Pre-Columbian era The earliest evidence of human population on the
Altiplano Cundiboyacense has been dated to approximately
12.000 years ago. Homus
Tequendama inhabited the area by 6375 BCE. Archeologists have found human skeletons including arm bones in the area. Many archaeological discoveries were found in the area of the present-day city, dated to approximately
150 BCE. During the 1st millennium AD, the territory was inhabited by the
Muisca, who spoke
Chibcha and emigrated from
Central America through
Panama to the
Andean Region. The Muisca developed their own
religion,
calendar and
mythology. According to those myths, it was the brutal
cacique and
prophet Goranchacha who moved the capital for the northern Muisca from
Ramiriquí to Tunja, then called
Hunza.
Early Muisca An era when frequent battles among
cacicazgos took place, peace was proposed for the region and an agreement was made among
caciques to choose a supreme chief to rule them all.
Hunzahúa, who came from
Ramiriqui, was elected. The capital of his confederation was named
Hunza.
Hunzahúa took the title of
hoa ("great lord", the same meaning as
psihipqua who ruled from
Muyquytá), and reign over the lands from the
Chicamocha to
Fusagasugá and from the
Llanos de San Juan to
Panche and
Muzo frontiers, including
Vélez territory. This helped to unify the Muisca, especially with respect to their language and religion, until
zipa Saguamanchica broke this unity due to differences with the
cacique of
Guatavita.
Late Muisca (1490–1539) Saguamanchica, with 50,000 soldiers, decided on a massive attack on
hoa Michuá, crossing
Guatavita and
Chocontá, after which the
Battle of Chocontá is named.
Michuá dealt with him, supported by an army which doubled
Saguamanchica, battling around three hours and killing both chiefs. A new
hoa, Eucaneme, was installed, during the tense truce between
Bacatá and Hunza. In 1514, Eucaneme found out about the expansionist intentions of the new
psihipqua Nemequene. He asked the
caciques of
Gámeza,
Sugamuxi,
Tundama and
Sáchica to help him to reinforce his army. A battle was fought in
Ventaquemada and, when Nemequene was about to become the victor, he was fatally wounded and his troops retreated.
Iraca retracted his support and
Eucaneme got a truce whose terms would end when the
Spanish arrived. When Eucaneme found out the Europeans were around his lands, he decided to stay in Hunza and avoided any aggression against the invaders. He forbade under strict penalties to show the conquistadors the path to his headquarters and when he knew they were reaching him, he sent them gifts and peacemakers, hoping to stop them while he was hiding his treasures.
Hunza in Muisca history Spanish colony (1539-1811) Spanish Discovering of Hunza (1537) Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada parted from
Santa Marta in April 1536, on the
first main expedition into the Andes. His main goal was to find and conquer
El Dorado. After months of traveling, he found many Muisca
cacicazgos in the
Altiplano Cundiboyacense. In his search, he acquired information about
emerald discoveries and other treasures in
Somondoco and the
Llanos. On August 20, 1537, the conquerors arrived, with horses and dogs. Jiménez de Quesada arrived at the headquarters of Quemuenchatocha, finding him in a chair, dressed in gold in the same way as his companions who ran off, leaving him alone. The gold, the emeralds and the fancy fabrics were taken. This conquest took place where later the San Agustin Convent was built. Quemuenchatocha was taken to
Suesca, with the hope he would reveal where he hid the rest of his treasure. He abdicated in favour of his nephew
Aquiminzaque and retired to
Ramiriquí where he died.
Invasion of Hunza (1538-1539) The Spanish Invasion of the territory begins when Jimenez de Quesada captures Quemuenchatocha who is succeeded in life by the young Aquiminzaque. The latter, along with his tribe were taken as an encomienda by
Hernán Pérez de Quesada. The new zaque did not show belligerent in front of the Spaniards, and later himself converted to Catholicism. The continuous and numerous demands made by the Spaniards started to create discomfort among the Muisca population. Aquiminzaque should verify his nuptials with the daughter of the cacique of
Gameza and many chiefs decided to go the solemn ceremony. A rumour came to Perez de Quesada that the occasion would be used as an insurrection, for which he apprehended Aquiminzaque and all the caciques, among them the ones from Toca, Motavita, Samacá, Turmequé and Sutamarchán, and condemn them to death. In 1540, the Zaque was beheaded and his death marked the end of the dynasty of zaques of Hunza. In the same way, it points to the disintegration and dispersion of natives in encomiendas along the new
Tunja Province.
City Foundation (1539-16th Century) The Spanish city of Tunja was founded on the lands of Quemuenchatocha, where later the convent of San Agustin was built. Founded by Captain
Gonzalo Suarez Rendón, on August 6, 1539, the main square was established, also a yard for the church and public buildings around the square; in 1550, the city outlines were consolidated. The same year, The
franciscans arrive to the city, and the
Dominicans a year later, the
Augustinians in 1585 and the
Jesuits in 1611; To the foundation, 77 yards are added and divided, along with 70 vegetable gardens, 11 estates and 44 stables. Only until 1616 two parishes are built to receive mestizos and Indians during colonial period: Santa Barbara, at southwest and Las Nieves, at north. == Security and living conditions ==