Jump to content

Battle of Chocontá

Coordinates: 5°09′N 73°41′W / 5.150°N 73.683°W / 5.150; -73.683
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Battle of Chocontá (~1490)
Part of Muisca Confederation wars

Battle of Chocontá
by Lucas de Piedrahita (1676)
Location5°09′N 73°41′W / 5.150°N 73.683°W / 5.150; -73.683
Result Zipazgo of the southern 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
Battle of Chocontá is located in Colombia
Battle of Chocontá
Battle of Chocontá
Location of the battle

The Battle of Chocontá was one of a series of battles in the ongoing conflict between the northern and southern Muisca of pre-Columbian central Colombia. The battle was fought c. 1490 in the vicinity of Chocontá. An army of 50,000 southern Muisca guecha warriors, led by their ruler, or zipa, Saguamanchica, attacked 60,000 northern Muisca troops commanded by Zaque Michuá, who was supported by the Cacique of Guatavita.

Background

[edit]
Map of Muisca territories
Chocontá is located on the border of the zipa

In the decades before the Spanish conquistadors arrived in the central highlands of Colombia in 1537, the area was ruled by two main groups: 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 to gain access to the 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.[2]

Battle

[edit]
Battle of Chocontá and other battles around the Bogotá savanna

The invading southern guecha warriors of Saguamanchica gathered near Chocontá to face the Michuá. The battle lasted three hours and was recorded as being exceptionally bloody. The leaders of both armies were killed during the battle. The zipazgo of the southern Muisca was victorious. 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]

Battle of Chocontá in Muisca history

[edit]
History of the Muisca
Sutagao peopleGuayupe peopleTegua peoplePanche peopleMuisca peopleAchagua peopleMuzo peopleGuane peopleU'wa peopleLache peopleBattle of TocaremaBattle of ChocontáBattle of PascaSagipaTisquesusaNemequeneSaguamanchicaMeicuchucaHistory of Bogotá#Pre-Columbian eraNencatacoaHuitaca (goddess)ChaquénCuchaviraChibchacumBochicaChía (goddess)SuéChiminigaguaSpanish conquest of the MuiscaAquiminzaqueQuemuenchatochaMichuáHunzahúaTunja#HistoryThomagataThomagataPacanchiqueGoranchachaMonster of Lake TotaEl DoradoSugamuxiNompanimIdacansásiracaTundamaDuitama#HistorySpanish EmpireMuisca Confederation

Altiplano

Muisca

Art

Architecture

Astronomy

Cuisine

El Dorado

Subsistence

Women

Conquest


See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b (in Spanish) Biography Saguamanchica – Pueblos Originarios
  2. ^ a b c (in Spanish) History of the Muisca – Banco de la República
  3. ^ (in Spanish) Muisca history; natural resources – Pueblos Originarios
  4. ^ (in Spanish) Adolfo Constenla Umaña, 1996 – Poesía Tradicional Indígena Costarricense (Editorial de la Universidad de Costa Rica)