Baile de la Conquista facts for kids
The Baile de la Conquista (pronounced: BY-leh deh lah kon-KEES-tah), or Dance of the Conquest, is a traditional folk dance from Guatemala. This dance acts out the story of the Spanish invasion of Guatemala. It shows the Spanish leader Pedro de Alvarado meeting Tecun Uman, who was the ruler of the K'iche' kingdom of Q'umarkaj.
Even though the dance is mostly linked to Guatemala, it was also performed in other early Spanish colonies in Latin America. Catholic priests encouraged these performances. They used the dance to help convert different native groups and African slaves to the Catholic Church.
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The Dance of the Conquest
Where Did It Come From?
The Dance of the Conquest is based on an old Spanish dance called Baile de los Moros ("Dance of the Moors"). That Spanish dance tells the story of how the Moors were removed from Spain. The Dance of the Conquest uses the same structure and ideas as the Baile de los Moros.
The Story in Guatemala
The dance usually starts in Q'umarkaj, the capital city of the K'iche' kingdom. The Rey K'iche' ("King K'iche'") learns that the Spanish are coming. He hears this from the Aztec ruler Moctezuma II in Tenochtitlan.
The king then sends his children to Xelajuj Noj (now called Quetzaltenango). Their mission is to ask Tecun Uman to lead the K'iche' army against the invaders. Next, the dance shows the K'iche' chiefs and Spanish officers promising loyalty to their leaders.
Soon after, a battle begins between the Spanish and native armies. The most important part is the fight between Alvarado and Tecún Umán. The K'iche' army is eventually defeated. Like the Baile de los Moros, the dance ends with the K'iche' warriors peacefully accepting Spanish rule and becoming Christians. The main part of the Guatemalan dance is the meeting between Tecun Uman and Pedro de Alvarado.
Who Was Tecun Uman?
Whether Tecun Uman was a real person is still debated by historians. One piece of evidence is a letter written by Alvarado to Hernán Cortés. In this letter, Alvarado briefly mentions a battle. He wrote that "one of the four chiefs of the city of Utatlán was killed, who was the captain general of all this country." However, Alvarado did not say the chief's name or how he died.
Other native documents also describe Alvarado's arrival in Guatemala. The Título C'oyoi describes the battle in a way that sounds like the modern legend. This document also has the first known mention of the K'iche' leader as Tecum Umam.
The Popol Vuh and the Título de Totonicapán also support some ideas. They say that four lords ruled the K'iche' when the Spanish arrived. The first son of the most powerful lord was expected to lead the K'iche' army. He was given the title "nima rajpop achij," which is the same title given to Tecun Uman in the Título K'oyoi. The Popol Vuh and Título de Totonicapan also mention a son of the Keeper of the Mat named "Tecum" when Alvarado arrived.
Another idea is that Tecun Uman actually fought one of Alvarado's officers named Argueta. This idea comes from Argueta's family. They claim that a lance they own, passed down through generations, has the K'iche' hero's blood on it.
Because there isn't much proof for a lord named Tecun Uman, some people think his name was made up. They suggest it was created to replace the "Moorish prince," who was the main enemy in the Baile de los Moros. However, this idea has not been proven. It also gets less attention because older documents mention a historical Tecun Uman long before the Dance of the Conquest was first performed.
Different Versions of the Dance
The Baile de la Conquista is not only found in Guatemala. Different versions of the dance have been performed across Latin America. These versions change based on local stories and traditions.
One thing that is always the same in all versions of the dance is the ending. The native people or "pagan" population always convert to Christianity. Dances that still exist outside of Guatemala are usually performed to honor a town’s patron saint.
See also
In Spanish: Baile de la Conquista para niños
