Saguamanchica (died Chocontá, 1490) was the second ruler (''

zipa When the Spanish arrived in the central Colombian highlands, the region was organized into the Muisca Confederation, which had two rulers; the ''zipa'' was the ruler of the southern part and based in Muyquytá. The ''hoa'' was the ruler of the ...

'') of Muyquytá, as of 1470. His ''

zaque When the Spanish arrived in the central Colombian highlands, the region was organized into the Muisca Confederation, which had two rulers; the ''zipa'' was the ruler of the southern part and based in Muyquytá. The ''hoa'' was the ruler of the ...

'' enemy ruling over the northern area of the

Muisca The Muisca (also called Chibcha) are an indigenous people and culture of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense, Colombia, that formed the Muisca Confederation before the Spanish conquest. The people spoke Muysccubun, a language of the Chibchan langu ...

territory was Michuá. Alternative spellings of his name are Sacuan Machica, Saguanmachica and Saguanmanchica.

Biography

As former '' cacique'' of Chía, Saguamanchica accessed the throne of the southern Muisca around 1470. His predecessor, the first ''zipa'' of Muyquytá

Meicuchuca Meicuchuca (died 1470) was the first ruler (''zipa'') of Bacatá, as of around 1450. His ''zaque'' counterpart ruling over the northern area of the Muisca territory was Hunzahúa. Biography Little is known about Meicuchuca and many stories abou ...

, left him a rich kingdom with many guecha warriors. This led Saguamanchica to seek expansion of his ''zipazgo''. The first campaign of warfare he planned was to submit the eternal enemies of the Muisca, the Panche and the Sutagao to the west of the Muisca territories. The Carib-speaking peoples formed an alliance against their common and far outnumbered enemy. Saguamanchica together with his

vassal A vassal or liege subject is a person regarded as having a mutual obligation to a lord or monarch, in the context of the feudal system in medieval Europe. While the subordinate party is called a vassal, the dominant party is called a suzerain ...

Pasca Pasca is a town and municipality in the Cundinamarca department of Colombia located in the Andes. It belongs to the Sumapaz Province. Pasca is situated on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense at a distance of from the capital Bogotá. It borders F ...

defeated his enemies led by general Uzatama with ease and annexed

Fusagasugá Fusagasugá (; ) or Fusa is a town and municipality in the department of Cundinamarca, in central Colombia. It is located in the warm valley between the rivers Cuja and Panches, a central region of the Andes Mountains in South America. The mun ...

and Tibacuy. The expansion policies of the southern Muisca upset the ''cacique'' of

Guatavita Guatavita is a municipality and town of Colombia in the Guavio Province of the department of Cundinamarca. Guatavita is located 75 km northeast of the capital Bogotá. It borders Sesquilé and Machetá in the north, Gachetá and Junín in ...

and he sought help with the ''zaque'' in

Hunza Hunza may refer to: * Hunza, Iran * Hunza Valley, an area in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan ** Hunza (princely state), a former principality ** Hunza District, a recently established district ** Hunza River, a waterway ** Hunza Peak, a mou ...

, Michuá. The northern ruler sent a messenger to the court of Saguamanchica in Bacatá but he was mistreated there. Saguamanchica and Michuá confronted each other with armies of 40,000 respectively 30,000 warriors but there was no battle fought and a truce settled. In the meantime however the ''cacique'' of Ubaque, ally of the northern Muisca, had conquered Usme and

on Saguamanchica's rule. The ''zipa'' sent his army to the taken areas and defeated the ''cacique'', banishing him. Saguamanchica also submitted the towns of

Zipaquirá Zipaquirá () is a municipality and city of Colombia in the department of Cundinamarca. Its neighboring municipalities are Cogua and Nemocón to the north; Tocancipá to the east; Tabio, Cajicá and Sopó to the south; and Subachoque and ...

, Ubaté, Simijaca and Susa. The times of

war War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and mortality, using regular o ...

were continuing as Saguamanchica attacked the Panche, who had taken Zipacón and Tena, and the ''cacicazgo'' of Guatavita having conquered Chía and

Cajicá Cajicá is a municipality and town of Colombia in the department of Cundinamarca, north of the capital Bogotá. It is located in the Central Savanna Province, being the third most populous municipality in the province after Zipaquirá and Chí ...

upon the ''zipa''. Around 1490 Saguamanchica decided to attack the ''hoa'' with an army of 50,000 warriors marching through Guatavita to Chocontá facing 60,000 troops led by Michuá. In the three hour Battle of Chocontá both rulers Saguamanchica and Michuá died, while the former has won. Eucaneme took over the ''hoa'' rule for the northern Muisca and Nemequene, as nephew of Saguamanchica legal heir for the throne in Muyquytá, succeeded his uncle, eventually becoming a brutal ruler.History of the Muisca
-

Banco de la República The Bank of the Republic ( es, Banco de la República) is the central bank of Colombia. It was initially established under the regeneration era in 1880. Its main modern functions, under the new Colombian constitution were detailed by Congress ...

Biografía Saguamanchica
- Pueblos Originarios

Saguamanchica in Muisca history

Trivia

* The moth species '' Cibyra saguanmachica'', endemic to Colombia, is named after Saguamanchica

References

Bibliography

* {{Muisca navbox, Caciques and neighbours, state=expanded Muisca rulers History of Colombia 15th-century births 1490 deaths 15th century in Colombia 15th-century South American people Warriors of Central and South America Muysccubun

Biography

Saguamanchica in Muisca history

Trivia

See also

References

Bibliography