | zipa | 2598  | 109  | Lake Herrera
Petrographs found  |
Cajicá | Cundinamarca  | zipa | 2558  | 50.4  |  |
La Calera | Cundinamarca  | zipa | 2718  | 317  | Petrographs found  |
Cáqueza | Cundinamarca  | zipa | 1746  | 38  |  |
Chía | Cundinamarca  | zipa | 2564  | 80  | Moon Temple
Herrera site
Petrographs found  |
Choachí | Cundinamarca  | zipa | 1923  | 223  | Choachí Stone found  |
Chocontá | Cundinamarca  | zipa | 2655  | 301.1  | Important market town
Battle of Chocontá (~1490)
Fortification between zipa & zaque |
Cogua | Cundinamarca  | zipa | 2600  | 113  | Muisca ceramics production
Petrographs found  |
Cota | Cundinamarca  | zipa | 2566  | 55  | Petrographs found
Still Muisca people living  |
Cucunubá | Cundinamarca  | zipa | 2590  | 112  | Petrographs found  |
Facatativá | Cundinamarca  | zipa | 2586  | 158  | Piedras del Tunjo |
Funza | Cundinamarca  | zipa | 2548  | 70  | Important market town |
Gachancipá | Cundinamarca  | zipa | 2568  | 44  | Muisca mummy found
Muisca ceramics production |
Guasca | Cundinamarca  | zipa | 2710  | 346  | Siecha Lakes
Muisca ceramics production
Petrographs found  |
Madrid | Cundinamarca  | zipa | 2554  | 120.5  | Lake Herrera
Petrographs found  |
Mosquera | Cundinamarca  | zipa | 2516  | 107  | Lake Herrera
Petrographs found  |
Nemocón | Cundinamarca  | zipa | 2585  | 98.1  | Muisca salt mines
Preceramic site Checua
Petrographs found  |
Pacho | Cundinamarca  | zipa | 2136  | 403.3  | Important market town |
Pasca | Cundinamarca  | zipa | 2180  | 246.24  | Battle of Pasca (~1470)
Muisca raft found  |
El Rosal | Cundinamarca  | zipa | 2685  | 86.48  |  |
San Antonio
del Tequendama | Cundinamarca  | zipa | 1540  | 82  | Tequendama Falls
Fortification against Panche
Petrographs found  |
Sesquilé | Cundinamarca  | zipa | 2595  | 141  | Lake Guatavita
Minor Muisca salt mines |
Sibaté | Cundinamarca  | zipa | 2700  | 125.6  | Petrographs found  |
Soacha | Cundinamarca  | zipa | 2565  | 184.45  | Preceramic site Tequendama
Herrera site
Muisca ceramics production
Petrographs found  |
Sopó | Cundinamarca  | zipa | 2650  | 111.5  | Herrera site |
Subachoque | Cundinamarca  | zipa | 2663  | 211.53  | Petrographs found  |
Suesca | Cundinamarca  | zipa | 2584  | 177  | 150 Muisca mummies found
Lake Suesca
Muisca ceramics production
Important market town
Petrographs found  |
Sutatausa | Cundinamarca  | zipa | 2550  | 67  | Petrographs found  |
Tabio | Cundinamarca  | zipa | 2569  | 74.5  | Hot springs used by the Muisca  |
Tausa | Cundinamarca  | zipa | 2931  | 204  | Muisca salt mines
Petrographs found  |
Tena | Cundinamarca  | zipa | 1384  | 55  | Fortification against Panche
Petrographs found  |
Tenjo | Cundinamarca  | zipa | 2587  | 108  | Petrographs found  |
Tibacuy | Cundinamarca  | zipa & Panche | 1647  | 84.4  | Border with Panche
Fortification against Panche & Sutagao
Petrographs found  |
Tocancipá | Cundinamarca  | zipa | 2605  | 73.51  | Preceramic site Tibitó
Muisca ceramics production
Important market town
Petrographs found  |
Zipaquirá | Cundinamarca  | zipa | 2650  | 197  | El Abra
Muisca salt mines
Important market town
Petrographs and petroglyphs found  |
Fúquene | Cundinamarca  | zipa
zaque | 2750  | 90  | Lake Fúquene |
Simijaca | Cundinamarca  | zipa (1490–1537)  | 2559  | 107  | Conquered by zipa Saguamanchica
upon zaque Michuá (~1490)  |
Susa | Cundinamarca  | zipa (1490–1537)  | 2655  | 86  | Conquered by zipa Saguamanchica
upon zaque Michuá (~1490)
Lake Fúquene |
Ubaté | Cundinamarca  | zipa (1490–1537)  | 2556  | 102  | Conquered by zipa Saguamanchica
upon zaque Michuá (~1490)
Muisca mummy found  |
Zipacón | Cundinamarca  | zipa | 2550  | 70  | Agriculture
Place of meditation for the zipa
Petrographs found  |

### Chipazaque

[edit]

Landscape of Chipazaque Municipality
| Department | Ruler(s) | Altitude
(m) | Surface area
(km2) | Remarks  | Map

|
|
|
|
|
|

Junín | Cundinamarca | chipazaque | 2300  | 337  | Shared between
zipa and zaque
Petrographs found  |

### Hunza

[edit]

The Muisca were bordered to the west by the Emerald People

* Capital – Hunza
* Area – 4,700 square kilometres (1,800 sq mi)
* Average elevation – 2,270 metres (7,450 ft)
* Last rulers – zaques Quemuenchatocha, Aquiminzaque
* Date of conquest – 20 August 1537 (Hunza) – Jiménez & Pérez de Quesada
* First city – 6 August 1539 (Tunja) – Gonzalo Suárez Rendón

Municipality
| Department
bold is capital | Ruler(s)
bold is seat | Altitude
(m) | Surface area
(km2) | Remarks  | Map

|
|
|
|
|
|

Hunza | Boyacá | zaque | 2820  | 121.4  | Hunzahúa Well
Cojines del Zaque
Goranchacha Temple
Muisca mummy found
Important market town
Petrographs found  |
Boyacá | Boyacá | zaque | 2420  | 48  |  |
Buenavista | Boyacá | zaque | 2100  | 125  | Border with Muzo
Nose piece and pectoral found,
dated at 620 and 990 AD respectively[13] |
Chinavita | Boyacá | zaque | 1763  | 148  |  |
Chíquiza | Boyacá | zaque | 2900  | 119.52  | Lake Iguaque |
Chitaraque | Boyacá | zaque | 1575  | 157.65  |  |
Chivatá | Boyacá | zaque | 2903  | 56  |  |
Ciénega | Boyacá | zaque | 2460  | 73  |  |
Cucaita | Boyacá | zaque | 2650  | 43.58  |  |
Gachantivá | Boyacá | zaque | 2450  | 66  | Muisca mummy found
Muisca copper mines |
Garagoa | Boyacá | zaque | 1650  | 191.75  |  |
Macanal | Boyacá | zaque | 1680  | 199.5  | Border with Tegua |
Motavita | Boyacá | zaque | 2690  | 62  | Coca market town
Petrographs found  |
Oicatá | Boyacá | zaque | 2815  | 59  |  |
Pachavita | Boyacá | zaque | 1985  | 68  |  |
Ramiriquí | Boyacá | zaque | 2325  | 146.5  | Place of death of Quemuenchatocha
Important ceramics production
Petrographs found  |
Sáchica | Boyacá | zaque | 2150  | 62.4  | Petrographs found  |
Samacá | Boyacá | zaque | 2660  | 172.9  |  |
San Miguel de Sema | Boyacá | zaque | 2615  | 90  | Lake Fúquene |
Siachoque | Boyacá | zaque | 2760  | 125  |  |
Somondoco | Boyacá | zaque | 1670  | 58.7  | Muisca emerald mines
Important market town |
Sutamarchán | Boyacá | zaque | 1800  | 102  | Muisca ceramics production |
Tinjacá | Boyacá | zaque | 2175  | 79.3  | Muisca ceramics production |
Tipacoque | Boyacá | zaque | 1850  | 72.1  | Chicamocha Canyon |
Turmequé | Boyacá | zaque | 2389  | 106  | Important market town
Fortification between zipa & zaque |
Villa de Leyva | Boyacá | zaque | 2149  | 128  | El Infiernito
Lake Iguaque
Muisca mummy found
Important market town |
Sora | Boyacá | zaque | 2650  | 42  |  |
Soracá | Boyacá | zaque | 2942  | 57  |  |
Sotaquirá | Boyacá | zaque | 2860  | 288.65  |  |
Sutatenza | Boyacá | zaque | 1890  | 41.26  |  |
Tibaná | Boyacá | zaque | 2115  | 121.76  | Petrographs found  |
Togüí | Boyacá | zaque | 1650  | 118  |  |
Tuta | Boyacá | zaque | 2600  | 165  |  |
Ventaquemada | Boyacá | zaque | 2630  | 159.3  |  |
Viracachá | Boyacá | zaque | 2520  | 68  |  |
Zetaquirá | Boyacá | zaque | 1665  | 262  |  |
Almeida | Boyacá | zaque | 1925  | 57.98  |  |
La Capilla | Boyacá | zaque | 1750  | 57.26  |  |
Jenesano | Boyacá | zaque | 2076  | 59  |  |
Nuevo Colón | Boyacá | zaque | 2500  | 51  |  |
Rondón | Boyacá | zaque | 2075  | 158  |  |
Lenguazaque | Cundinamarca | zaque | 2589  | 15.36  |  |
Machetá | Cundinamarca | zaque | 2094  | 229.35  | Petrographs found  |
Tibiritá | Cundinamarca | zaque | 1980  | 57.2  | Petrographs found  |
Villapinzón | Cundinamarca | zaque | 2715  | 249  |  |

### Iraca

[edit]

The Sun Temple was the seat of the iraca

* Capital – Suamox
* Area – 4,163 square kilometres (1,607 sq mi)
* Average elevation – 2,630 metres (8,630 ft)
* Last ruler – iraca Sugamuxi
* Date of conquest – Early September 1537 (Sogamoso) – Jiménez & Pérez de Quesada
* Important settlements – Suamox, Busbanzá, Firavitoba, Gámeza and Tota
* Archaeological remains – mummies, Sun Temple reconstruction, Lake Tota

Municipality  | Department | Ruler(s)
bold is seat | Altitude
(m) | Surface area
(km2) | Remarks  | Map

|
|
|
|
|
|

Suamox | Boyacá | iraca
Nompanim
Sugamuxi | 2569  | 208.54  | Sun Temple
Muisca mummy found
Muisca carbon mines |
Aquitania | Boyacá | iraca | 3030  | 943  | Lake Tota |
Busbanzá | Boyacá | iraca | 2472  | 22.5  | Elector of new iraca |
Cuítiva | Boyacá | iraca | 2750  | 43  | Lake Tota
Statue of Bochica |
Firavitoba | Boyacá | iraca | 2500  | 109.9  | Elector of new iraca |
Gámeza | Boyacá | iraca | 2750  | 88  | Herrera site
Muisca mummy found
Minor Muisca salt mines
Muisca carbon mines
Petrographs found  |
Iza | Boyacá | iraca | 2560  | 34  | Herrera site
Lake Tota
Petrographs found  |
Mongua | Boyacá | iraca | 2975  | 365.5  | Petrographs found  |
Monguí | Boyacá | iraca | 2900  | 81  | Petroglyphs
Birthplaces (Tortolitas)  |
Pesca | Boyacá | iraca | 2858  | 282  |  |
Tasco | Boyacá | iraca | 2530  | 167  | Muisca mummy found  |
Toca | Boyacá | iraca | 2810  | 165  |  |
Tota | Boyacá | iraca | 2870  | 314  | Lake Tota |
Socotá | Boyacá | iraca
Tundama  | 2443  | 600.11  | Muisca mummy found  |
Tibasosa | Boyacá | Tundama
iraca | 2538  | 94.3  |  |

### Tundama

[edit]

The area around Tundama was filled with small lakes of which some bloody evidences remain

* Capital – Tundama
* Area – 2,920 square kilometres (1,130 sq mi)
* Average elevation – 2,470 metres (8,100 ft)
* Last ruler – Tundama
* Date of conquest – Late December 1539 (Duitama) – Baltasar Maldonado
* Important settlements – Tundama, Onzaga, Soatá, Chitagoto (now Paz de Río)

Municipality  | Department | Ruler(s)
bold is seat | Altitude
(m) | Surface area
(km2) | Remarks  | Map

|
|
|
|
|
|

Tundama | Boyacá | Tundama | 2590  | 266.93  | Seat of Tundama
In ancient lake  |
Onzaga | Santander | Tundama  | 1960  | 486.76  | Important for wool and cotton production  |
Cerinza | Boyacá | Tundama  | 2750  | 61.63  | Monument to the Muisca  |
Paz de Río | Boyacá | Tundama  | 2200  | 116  | Coca market town |
Paipa | Boyacá | Tundama  | 2525  | 305.924  | Thermal springs  |
Sativanorte | Boyacá | Tundama  | 2600  | 184  | Herrera site |
Sativasur | Boyacá | Tundama  | 2600  | 81  | Muisca mummy SO10-IX found
Herrera site |
Soatá | Boyacá | Tundama  | 1950  | 136  | Herrera site
Coca market town |
Belén | Boyacá | Tundama  | 2650  | 83.6  | Petrographs found  |
Corrales | Boyacá | Tundama  | 2470  | 60.85  |  |
Floresta | Boyacá | Tundama  | 2506  | 86  |  |
Nobsa | Boyacá | Tundama  | 2510  | 55.39  |  |
Santa Rosa de Viterbo | Boyacá | Tundama  | 2753  | 107  |  |
Susacón | Boyacá | Tundama  | 2480  | 191  |  |
Tibasosa | Boyacá | Tundama
iraca | 2538  | 94.3  |  |
Socotá | Boyacá | iraca
Tundama  | 2443  | 600.11  | Muisca mummy found  |

### Independent caciques

[edit]

Independent caciques headed small communities

* Capital – none
* Area – 3,080 square kilometres (1,190 sq mi)
* Average elevation – 2,140 metres (7,020 ft)
* Important caciques – Guatavita, Ubaté, Chiquinquirá, Ubaque, Tenza, Vélez

Municipality
bold is major cacique | Department | Ruler(s) | Altitude
(m) | Surface area
(km2) | Remarks  | Map

|
|
|
|
|
|

Vélez | Santander  | cacique | 2050  | 271.34  |  |
Chipatá | Santander  | cacique | 1820  | 94.17  | First town conquered by the Spanish |
Güepsa | Santander  | cacique | 1540  | 33.08  | Border with Guane
Border with Yarigui |
Charalá | Santander | cacique | 1290  | 411  | Border with Guane |
Arcabuco | Boyacá | cacique | 2739  | 155  | Statue honouring the Muisca warriors |
Betéitiva | Boyacá  | cacique | 2575  | 123  |  |
Boavita | Boyacá  | cacique | 2114  | 159  | Muisca mummy found  |
Chiquinquirá | Boyacá  | cacique | 2556  | 133  |  |
Cómbita | Boyacá  | cacique | 2825  | 149  |  |
Covarachía | Boyacá  | cacique | 2320  | 103  | Herrera site |
Guateque | Boyacá  | cacique | 1815  | 36.04  | Religious rituals at Guatoc hill  |
Guayatá | Boyacá  | cacique | 1767  | 112  | Muisca money (tejuelo) found  |
Moniquirá | Boyacá  | cacique | 1669  | 220  | Muisca mummy found
Muisca copper mines |
Pisba | Boyacá  | cacique | 2400  | 469.12  | Muisca mummy found  |
Ráquira | Boyacá  | cacique | 2150  | 233  | Muisca ceramics production |
Saboyá | Boyacá  | cacique | 2600  | 246.9  | Petrographs found  |
Tópaga | Boyacá  | cacique | 2900  | 37  | Muisca mummy found
Muisca carbon mines |
Tutazá | Boyacá  | cacique | 1890  | 135  | Muisca ceramics production |
Tenza | Boyacá  | cacique | 1600  | 51  | Tenza Valley |
Chivor | Boyacá  | cacique | 1800  | 108.36  | Muisca emerald mines |
Úmbita | Boyacá  | cacique | 2480  | 148.17  |  |
Carmen de Carupa | Cundinamarca | cacique | 2600  | 228  | Tunjo found  |
Guatavita | Cundinamarca  | cacique | 2680  | 247.3  | Muisca ceramics production
Main goldworking town
Petrographs found  |
Gachetá | Cundinamarca  | cacique Guatavita | 1745  | 262.2  |  |
Guachetá | Cundinamarca  | cacique | 2688  | 177.45  | Minor Muisca salt mines
Petrographs found  |
Manta | Cundinamarca  | cacique | 1924  | 105  |  |
Ubaque | Cundinamarca  | cacique | 1867  | 104.96  | Last public religious ritual (1563)
Lake Ubaque |
Ubalá | Cundinamarca  | cacique | 1949  | 505  | Muisca emerald mines |
Chipaque | Cundinamarca  | cacique | 2400  | 139.45  | Petrographs found  |
Fómeque | Cundinamarca  | cacique | 1895  | 555.7  |  |
Quetame | Cundinamarca  | cacique | 1496  | 138.47  |  |
Une | Cundinamarca  | cacique | 2376  | 221  |  |
Fosca | Cundinamarca  | cacique | 2080  | 126.02  | Fortification against Guayupe |

## Neighbouring indigenous groups

[edit]

See also: Muisca economy § Trade, and Spanish conquest of New Granada

Yarigui | Guane | Lache | U'wa

|
|
|

Muzo |  |
Panche | Achagua
Sutagao | Guayupe | Tegua
Cariban languages • Chibchan languages • Arawakan languages
Yarigui and Lache not shown on map • Tegua shown as Tecua • U'wa shown as Tunebo
[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]

* Panche
* Cariban-speaking
* frequent warfare
* beaten in the Battle of Tocarema
* pathways to gold
* conquest by Hernán Venegas Carrillo (1543–44)
* Muzo or The Emerald people
* Cariban-speaking
* trading access to western neighbours
* Furatena
* pathways to gold
* conquest by Luis Lanchero (1539–1559)
* Guane
* Chibcha-speaking
* producers of cotton for mantle making
* producers of fruits
* access to La Tora (Barrancabermeja); trading sea shells at Magdalena River
* conquest by Martín Galeano (1539–1551)

## Sacred sites

[edit]

Main articles: Muisca mythology and Muisca religion

The sacred sites of the Muisca Confederation were based in the Muisca religion and mythology. The Muisca were a highly religious people with their own beliefs on the origin of the Earth and life and human sacrifices were no exception to please the gods for good harvests and prosperity.

Lake Guatavita, Guatavita, was the location where the new zipa would be inaugurated. It became known with the Spanish conquerors as the site of El Dorado where the new zipa was covered in gold dust and installed as the new ruler of the southern Muisca.[24]

In the legends of the Muisca, humankind originated in Lake Iguaque, Monquirá, when the goddess Bachué came out from the lake with a boy in her arms. When the boy grew, they populated the Earth. They are considered the ancestors of the human race. Finally, they disappeared unto the lake in the shape of snakes.[25]

According to Muisca myths, the Tequendama Falls, outside Soacha, was the site where the first zipa Meicuchuca lost his lover who turned in a snake and disappeared in the waters of the Bogotá River.[26][27]

El Infiernito, close to the present town of Villa de Leyva was a sacred site where the Muisca erected structures based on astronomical parameters.[28][29][30]

### Other sacred sites

[edit]

* Sun Temple, Sogamoso
* Hunzahúa Well, Tunja
* Goranchacha Temple, Tunja
* Cojines del Zaque, Tunja
* Moon Temple, Chía

* Lake Guatavita; site of El Dorado

* Lake Iguaque

* Tequendama Falls

* El Infiernito; astronomical site

* Cojines del Zaque

## Spanish conquests

[edit]

Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta

Topography Cesar

Topography Santander

The harsh expedition through the jungles of Magdalena, La Guajira, Cesar and Santander cost the lives of more than 80% of the troops and they hadn't found El Dorado...

Tisquesusa
(† 1537)

Sagipa
(† 1540)

Sagipa, or Saquesazipa, was the last ruler of Bacatá, as successor of Tisquesusa, defeated near Funza, on April 20, 1537, and died, as the prophecy said, "bathing in his own blood", due to attacks by the Spanish. His body was not found a year after. His defeat meant a new reign over the savanna and the foundation of Bogotá on August 6, 1538

Main article: Spanish conquest of the Muisca

See also: Spanish conquest of the Chibchan Nations

### Conquest and early colonial period

[edit]

Quemuenchatocha
(† 1537)

Aquiminzaque
(† 1539)

Túpac Amaru
(† 1572)

Aquiminzaque, as successor of Quemuenchatocha, defeated in his home in Hunza, on August 20, 1537, was the last souvereign ruler of the Muisca and was decapitated by the Spanish, as would happen to Túpac Amaru of the Inca, 34 years later

The conquest of the Muisca was the heaviest of all four Spanish expeditions to the great American civilisations.[31] More than 80 percent of the soldiers and horses that started the journey of a year to the northern Muisca Confederation did not survive it.[32][33][34] Various settlements were founded by the Spanish between 1537 and 1539.[35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44]

A delegation of more than 900 men left the tropical city of Santa Marta and went on a harsh expedition through the heartlands of Colombia in search of El Dorado and the civilisation that produced all this precious gold. The leader of the first and main expedition under Spanish flag was Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada, with his brother Hernán second in command.[34] Several other soldiers were participating in the journey, who would later become encomenderos and taking part in the conquest of other parts of Colombia. Other contemporaneous expeditions into the unknown interior of the Andes, all searching for the mythical land of gold, were starting from later Venezuela, led by Bavarian and other German conquistadors and from the south, starting in the previously founded Kingdom of Quito in later Ecuador.

The first phase of the conquest was ended by the victory of the few conquistadors left over Tisquesusa, the last zipa of Bacatá, who fell and died after the battle at Funza, on the Bogotá savanna, April 20, 1537. The arrival of the Spanish conquerors was revealed to Tisquesusa by the mohan Popón, from the village of Ubaque. He told the Muisca ruler that foreigners were coming and Tisquesusa would die "bathing in his own blood".[45] When Tisquesusa was informed of the advancing invasion of the Spanish soldiers, he sent a spy to Suesca to find out more about their army strength, weapons and with how many warriors they could be beaten. The zipa left the capital Bacatá and took shelter in Nemocón which directed the Spanish troops to there, during this march attacked by more than 600 Muisca warriors.[46]

When Tisquesusa retreated in his fort in Cajicá he allegedly told his men he would not be able to combat against the strong Spanish army in possession of weapons that produced "thunder and lightning". He chose to return to Bacatá and ordered the capital to be evacuated, resulting in an abandoned site when the Spanish arrived. In search for the Muisca ruler the conquistadores went north to find Tisquesusa in the surroundings of Facatativá where they attacked him at night.

Tisquesusa was thrusted by the sword of one of De Quesada's soldiers but without knowing he was the zipa he let him go, after taking the expensive mantle of the ruler. Tisquesusa fled hurt into the mountains and died of his wounds there. His body was only discovered a year later because of the black vultures circling over it.

When Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada found out the caciques were conspiring against him, he sent out several expeditions of soldiers. His captain Juan de Céspedes went south to found Pasca on July 15, 1537.[47] Hernán was sent north and Gonzalo himself went northeast, to search for the mythical Land of Gold El Dorado. There he did not find golden cities, but emeralds, the Muisca were extracting in Chivor and Somondoco. First foundation was Engativá, presently a locality of Bogotá, on May 22, 1537.[40] Passing through Suba, Chía, Cajicá, Tocancipá, Gachancipá, Guatavita and Sesquilé, he arrived in Chocontá, founding the modern town on June 9.[41] The journey went eastward into the Tenza Valley through Machetá, Tibiritá, Guateque, Sutatenza and Tenza, founded on San Juan; June 24.[42] On the same day, Hernán founded Sutatausa.[43] Gonzalo continued northwest through La Capilla and Úmbita. He arrived in Turmequé that he founded on July 20.[44]

In August 1537 Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada entered the territories of the zaque, who ruled from Hunza. When the Spanish conquerors entered the outskirts of Hunza and found a hill with poles were bodies were dangling, they named it Cerro de la Horca ("Gallow Hill").[48] At the time of the conquest Quemuenchatocha was the zaque and he ordered his men to not submit to the European invaders or show them the way to his bohío. He sent messengers to the Spanish conquistadors with valuable peace offers. While this was happening, Quemuenchatocha had hidden his treasures from the Spanish. Hunza was located in a valley not as green as the Bogotá savanna. The advantage of the Spanish weaponry and the use of the horses quickly beat the Muisca warriors.[34]

When Gonzalo arrived at the main bohío of Quemuenchatocha, he found the Muisca ruler sitting in his throne and surrounded by his closest companions. All men were dressed in expensive mantles and adorned with golden crowns. On August 20, 1537, the Spanish beat the zaque and the big and strong Muisca ruler was taken captive to Suesca. There he was tortured and the Spanish soldiers hoped he would reveal where he hid his precious properties. The absence of Quemuenchatocha paved the route for his nephew Aquiminzaque to succeed him as ruler of the northern Muisca, a practice common in Muisca traditions. When Quemuenchatocha was finally released from captivity in Suesca, he fled to Ramiriquí, where he died shortly after. The Spanish soldiers found gold, emeralds, silver, mantles and other valuables in Tunja. They were not able to take all the precious pieces and many were secretly taken away by the Muisca, using folded deer skins. They hid the valuables in nearby hills.[34]

| Feb 1537 | First contact @ Chipatá

|
|

Mar–Apr 1537 | Expedition into Muisca Confederation
20 Apr 1537 | Conquest of Funza upon zipa Tisquesusa
May–Aug 1537 | Expedition & conquest in Tenza Valley
20 Aug 1537 | Conquest Hunza, zaque Quemuenchatocha
Early Sep 1537 | Conquest Sugamuxi, iraca Sugamuxi
| Oct 1537 – Feb 1538 | Other foundations on Altiplano & valleys
6 Aug 1538 | Foundation Santafé de Bogotá, by Gonzalo
20 Aug 1538 | B. of Tocarema; Spanish & zipa beat Panche
6 Aug 1539 | Foundation Tunja, by Gonzalo Suárez
15 Dec 1539 | Conquest Tundama, by Baltasar Maldonado
Early 1540 | Decapitation last zaque Aquiminzaque, Hernán

I – Soldiers of the main expedition – Santa Marta-Funza and on – February – April 20, 1537
Name
leader in bold | Nationality  | Years
active  | Encountered
bold is conquered | Year

death  | Image  | Notes

|
|
|
|
|
|

Gonzalo Jiménez
de Quesada | Granadian | 1536–39
1569–72  | zipa
zaque | 1579  |  | [31][32][34]
Juan Maldonado | Castilian | 1536–39
1569–72 | Muisca |  |  | [32][note 1]
Gonzalo Macías | Castilian | 1536–39
1569–71  | Muisca  | 1571~  |  | [32][49]
Hernán Pérez
de Quesada | Granadian | 1536–39
1540–42  | Muisca | 1544  |  | [32][34]
Gonzalo Suárez Rendón | Castilian | 1536–39  | zipa, zaque | 1590  |  | [32][34][50]
Martín Galeano | Castilian | 1536–39
1540–45  | Muisca  | 1554~  |  | [32][34][51]
Lázaro Fonte | Castilian | 1536–39
1540–42  | Muisca  | 1542  |  | [32][34]
Juan de Céspedes | Castilian | 1525–43  | Muisca | 1573 or 1576  |  | [32][34][52][53]
Juan de San Martín | Castilian | 1536–39
1540–45  | Muisca |  |  | [32][34]
Antonio de Lebrija | Castilian | 1536–39 | Muisca | 1540 |  | [32]
Ortún Velázquez de Velasco | Castilian | 1536–39  | Muisca  | 1584  |  | [32][54]
Bartolomé Camacho Zambrano | Castilian | 1536–39  | Muisca  |  |  | [32]
Antonio Díaz de Cardoso | Castilian | 1536–39 | Muisca |  |  | [32]
Pedro Fernández de Valenzuela | Castilian | 1536–39  | Muisca  |  |  | [32]
640+ conquistadors
~80% | mostly Castilian | April 1536

April 1537 | Diseases, jaguars, crocodiles, climate,
various indigenous warfare | 1536
1537  |  | [32][34]

II & III – Soldiers of the expeditions De Belalcázar & Federmann (1535–1539)
Name
leader in bold | Nationality  | Years
active  | Encountered
bold is conquered | Year

death  | Image  | Notes

|
|
|
|
|
|

Sebastián de Belalcázar | Castilian | 1514–39  | Muisca | 1551  |  | [31][34]
Baltasar Maldonado | Castilian | 1543–52  | Muisca | 1552  |  | [55][56][57][58]
Nikolaus Federmann | Bavarian | 1535–39  | Muisca | 1542  |  | [31][34]
Miguel Holguín y Figueroa | Castilian | 1535–39  | Muisca  | 1576> |  | [59]

I – 1 – Main expedition – inland and up from Chipatá to Funza – March – April 1537
Settlement
bold is founded | Department | Date  | Year  | Altitude (m)
urban centre | Notes  | Map

|
|
|
|
|
|

Chipatá | Santander | 8 March  | 1537  | 1820  | [34][35] |
Barbosa | Santander | March  | 1537  | 1610  |  |
Moniquirá | Boyacá | March  | 1537  | 1669  | [60][note 2] |
Santa Sofía | Boyacá | March  | 1537  | 2387  |  |
Sutamarchán | Boyacá | March  | 1537  | 1800  |  |
Ráquira | Boyacá | March  | 1537  | 2150  | [61] |
Simijaca | Cundinamarca | March  | 1537  | 2559  |  |
Susa | Cundinamarca | March  | 1537  | 2655  |  |
Fúquene | Cundinamarca | March  | 1537  | 2750  |  |
Guachetá | Cundinamarca | 12 March  | 1537  | 2688  | [36] |
Lenguazaque | Cundinamarca | 13 March  | 1537  | 2589  | [37] |
Cucunubá | Cundinamarca | 13–14 March  | 1537  | 2590  |  |
Suesca | Cundinamarca | 14 March  | 1537  | 2584  | [38] |
Nemocón | Cundinamarca | March  | 1537  | 2585  | [34] |
Zipaquirá | Cundinamarca | March  | 1537  | 2650  |  |
Cajicá | Cundinamarca | 23 March  | 1537  | 2558  | [34][62] |
Chía | Cundinamarca | 24 March  | 1537  | 2564  | [34][63] |
Cota | Cundinamarca | March–April  | 1537  | 2566  |  |
Funza | Cundinamarca | 20 April  | 1537  | 2548  | [34][39] |

I – 2 – Gonzalo – Tenza Valley – Conquest of Hunza & Sugamuxi – May – August 20 & September, 1537
Settlement
bold is founded | Department | Date  | Year  | Note(s)  | Map

|
|
|
|
|

Engativá | Cundinamarca  | 22 May  | 1537  | [40] |
Suba | Cundinamarca  | May  | 1537  |  |
Chía | Cundinamarca  | May  | 1537  |  |
Cajicá | Cundinamarca  | May  | 1537  |  |
Tocancipá | Cundinamarca  | May–June  | 1537  |  |
Gachancipá | Cundinamarca  | May–June  | 1537  |  |
Guatavita | Cundinamarca  | May–June  | 1537  |  |
Sesquilé
Lake Guatavita
El Dorado | Cundinamarca  | May–June  | 1537  |  |
Chocontá | Cundinamarca | 9 June  | 1537  | [41] |
Machetá | Cundinamarca  | June  | 1537  |  |
Tibiritá | Cundinamarca  | June  | 1537  |  |
Guateque | Boyacá | June  | 1537  |  |
Sutatenza | Boyacá  | June  | 1537  |  |
Tenza | Boyacá  | 24 June  | 1537  | [42] |
La Capilla | Boyacá  | June–July  | 1537  |  |
Chivor | Boyacá  | July  | 1537  | [64] |
Úmbita | Boyacá  | July  | 1537  |  |
Turmequé | Boyacá  | 20 July  | 1537  | [44] |
Boyacá | Boyacá  | 8 August  | 1537  | [65] |
Ciénega | Boyacá  | August  | 1537  |  |
Soracá | Boyacá  | 20 August ~15:00  | 1537  | [66] |
Hunza | Boyacá  | 20 August  | 1537  | [66] |

3 – Hernán – Foundation of Sutatausa – June 24, 1537
Name  | Department | Date  | Year  | Note(s)  | Map

|
|
|
|
|

Sutatausa | Cundinamarca | 24 June  | 1537  | [43] |

4 – Juan de Céspedes – Southern savanna – 1537
Name  | Department | Date  | Year  | Note(s)  | Map

|
|
|
|
|

Pasca | Cundinamarca | 15 July  | 1537  | [47] |
San Antonio del Tequendama | Cundinamarca |  | 1539  | [67] |

5 – Juan de San Martín – 1537–1550
Name  | Department | Date  | Year  | Note(s)  | Map

|
|
|
|
|

El Colegio | Cundinamarca |  | 1537  | [68] |
Cuítiva | Boyacá | 19 January  | 1550  | [69] |

6 – Gonzalo et al. – Foundations of Bogotá and savanna
Name  | Department | Date  | Year  | Note(s)  | Map

|
|
|
|
|

Bojacá | Cundinamarca | 16 October  | 1537  | [70] |
Somondoco | Boyacá | 1 November  | 1537  | [71] |
Une | Cundinamarca  | 23 February  | 1538  | [72] |

7 – Gonzalo Suárez Rendón – Foundation of Tunja – August 6, 1539
Name  | Department | Date  | Year  | Note(s)  | Map

|
|
|
|
|

Tunja | Boyacá | 6 August  | 1539  |  |

8 – Baltasar Maldonado – Conquest of Tundama – December 1539
Name  | Department | Date  | Year  | Note(s)  | Map

|
|
|
|
|

Duitama | Boyacá | 15 December  | 1539  | [73] |

9 – Hernán & Lázaro Fonte a.o. – 1540
Name  | Department | Date  | Year  | Note(s)  | Map

|
|
|
|
|

Motavita | Boyacá |  | 1540  | [74] |
Nevado del Sumapaz | Cundinamarca |  | 1540  |  |

## Early colonial period

[edit]

Year(s)  | Epidemic

|

1537 | Tunja Province: ~250,000 est. inh.
1558< | no data
1558–60  | smallpox, measles
1568–69  | influenza
1587–90  | influenza (or typhus)
1607  | smallpox
1617–18  | measles (after food shortages)
1621  | smallpox
1633  | typhus
1636 | Tunja Province: ~50,000 est. inh.
-80%

Not only the Spanish settlers had lost large percentages of their men due to warfare and diseases. The assessed corregimientos of the province of Tunja between 1537 and 1636 shows a decline of the total Muisca population between 65 and 85%.[75] Epidemics were the main cause of the rapid reduction in population. Various have been reported and many undescribed in the first twenty years of contact.[76]

After the foundation of Bogotá and the installation of the new dependency of the Spanish Crown, several strategies were important to the Spanish conquerors. The rich mineral resources of the Altiplano had to be extracted, the agriculture was quickly reformed, a system of encomiendas was installed and a main concern of the Spanish was the evangelisation of the Muisca. On October 9, 1549, Carlos V sent a royal letter to the New Kingdom directed at the priests about the necessity of population reduction of the Muisca.[77] The indigenous people were working in the encomiendas which limited their religious conversion.[77] To speed up the process of submittance to the Spanish reign, the mobility of the indigenous people was prohibited and the people gathered in resguardos.[78] The formerly celebrated festivities in their religion disappeared. Specific times for the catechesis were controlled by laws, as executed in royal dictates in 1537, 1538 and 1551.[79] The first bishop of Santafé, Juan de los Barrios, ordered to destroy the temples of the Muisca and replace them with Catholic churches.[80] The last public religious ceremony of the Muisca religion was held in Ubaque on December 27, 1563.[81] The second bishop of Santafé, Luis Zapata de Cárdenas, intensified the aggressive policies against the Muisca religion and the burnings of their sacred sites. This formed the final nail in the coffin of the former polytheistic society.[80]

The transition to a mixed agriculture with Old World crops was remarkably fast, mainly to do with the fertility of the lands of the Altiplano permitting European crops to grow there, while in the more tropical areas the soil was not so much suited for the foreign crops. In 1555, the Muisca of Toca were growing European crops as wheat and barley and sugarcane was grown in other areas.[82] The previously self-sustaining economy was quickly transformed into one based on intensive agriculture and mining that produced changes in the landscape and culture of the Muisca.[83]

## See also

[edit]

* Colombia portal
* Andes portal

* Maya civilization
* Sitio Sierra
* Spanish conquest of the Muisca, Muisca art

* Muisca economy, people
* Muisca architecture, astronomy, mummies, warfare, women

* Aztec Empire
* Inca Empire
* Muisca
* Tunjo

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Not the same as Juan Maldonado, who was only 11 in 1536
2. ^ Note: date of foundation says March 16, 1537, which cannot be correct, as the troops were already in Cundinamarca by that date

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b (in Spanish) Herrera Period – Universidad Nacional de Colombia
2. ^ Juan Friede (1966). Invasión del país de los chibchas. Santa Fe de Bogotá: Ediciones Tercer Mundo, pp. 19, in Spanish
3. ^ (in Spanish) Muisca culture – Historia Universal – accessed 21-04-2016
4. ^ Gamboa Mendoza, 2016
5. ^ (in Spanish) Nivel Paleoindio. Abrigos rocosos del Tequendama Archived 2016-04-29 at archive.today
6. ^ Gómez Mejía, 2012, p.153
7. ^ Ocampo López, 2007, p.27
8. ^ Ocampo López, 2007, p.26
9. ^ (in Spanish) Chronology of pre-Columbian periods: Herrera and Muisca
10. ^ Kruschek, 2003
11. ^ Langebaek, 1995, Ch.4, p.70
12. ^ Izquierdo Peña, 2009
13. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Buenavista
14. ^ (in Spanish) Reconstruction of the Guane people – El Espectador
15. ^ (in Spanish) Las Tribus Indígenas en Colombia
16. ^ Chibcha-speaking U'wa
17. ^ Achagua in Encyclopædia Britannica
18. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Miraflores
19. ^ (in Spanish) Description Guayupe
20. ^ (in Spanish) Indios Sutagaos
21. ^ The lost Panches
22. ^ (in Spanish) El vocabulario Muzo-Colima de la relación de Juan Suárez de Cepeda (1582)
23. ^ (in Spanish) Apuntes para el análisis de la situación de la lengua Carare
24. ^ (in Spanish) Legend of El Dorado on the shores of Lake Guatavita Archived 2016-04-04 at the Wayback Machine – Casa Cultural Colombiana – accessed 21-04-2016
25. ^ (in Spanish) Birth of mankind from Lake Iguaque – Cultura, Recreación y Deporte – accessed 21-04-2016
26. ^ (in Spanish) Legend of the lover of Meicuchuca turning into a snake in the Tequendama Fallas – Pueblos Originarios – accessed 21-04-2016
27. ^ Ocampo López, 2013, Ch.18, p.99
28. ^ (in Spanish) El Infiernito; astronomical site – Pueblos Originarios
29. ^ Langebaek, 2005b, p.282
30. ^ Izquierdo, 2014
31. ^ a b c d (in Spanish) Personajes de la Conquista a América – Banco de la República
32. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p (in Spanish) List of conquistadors led by Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada – Banco de la República
33. ^ (in Spanish) Biography Hernán Pérez de Quesada – Banco de la República
34. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s (in Spanish) Conquista rápida y saqueo cuantioso de Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada
35. ^ a b (in Spanish) Official website Chipatá Archived 2015-06-07 at archive.today
36. ^ a b (in Spanish) Official website Guachetá Archived 2017-07-09 at the Wayback Machine
37. ^ a b (in Spanish) Official website Lenguazaque
38. ^ a b (in Spanish) Official website Suesca
39. ^ a b (in Spanish) Official website Funza Archived 2015-12-21 at the Wayback Machine
40. ^ a b c (in Spanish) Engativá celebra hoy sus 458 años – El Tiempo
41. ^ a b c (in Spanish) Official website Chocontá
42. ^ a b c (in Spanish) Official website Tenza Archived 2015-06-02 at archive.today
43. ^ a b c (in Spanish) Official website Sutatausa Archived 2016-02-12 at the Wayback Machine
44. ^ a b c (in Spanish) Official website Turmequé Archived 2016-01-12 at the Wayback Machine
45. ^ (in Spanish) Tisquesusa would die bathing in his own blood – Pueblos Originarios
46. ^ (in Spanish) Zipa Tisquesusa – Banco de la República
47. ^ a b (in Spanish) Official website Pasca Archived 2015-05-22 at archive.today
48. ^ (in Spanish) Biography Quemuenchatocha – Pueblos Originarios
49. ^ Rodríguez Freyle, 1979 (1638), p.173
50. ^ Rodríguez Freyle, 1979 (1638), p.84
51. ^ Rodríguez Freyle, 1979 (1638), p.144
52. ^ (in Spanish) Biography Juan de Céspedes – Banco de la República
53. ^ Rodríguez Freyle, 1979 (1638), p.69
54. ^ Rodríguez Freyle, 1979 (1638), p.xii
55. ^ (in Spanish) Baltasar Maldonado – Soledad Acosta Samper – Banco de la República
56. ^ Rodríguez Freyle, 1979 (1638), p.88
57. ^ Rodríguez Freyle, 1979 (1638), p.93
58. ^ Rodríguez Freyle, 1979 (1638), p.94
59. ^ Rodríguez Freyle, 1979 (1638), p.153
60. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Moniquirá
61. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Ráquira
62. ^ (in Spanish) History Cajicá
63. ^ (in Spanish) De Quesada celebrated the Holy Week in Chia
64. ^ (in Spanish) History Chivor Archived 2016-03-02 at the Wayback Machine
65. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Boyacá
66. ^ a b (in Spanish) Official website Soracá[permanent dead link]
67. ^ (in Spanish) Official website San Antonio del Tequendama[permanent dead link]
68. ^ (in Spanish) Official website El Colegio
69. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Cuítiva
70. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Bojacá Archived 2017-10-11 at the Wayback Machine
71. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Somondoco Archived 2015-06-02 at archive.today
72. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Une
73. ^ (in Spanish) Biography Cacique Tundama – Pueblos Originarios
74. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Motavita Archived 2014-03-10 at archive.today
75. ^ Francis, 2002, p.59
76. ^ Francis, 2002, p.42
77. ^ a b Suárez, 2015, p.128
78. ^ Segura Calderón, 2014, p.38
79. ^ Suárez, 2015, p.125
80. ^ a b Suárez, 2015, p.129
81. ^ Londoño, 2001, p.4
82. ^ Francis, 1993, p.60
83. ^ Martínez & Manrique, 2014, p.102

## Bibliography and further reading

[edit]

* Acosta, Joaquín (1848), Compendio histórico del descubrimiento y colonización de la Nueva Granada en el siglo décimo sexto [Historical overview of discovery and colonization of New Granada in the sixteenth century], Paris: Beau Press, pp. 1–460, OCLC 23030434, retrieved 2016-07-08
* Francis, John Michael (2002), "Población, enfermedad y cambio demográfico, 1537–1636. Demografía histórica de Tunja: Una mirada crítica", Fronteras de la Historia, 7, ICANH: 13–76, doi:10.22380/20274688.682
* Francis, John Michael (1993), "Muchas hipas, no minas" The Muiscas, a merchant society: Spanish misconceptions and demographic change (M.A.) (M.A.), University of Alberta, pp. 1–118
* Gamboa Mendoza, Jorge (2016), Los muiscas, grupos indígenas del Nuevo Reino de Granada. Una nueva propuesta sobre su organizacíon socio-política y su evolucíon en el siglo XVI – The Muisca, indigenous groups of the New Kingdom of Granada. A new proposal on their social-political organization and their evolution in the 16th century (video) (in Spanish), Museo del Oro, retrieved 2016-07-08
* Gamboa Mendoza, Jorge (2003), "El papel de la minería en la formación de la economía y la sociedad colonial del Nuevo Reino de Granada, siglos XVI-XVIII – The role of mining in the formation of the economy and colonial society of the New Kingdom of Granada, 16th–18th centuries" (PDF), Takwá (in Spanish): 1–24, retrieved 2016-07-08
* Groot de Mahecha, Ana María (2014) [2008], Sal y poder en el altiplano de Bogotá, 1537–1640 (in Spanish), Universidad Nacional de Colombia, pp. 1–174, ISBN 978-958-719-046-5
* Groot de Mahecha, Ana María (1992), Checua: Una secuencia cultural entre 8500 y 3000 años antes del presente - Checua: a cultural sequence between 8500 and 3000 years before present, Banco de la República, pp. 1–95, retrieved 2016-07-08
* Henderson, Hope; Ostler, Nicholas (2005), "Muisca settlement organization and chiefly authority at Suta, Valle de Leyva, Colombia: A critical appraisal of native concepts of house for studies of complex societies", Journal of Anthropological Archaeology, 24 (2), Elsevier: 148–178, doi:10.1016/j.jaa.2005.01.002, ISSN 0278-4165
* Izquierdo Peña, Manuel Arturo (2014), Calendario Muisca – Muisca calendar (video) (in Spanish), retrieved 2016-07-08
* Izquierdo Peña, Manuel Arturo (2009), The Muisca Calendar: An approximation to the timekeeping system of the ancient native people of the northeastern Andes of Colombia (PhD), Université de Montréal, pp. 1–170, arXiv:0812.0574
* Kruschek, Michael H. (2003), The evolution of the Bogotá chiefdom: A household view (PhD) (PDF) (PhD), University of Pittsburgh, pp. 1–271, retrieved 2016-07-08
* Langebaek Rueda, Carl Henrik (2005a), "La élite no siempre piensa lo mismo – The elite does not always think the same", Muiscas: representaciones, cartografías y etnopolíticas de la memoria (in Spanish), Universidad La Javeriana, pp. 180–199, ISBN 958-683-643-6
* Langebaek Rueda, Carl Henrik (2005b), "Fiestas y caciques muiscas en el Infiernito, Colombia: un análisis de la relación entre festejos y organización política - Festivities and Muisca caciques in El Infiernito, Colombia: an analysis of the relation between celebrations and political organisation", Boletín de Arqueología (in Spanish), 9, PUCP: 281–295, ISSN 1029-2004
* Martínez Martín, A. F.; Manrique Corredor, E. J. (2014), "Alimentación prehispánica y transformaciones tras la conquista europea del altiplano cundiboyacense, Colombia" [Pre-Columbian Food and Transformations after European Conquest of Cundiboyacense High Plateau, Colombia], Revista Virtual Universidad Católica del Norte (in Spanish), 41, Universidad Católica del Norte: 96–111, ISSN 0124-5821, retrieved 2018-07-28
* Ocampo López, Javier (2013), Mitos y leyendas indígenas de Colombia – Indigenous myths and legends of Colombia (in Spanish), Bogotá, Colombia: Plaza & Janes Editores Colombia S.A., ISBN 978-958-14-1416-1
* Ocampo López, Javier (2007), Grandes culturas indígenas de América - Great indigenous cultures of the Americas (in Spanish), Bogotá, Colombia: Plaza & Janes Editores Colombia S.A., pp. 1–238, ISBN 978-958-14-0368-4
* Paepe, Paul de; Cardale de Schrimpff, Marianne (1990), "Resultados de un estodio petrológico de cerámicas del Periodo Herrera provenientes de la Sabana de Bogotá y sus implicaciones arqueológicas – Results of a petrological study of ceramics form the Herrera Period coming from the Bogotá savanna and its archaeological implications", Boletín Museo del Oro (in Spanish), Museo del Oro: 99–119, retrieved 2016-07-08
* Cardale de Schrimpff, Marianne (1985), En busca de los primeros agricultores del Altiplano Cundiboyacense – Searching for the first farmers of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense (PDF) (in Spanish), Bogotá, Colombia: Banco de la República, pp. 99–125, retrieved 2016-07-08
* Trimborn, Hermann (2005), "La organización del poder público en las culturas soberanas de los chibchas – The public power organisation in the common cultures of the Chibchas", Muiscas: representaciones, cartografías y etnopolíticas de la memoria (in Spanish), Universidad La Javeriana, pp. 298–314, ISBN 958-683-643-6
* Zerda, Liborio (1947) [1883], El Dorado (PDF) (in Spanish), retrieved 2016-07-08

### Spanish chroniclers

[edit]

* "Epítome de la conquista del Nuevo Reino de Granada", Boletín Cultural y Bibliográfico, 16 (3), Banco de la República: 81–97, 1979 [1889 (1539/1548-1559?)], retrieved 2016-11-24
* Jiménez de Quesada, Gonzalo (1576), Memoria de los descubridores, que entraron conmigo a descubrir y conquistar el Reino de Granada (in Spanish), retrieved 2016-07-08
* De Castellanos, Juan (1857) [1589], Elegías de varones ilustres de Indias (in Spanish), pp. 1–567, retrieved 2016-07-08
* De Lugo, Bernardo (1619), Gramática en la lengua general del Nuevo Reyno, llamada mosca – Grammar in the general language of the New Kingdom, called Mosca (Muisca) (in Spanish), Madrid, Spain, pp. 1–162, retrieved 2016-07-08
* Simón, Pedro (1892) [1626], Noticias historiales de las conquistas de Tierra Firme en las Indias occidentales (1882–92) vol.1–5 (in Spanish), retrieved 2016-07-08
* Rodríguez Freyle, Juan; Achury Valenzuela, Darío (1979) [1859 (1638)], El Carnero – Conquista i descubrimiento del nuevo reino de Granada de las Indias Occidentales del mar oceano, i fundacion de la ciudad de Santa Fe de Bogota (PDF) (in Spanish), Fundacion Biblioteca Ayacuch, pp. 1–598, retrieved 2016-11-21
* Fernández de Piedrahita, Lucas (1688), Historia general de las conquistas del Nuevo Reino de Granada (in Spanish), retrieved 2016-07-08

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* Ruana
* Tejo
* Tunjo
* Zoratama

The Salt People|

* Zipaquirá
* Nemocón
* Tausa
* Sesquilé

Geography and history

| Altiplano
Cundiboyacense|

* Bogotá River
* Frío
* Fucha
* Juan Amarillo
* Soacha
* Teusacá
* Torca
* Tunjuelo
* Bogotá savanna
* Suba Hills
* Wetlands
* Eastern Hills
* Flora & fauna
* Suárez River
* Ubaté-Chiquinquirá Valley

|
|

Neighbouring areas|

* Ocetá Páramo
* Tenza Valley

History|

| Prehistory (<10,000 BP)|

* Lake Humboldt
* El Abra
* Tibitó
* Sueva
* Tequendama

|

Lithic (10,000 - 2800 BP)|

* Piedras del Tunjo
* Checua
* Galindo
* Nemocón
* Sáchica
* Aguazuque
* Lake Herrera
* El Infiernito

Ceramic (>800 BC)|

* Herrera (800 BC - 800)
* Early Muisca (800 - 1200)
* Muisca Confederation (~1450 - 1540)
* Cabildo Mayor (>2002)

Religion and mythology

| Deities|

* Chiminigagua
* Bachué
* Chía
* Sué
* Bochica
* Huitaca
* Chibchacum
* Cuchavira
* Nencatacoa
* Chaquén
* Chibafruime
* Guahaioque

|

Sacred sites|

| Built|

* Sun Temple
* Moon Temple
* Cojines del Zaque
* Goranchacha Temple
* Hunzahúa Well

|

Natural|

* Fúquene
* Guasca
* Guatavita
* Iguaque
* Siecha
* Suesca
* Tota
* Ubaque
* Tequendama Falls

Mythology|

| Myths|

* El Dorado
* Monster of Lake Tota

|

Mythological figures|

* Goranchacha
* Idacansás
* Pacanchique
* Thomagata

Caciques and neighbours

| Northern caciques|

| zaque of Hunza|

* Hunzahúa
* Michuá
* Quemuenchatocha
* Aquiminzaque

|

iraca of Suamox|

* Nompanim
* Sugamuxi

cacique of Tundama |

* Tundama

Southern caciques|

| zipa of Bacatá|

* Meicuchuca
* Saguamanchica
* Nemequene
* Tisquesusa
* Sagipa

|

cacique of Turmequé|

* Diego de Torres y Moyachoque

Neighbours|

| Chibcha-speaking|

* U'wa
* Sutagao
* Guane
* Lache

|

Arawak-speaking|

* Achagua
* Tegua
* Guayupe

Cariban-speaking|

* Panche
* Muzo
* Yarigui

Spanish conquest

| Conquistadors|

| Major|

* Gonzalo de Quesada
* Hernán de Quesada
* Baltasar Maldonado
* Gonzalo Suárez Rendón
* Juan de Céspedes
* Juan de San Martín

|

Minor|

* Antonio Díaz de Cardoso
* Antonio de Lebrija
* Bartolomé Camacho Zambrano
* Gonzalo García Zorro
* Gonzalo Macías
* Hernán Venegas Carrillo
* Juan de Albarracín
* Juan del Junco
* Juan Tafur
* Lázaro Fonte
* Luis Lanchero
* Martín Galeano
* Martín Yañéz Tafur
* Miguel Holguín y Figueroa
* Ortún Velázquez de Velasco
* Pedro Fernández de Valenzuela
* Pedro Ruíz Corredor

Neighbouring conquests|

* Conquest of the Chibchan Nations
* Conquest of the Muzo
* Conquest of the Panche
* Battle of Tocarema (1538)

Research and collections

| Scholars|

* Acosta
* Acosta Samper
* De Aguado
* Arango
* Broadbent
* De Castellanos
* Celis
* Correal
* Duquesne
* Freyle
* Friede
* Gamboa
* Groot
* Hammen
* Humboldt
* Izquierdo
* Langebaek
* De Lugo
* Ocampo
* De Piedrahita
* De Quesada
* Reichel-Dolmatoff
* Schrimpff
* Simón
* Triana
* Uricoechea
* Zerda

|

Publications|

* Elegías (1589)
* El Carnero (1638)
* Epítome (1889)

Research institutes|

* ICANH
* Universidad Nacional
* Universidad de los Andes
* Universidad La Javeriana
* University of Pittsburgh
* UPTC

Collections|

* Museo del Oro
* Archaeology Museum of Sogamoso
* Archaeology Museum of Pasca
* Metropolitan Museum of Art

* Category

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