Tisquesusa

Tisquesusa
Zipa
Tisquesusa, ruler of Bacatá depicted in the 19th century
Reign	1514–1537
Predecessor	Nemequene
Successor	Sagipa
Born	unknown Muisca Confederation
Died	1537 Facatativá, New Kingdom of Granada

Tisquesusa, also spelled Thisquesuza, Thysquesuca or Thisquesusha (died Facatativá, 1537) was the fourth and second-last ruler (zipa) of Bacatá, currently known as the Colombian capital Bogotá, as of 1514. Tisquesusa was the ruler of the southern part of the Muisca territories at the time the Spanish conquistadores entered the central Colombian highlands. His zaque counterpart in the northern area of the Muisca Confederation was Quemuenchatocha.

Map of the Muisca territory
Zipa reign in green

Tisquesusa depicted in 1688

Biography

Tisquesusa was cacique of Chía and following the Muisca heritage rules he as nephew of the previous ruler Nemequene succeeded his uncle in 1514. At the start of his reign, Tisquesusa fought against the Panches in the west of the Muisca Confederation. The brother of Tisquesusa and later -according to Muisca heritage rule illegal- successor Sagipa was the general in the southern Muisca army. Early on in his reign Tisquesusa went to war with the northern Muisca ruled by Quemuenchatocha. Forty thousands guecha warriors of the southern Muisca fought against fifty thousand northern Muisca. Earlier, support of the cacique Sugamuxi of the Iraca valley helped the northern troops in their battles, but this time the third party helped settling a truce between both parties which lasted until the arrival of the Spanish conquistadores in 1537.^[1]

The arrival of the Spanish conquerors was revealed to Tisquesusa by the mohan Popón, from the village of Ubaque. He told the Muisca ruler that foreigners were coming and Tisquesusa would die "bathing in his own blood".^[2] When Tisquesusa was informed of the advancing invasion of the Spanish soldiers, he sent a spy to Suesca to find out more about their army strength, weapons and with how many warriors they could be beaten. The zipa left the capital Bacatá and took shelter in Nemocón which directed the Spanish troops to there, during this march attacked by more than 600 Muisca warriors.^[3]

When Tisquesusa retreated in his fort in Cajicá he allegedly told his men he would not be able to combat against the strong Spanish army in possession of weapons that produced "thunder and lightning". He chose to return to Bacatá and ordered the capital to be evacuated, resulting in an abandoned site when the Spanish arrived. In search for the Muisca ruler the conquistadores went north to find Tisquesusa in the surroundings of Facatativá where they attacked him at night.

Tisquesusa was thrusted by the sword of one of De Quesada's soldiers but without knowing he was the zipa he let him go, after taking the expensive mantle of the ruler. Tisquesusa fled hurt into the mountains and died of his wounds there. His body was only discovered a year later because of the black vultures circling over it.

Succession to the throne

Contrary to Muisca tradition, where the eldest son of the oldest sister of the previous ruler would become the next zipa, the reign was taken over by Tisquesusa's brother; his army general Sagipa. This would be the last ruler of the southern Muisca people, defeated in 1538 and died of Spanish torture in early 1539.

See also

• Muisca rulers
• History of Bogotá

References

1. (Spanish) Biography Tisquesusa - Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas - accessed 18-04-2016
2. (Spanish) Tisquesusa would die bathing in his own blood - Pueblos Originarios - accessed 18-04-2016
3. (Spanish) Zipa Tisquesusa - Banco de la República - accessed 18-04-2016