Aquiminzaque

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

Map of the Muisca territory
Zaque reign in yellow

Aquiminzaque (Chibcha: Aquim ó Quiminza, died Hunza, 1540) was the last zaque of Hunza, currently known as Tunja, as of 1537. His zipa 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 Aquiminzaque was executed by decapitation.

Biography

Aquiminzaque was the nephew of his predecessor, Quemuenchatocha, which reign he followed when on August 2, 1537 Quemenchatocha was taken prisoner to Suesca by the Spanish.^[1][2]

Aquiminzaque was ruling 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 and undermined 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.^[3] 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 zaque meant the end of the Muisca Confederation.

Legacy

In Tunja, capital of the Boyacá department, a statue honouring Aquiminzaque (Monumento a la Raza Indígena) has been erected.^[4]

See also

Spanish conquest of the Muisca

Muisca rulers, history of Colombia

References

External links

• (Spanish) Animated video about Aquiminzaque