Sagipa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sagipa |
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|---|---|
| zipa | |
Sagipa, the last independent psihipqua of Muyquytá
depicted in 1688 |
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| Reign | 1537–1539 |
| Predecessor | Tisquesusa |
| Successor | Position abolished; Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada as first encomendero of Bogotá |
| Born | unknown Muisca Confederation |
| Died | 1539 Bosa New Kingdom of Granada |
| Issue | Magdalena de Guatavita |
| Chibcha | Zaquesazipa |
| Dynasty | Muyquytá |
Sagipa or Zaquesazipa was the fifth and last ruler of the southern Muisca kingdom. He became ruler in 1537, taking over from his brother, Tisquesusa. Sagipa ruled the area known as Muyquytá, which is now Funza, Colombia.
Some Muisca people believed Sagipa was not the rightful ruler. They thought his nephew, Chiayzaque, should have taken the throne instead. Sagipa's northern Muisca counterpart was Quiminza. Sagipa's daughter, Magdalena de Guatavita, later married a Spanish conquistador named Hernán Venegas Carrillo. This was one of the first marriages between a Spanish person and a native person in the New Kingdom of Granada.
Sagipa is known by several names in old Spanish writings. These include Saquesazippa, Saquezazippa, Sacresasigua, Saxagipa, Sajipa, and Zaquezazigua.
Sagipa's Life and Rule
Before the Spanish arrived, the central highlands of what is now Colombia were home to the Muisca people. They had two main rulers: the psihipqua in the south (capital Muyquytá) and the hoa in the north (capital Hunza).
Sagipa was an important general for the southern Muisca rulers, Nemequene and Tisquesusa. He fought against the northern hoa, Eucaneme. When the Spanish conquistadors arrived in 1537, both Muisca rulers tried to work together against them. Eucaneme, the northern ruler, even tried to offer gifts to the Spanish.
After Sagipa's brother Tisquesusa was killed by the Spanish, Sagipa became the new ruler. However, Muisca tradition said that Tisquesusa's nephew, the psihipqua of Chía, should have been the next ruler. This nephew, Chiayzaque, was friendly with the Spanish. Sagipa wanted to get revenge for his brother's death. Some Muisca leaders, like Cuxinimpaba and Cuxinimegua, did not support Sagipa.
Sagipa and his people often attacked the Spanish. These attacks pushed the Spanish out of the Bogotá savanna and towards Bosa. Later, the Panche rebelled against the new Spanish rulers. Sagipa then began talks with the Spanish leader, Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada. Sagipa warned that the Panche rebellion could harm both the Muisca and the Spanish.
On August 20, 1538, De Quesada, with only 50 soldiers, and Sagipa, with 12,000 to 20,000 Muisca guecha warriors, fought and defeated the Panche in the Battle of Tocarema. They celebrated this victory together.
Sagipa's Final Days
After the victory, the Spanish held Sagipa. They accused him of not being the rightful ruler. The Spanish also demanded a large amount of gold that they believed Tisquesusa had left behind. Sagipa first denied having the gold and tried to hide.
When Sagipa saw that his people were losing faith in his rule, he surrendered to De Quesada. The Spanish were very angry that Sagipa would not give them the treasure. Sagipa died in early 1539 in the Spanish camp in Bosa. His death was a result of the harsh treatment he received from the Spanish rulers.
Sagipa in Muisca History
See also
In Spanish: Zaquesazipa para niños
- Spanish conquest of the Muisca
- Muisca rulers
- History of Bogotá
