Battle of Chocontá

Battle of Chocontá (~1490)
Part of Muisca Confederation wars

Map of Muisca territories
Chocontá is located on the border of the zipa (green) and red area
LocationChocontá, Muisca Confederation
5°09′N 73°41′W / 5.150°N 73.683°W / 5.150; -73.683
Result Zipazgo victory
Belligerents
Zipazgo of the southern Muisca Zacazgo of the northern Muisca
Commanders and leaders
Saguamanchica † Michuá †
cacique of Guatavita
Strength
~50,000[1] ~60,000[2]
Casualties and losses
unknown unknown

The Battle of Chocontá was one of the battles in the ongoing conflicts between the northern and southern Muisca in the Muisca Confederation of Pre-Columbian central Colombia. The battle was fought around 1490 in the vicinity of Chocontá. An army of 50,000 southern Muisca guecha warriors, led by ruler (zipa) Saguamanchica attacked 60,000 northern Muisca troops commanded by zaque Michuá who was supported by the cacique of Guatavita.

Background

In the decades before the Spanish conquistadores arrived in the central highlands of Colombia (1537), the area was ruled by two main parties; the zacazgo of the northern Muisca and the zipazgo of the southern Muisca. While the two factions were joined in a confederation, they fought numerous wars to conquer terrain and access to the vast rich resources of the area, mainly gold, copper and emeralds.[3]

The northern Muisca inhabited the area of the current department of Boyacá while the southern Muisca lived in the present day Cundinamarca Department. The capital of the zaque was Hunza, today known as Tunja, and the zipa resided in Bacatá, the later Colombian capital Bogotá.

Battle

The southern guecha warriors of Saguamanchica gathered around Chocontá to face the army of Michuá. The battle was fought over the course of three hours and was very bloody. Both leaders fell in the battle won by zipazgo of the southern Muisca. Quemuenchatocha became the new zaque of Hunza and the zipa of Bacatá was succeeded by Nemequene.[1][2]

The battle was one of the first Muisca acts of war documented by the bishop and chronicler Lucas Fernández de Piedrahita.[4]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 (Spanish) Biography Saguamanchica - Pueblos Originarios
  2. 1 2 (Spanish) History of the Muisca - Banco de la República
  3. ↑ (Spanish) Muisca history; natural resources - Pueblos Originarios
  4. ↑ (Spanish) Adolfo Constenla Umaña, 1996 - Poesía Tradicional Indígena Costarricense (Editorial de la Universidad de Costa Rica)
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