Aquiminzaque

Quiminza
hoa
Aquiminzaque, the last ruler of Hunza
Reign	1537–1540
Predecessor	Eucaneme
Successor	Position abolished
Born	unknown Muisca Confederation
Died	1540 Hunza, New Kingdom of Granada
Chibcha	Quiminza
Dynasty	Hunza

Aquiminzaque (Chibcha: Aquim ó Quiminza, died Tunja, 1540) was the last hoa of Hunza, on which the Spanish city of Tunja (in present-day Colombia) was built, reigning from 1537 until his death. His psihipqua counterpart in the southern area of the Muisca was Sagipa. Aquiminzaque was for the Muisca what Túpac Amaru was for the Inca; and as the Inca leader, Quiminza was executed by decapitation.

Biography

Aquiminzaque was the nephew of his predecessor, Eucaneme. Aquiminzaque‘s reign began on August 2, 1537, when Eucaneme was taken prisoner to Suesca by the Spanish.

Aquiminzaque ruled over the northern area of the Muisca in present-day Boyacá, Colombia in the years when the Spanish conquistadores were entering the highlands of the Muisca.

At first Aquiminzaque converted to Catholicism, but when he realized the true motives of the Spanish conquerors over the Muisca people, he revolted against them, undermining the initial rule of Hernán Pérez de Quesada, brother of Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada. Shortly after, in 1540, Hernán executed Aquiminzaque by public decapitation in Tunja. The spectacle, meant as an example, was watched by the Muisca people and executions of other caciques of Toca, Motavita, Samacá, Turmequé and Sutamarchán followed.

The death of the last hoa meant the end of the Muisca Confederation.

Legacy

In Tunja, the capital of the Boyacá department, a statue honouring Aquiminzaque (Monumento a la Raza Indígena) has been erected.

See also

• Spanish conquest of the Muisca
• Muisca rulers, history of Colombia

External links

• (in Spanish) Animated video about Aquiminzaque