Muisca complex society
c. 800[1]–1540
Flag of the Muisca[citation needed]
Map of the Muisca territory according to Falchetti and Plazas in the 1970s. This map has received criticism, however, as it mainly uses the late 17th century chroniclerLucas Fernández de Piedrahita, considered unreliable.[2] According to colonial documents, the confederations of Sogamoso and Duitama were independent of Tunja and had great importance.[3]
Capital	Bacatá (Bogotá),Hunza, andSuamox,Tundama (800–1540)
Common languages	Muysccubun dialects[4]
Religion	Muisca religion
Government	Independent confederations of chiefdoms
Various titles
• ~1450–1470 (colonial chronicler Piedrahíta)	zaqueHunzahúa zipaMeicuchuca
• 1470–1490 (colonial chronicler Piedrahíta)	zaqueSaguamanchica zipaMichuá
• 1490–1537 (colonial chronicler Piedrahíta) 1490–1514 (colonial chronicler Piedrahíta)	zaqueQuemuenchatocha zipaNemequene
• 1514–1537 (colonial chronicler Piedrahíta)	zipaTisquesusa
• 1537–1540 (colonial chronicler Piedrahíta) 1537–1539 (colonial chronicler Piedrahíta)	zaqueAquiminzaque zipaSagipa
Historical era	Pre-Columbian
• Established	c. 800[1]
• Spanish conquest begins	March 1537
• Conquest ofFunza (Bacatá)	20 April 1537
• Conquest of Hunza	20 August 1537
• Destruction of theSun Temple	September 1537
• Foundation ofBogotá Battle of Tocarema	6 August 1538 20 August 1538
• Foundation ofTunja Death ofTundama	6 August 1539 December 1539
• Execution ofAquiminzaque	1540
Area
• Total	22.000[5] km2 (8.494 sq mi)
Population
• Early 16th century[6]	2 million
Preceded by Succeeded by Herrera Period New Kingdom of Granada
Today part of	Colombia - Cundinamarca - Boyacá - Santander

Muisca Confederations were looseconfederations of differentMuiscachiefdoms in theEastern Andean highlands of what is todayColombia before theSpanish conquest of northern South America.^[7] These unions, centred around main chiefdoms recognised by smaller ones, were not a single, even loose, muisca confederation of chiefdoms, but multiple, independent regional entities.^[8] The area, presently calledAltiplano Cundiboyacense, comprised the currentdepartments ofBoyacá,Cundinamarca and minor parts ofSantander.^[9]

Usually,Muisca chiefdoms were composed of various basic matrilineal units (uta, minor, orsibyn, major) calledcapitanías by the Spaniards.^[10] However, power was based on individual alliances ofMuisca rulers with households or basic units.^[11] Often,sibyn were villages anduta groups of houses.^[12] Four confederations of chiefdoms formed in Muisca territory:Bogotá,Tunja,Duitama andSogamoso.^[7] Additionally, the Chibcha-speakingGuane andLache were also ruled by theconfederation of Guanentá and theconfederation of El Cocuy respectively.^[13][14] Different models exist to explain the nature of power among Muisca elites.^[15]

Climate charts for the extremes and four most important settlements of the Muisca Confederation
NW:Vélez – 2050 m Climate chart (explanation) J F M A M J J A S O N D     34     19 7     46     19 8     67     19 9     113     19 9     102     18 9     63     18 9     47     18 9     47     18 9     56     18 8     119     18 9     112     18 9     60     19 8 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm Source:Climate-data.org – Bogotá Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     1.3     67 45     1.8     67 46     2.6     67 47     4.4     66 49     4     65 49     2.5     64 48     1.9     64 48     1.9     64 47     2.2     65 47     4.7     65 47     4.4     65 47     2.4     66 46 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches	Lowest:Charalá – 1290 m Climate chart (explanation) J F M A M J J A S O N D     71     29 15     97     29 16     157     29 16     272     28 16     283     28 16     176     27 16     175     29 15     192     28 15     224     28 15     312     27 16     244     27 16     103     28 16 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm Source:Climate-data.org – Charalá Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     2.8     83 59     3.8     83 60     6.2     84 60     11     82 61     11     82 61     6.9     81 61     6.9     84 60     7.6     83 59     8.8     82 60     12     81 61     9.6     81 61     4.1     82 60 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches	Highest:Aquitania – 3030 m Climate chart (explanation) J F M A M J J A S O N D     11     17 6     22     17 6     49     17 7     139     16 8     219     15 8     113     14 7     109     14 7     94     14 7     83     15 7     109     15 7     75     16 7     24     16 7 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm Source:Climate-data.org – Aquitania Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     0.4     62 43     0.9     62 44     1.9     63 45     5.5     61 46     8.6     59 46     4.4     57 45     4.3     56 45     3.7     57 45     3.3     58 44     4.3     60 45     3     61 45     0.9     61 44 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches	NE:Soatá – 1950 m Climate chart (explanation) J F M A M J J A S O N D     41     25 12     58     25 12     88     25 13     271     24 13     241     23 13     126     23 13     101     23 12     103     23 13     155     24 13     260     23 13     163     23 13     84     24 12 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm Source:Climate-data.org – Soatá Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     1.6     76 54     2.3     77 54     3.5     77 55     11     75 56     9.5     74 56     5     73 55     4     74 54     4.1     74 55     6.1     74 55     10     74 55     6.4     74 55     3.3     75 54 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches
SW:Tibacuy – 1647 m Climate chart (explanation) J F M A M J J A S O N D     72     24 15     90     24 15     109     25 16     170     24 16     155     24 16     88     23 15     57     24 16     52     24 16     80     24 15     214     23 15     216     23 15     100     23 15 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm Source:Climate-data.org – Tibacuy Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     2.8     75 59     3.5     76 60     4.3     76 61     6.7     75 61     6.1     74 61     3.5     74 60     2.2     75 60     2     75 60     3.1     76 59     8.4     74 59     8.5     73 59     3.9     74 59 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches			SE:Ubalá – 1949 m Climate chart (explanation) J F M A M J J A S O N D     47     23 11     93     24 12     136     24 13     216     23 14     290     22 14     360     21 13     332     21 13     276     21 13     205     22 12     188     22 13     132     23 13     72     23 12 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm Source:Climate-data.org – Ubalá Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     1.9     74 52     3.7     74 54     5.4     74 56     8.5     73 57     11     72 57     14     70 56     13     70 55     11     70 55     8.1     71 54     7.4     72 55     5.2     73 55     2.8     73 54 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches
Bacatá – 2700 m Climate chart (explanation) J F M A M J J A S O N D     34     19 4     46     19 4     67     19 7     113     19 7     102     18 8     63     18 9     47     18 8     47     18 8     56     18 7     119     18 7     112     18 8     60     19 5 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm Source:Climate-data.org – Bogotá Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     1.3     67 40     1.8     67 38     2.6     67 44     4.4     66 45     4     65 47     2.5     64 48     1.9     64 46     1.9     64 46     2.2     65 45     4.7     65 44     4.4     65 46     2.4     66 41 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches	Hunza – 2820 m Climate chart (explanation) J F M A M J J A S O N D     23     19 7     30     19 7     64     19 8     116     18 9     108     18 9     92     16 8     70     16 8     69     17 8     72     17 8     122     17 8     108     18 8     43     18 7 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm Source:Climate-data.org – Tunja Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     0.9     66 44     1.2     66 45     2.5     67 47     4.6     65 48     4.3     64 48     3.6     61 47     2.8     61 46     2.7     62 46     2.8     63 46     4.8     63 47     4.3     64 47     1.7     65 45 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches	Suamox – 2569 m Climate chart (explanation) J F M A M J J A S O N D     19     22 8     31     22 9     58     22 9     114     21 10     107     20 10     65     19 9     49     19 9     51     20 9     64     20 9     116     20 10     89     21 9     35     21 8 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm Source:Climate-data.org – Sogamoso Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     0.7     71 47     1.2     72 47     2.3     72 48     4.5     69 50     4.2     68 50     2.6     67 49     1.9     66 47     2     67 48     2.5     68 48     4.6     68 49     3.5     69 49     1.4     70 47 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches	Tundama – 2590 m Climate chart (explanation) J F M A M J J A S O N D     21     21 7     43     22 8     65     22 8     123     20 9     126     20 9     75     19 9     54     19 8     54     19 8     74     20 8     143     19 9     92     20 9     42     21 7 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm Source:Climate-data.org – Duitama Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     0.8     70 45     1.7     71 46     2.6     71 46     4.8     69 49     5     67 49     3     66 47     2.1     66 46     2.1     67 46     2.9     67 46     5.6     67 48     3.6     68 47     1.7     69 45 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches
The climates (Af-Cfb-Cwb) of the geographic (NW, NE, SW and SE) and topographic extremes and for the four main settlements of the Muisca Confederation situated on the Altiplano, from SW to NE;Bacatá, Hunza, Suamox andTundama are rather constant over the year with wetter periods in April–May and October–November

The Muiscas lived in theAndes Orientales in a territory of approximately 22.000 km².^[16] At the time of theSpanish Conquest, four confederations existed in their territory (Bogotá,Tunja,Duitama,Sogamoso).^[7] According to colonial documents, the confederations of Sogamoso and Duitama were independent of Tunja and had great importance.^[17] Political power was not based on economic or political subordination but recognition of certain authorities, sometimes multiple at a time.^[18] The size of muisca population remains debated.^[19] The most powerful chiefdom at the time of the Spanish conquest was Bogotá.^[20] Additionally, there were independant chiefdoms in the north-west, not affilitiated to any confederation.^[21]

Muisca settlements were organised around the cacique's enclosure orcercado.^[22][23] Roads were present to connect the settlements with each other and with the surrounding indigenous groups, of which theGuane andLache to the north, thePanche andMuzo to the west andGuayupe,Achagua andTegua to the east were the most important.^{[citation needed]}

Early Amerindian settlers led a hunter-gatherer life among still extantmegafauna living in cool habitats around Pleistocene lakes, of which thehumedales in Bogotá,Lake Suesca,Lake Fúquene andLake Herrera are notable examples. Multiple evidences of latePleistocene to middleHolocene population of theBogotá savanna, the high plateau in the Colombian Andes, have been found to date. As is common withcaves and rock shelters,Tequendama was inhabited from around 11,000 years BP, and continuing into the prehistorical,Herrera andMuisca periods, making it the oldest site of Colombia, together withEl Abra (12,500 BP), located north ofZipaquirá andTibitó, located within the boundaries ofTocancipá (11,740 BP).^[24][25] The oldest human remains and the oldest complete skeleton were discovered at Tequendama and has been named "Hombre del Tequendama" orHomo Tequendama. Other artefacts have been found inGachalá (9100 BP), Sueva (Junín) andZipacón.^[26] Just west of the Altiplano, the oldest archaeological remains were found; inPubenza, part of Tocaima and have been dated at 16,000 years Before Present.^[27]

Timeline of inhabitation of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense, Colombia
	Altiplano Muisca Confederation

TheHerrera Period is a historical period named after theLa Herrera lake, south of Bogotá, it took place approximately between 800 BCE to 800 AD.^[28][29] However, current academic consensus considers the period to have ranged from 400 B.C. to 1000 A.D., with regional variations.^[30] The muisca arrival to the Altiplano Cundibyacense most likely pre-dated the beginning of the Herrera period.^[31] However, the exact date of their arrival is unknown, and the least oldest date would be the middle of the first millennium B.C.^[31]

Generally, the Herrera period is characterized by agriculture, ceramic traditions and the use of salt sources.^[32] The political organisation and level of social complexity during the Herrera period is uncertain.^[33]

Part ofa series on
Muisca culture
Topics
Agriculture Architecture Art Astronomy Calendar Cuisine Economy Language Mummies Music Mythology Numerals Religion Research Collections Scholars Sites Warfare Women
Geography
Flora and fauna Altiplano Bogotá savanna Eastern Hills Tenza Valley
The Salt People
Nemocón Zipaquirá
Main neighbours
Guane Muzo Panche
History andtimeline
Prehistory Herrera Period Muisca Confederations Bacatá Hunza Suamox Tundama Spanish conquest Gonzalo Hernán Others
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The period named "Muisca" is separated by scholars into "early muisca" (approximately1000–1200 A.D.) and "late muisca" (apr. 1200–1600).^[34] This period is associated with the rise of muisca chiefdoms.^[35][36] Through the construction of monolithic structures, elites acquired an ideological more than a direct economic control.^[37] The reasons for the expansion of chiefdoms are uncertain.^[7] According to Gerardo Reichel-Dolmatoff, the north-western, independant chiefdoms are representative of the state of Muisca society prior to the creation of confederations.^[21] Possibly, matrimonial alliances, conducted independently of the "territory" assigned to each chiefdom, played an important role.^[38] Two traditions of chroniclers reported different versions of Bogotá expansion:^[39] According toJuan Rodríguez Freyle, Bogotá's expansion began just one year before the Spanish conquest, after having revolted against the previously dominantchiefdom of Guatavita.^[39] On the other hand, Lucas Fernández de Piedrahíta related Bogotá's expansion in the course of 67 years, as the result of various military campaigns led by different chiefs.^[39] According to Martha Herrera Angel, the colonial-era writings, while filled with exaggerations and misunderstandings, contain a core of historical truth.^[40]

The concept ofgue ("house") was essential formuisca chiefs to secure their legitimacy,^[41] which was based onrules of succession and a certain degree of popular consent.^[23] Their role was to redistribute an accumulated surplus of goods, not to accumulate them.^[42] The existence of religious specialists can be explained by the need to maintain theequilibrium of the world.^[43]

The people used a decimal counting system, based on the digits of the hand. Their system went from 1 to 10 and for higher numerations they used the prefixquihicha orqhicha, which means "foot" in theirChibcha languageMuysccubun. Eleven became thus "foot one", twelve "foot two", etc. As in the otherpre-Columbian civilizations, the number 20 was special. It was the total number of all body extremities; fingers and toes. The Muisca used two forms to express twenty: "foot ten";quihícha ubchihica or their exclusive wordgueta, derived fromgue, which means "house". Numbers between 20 and 30 were countedgueta asaqui ata ("twenty plus one"; 21),gueta asaqui ubchihica ("twenty plus ten"; 30). Larger numbers were counted as multiples of twenty;gue-bosa ("20 times 2"; 40),gue-hisca ("20 times 5"; 100). The Muisca script consisted ofhieroglyphs, only used for numerals.^[44] Gold was not the main object of prestige, but had religious significance, as chiefs preferred exotic clothing and sumptuous palisades to show their power.^[45] There was no currency among the Muiscas.^[7]

History of the Muisca
Altiplano	Muisca	Art	Architecture	Astronomy	Cuisine	El Dorado	Subsistence	Women	Conquest

• Capital –Bacatá
• Area – 5,430 square kilometres (2,100 sq mi)
• Average elevation – 2,470 metres (8,100 ft)
• Last rulers –zipasTisquesusa,Sagipa
• Date of conquest – 20 April 1537 (Funza) –Jiménez & Pérez de Quesada
• First city – 6 August 1538 (Bogotá) –Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada

Municipality	Department bold is capital	Ruler(s) bold is seat	Altitude urban centre (m)	Surface area (km2)	Remarks	Map
Bacatá	Cundinamarca	zipa	2640	1587	Muisca mummy found Important market town Petrographs found
Bojacá	Cundinamarca	zipa	2598	109	Lake Herrera Petrographs found
Cajicá	Cundinamarca	zipa	2558	50.4
La Calera	Cundinamarca	zipa	2718	317	Petrographs found
Cáqueza	Cundinamarca	zipa	1746	38
Chía	Cundinamarca	zipa	2564	80	Moon Temple Herrera site Petrographs found
Choachí	Cundinamarca	zipa	1923	223	Choachí Stone found
Chocontá	Cundinamarca	zipa	2655	301.1	Important market town Battle of Chocontá (~1490) Fortification betweenzipa &zaque
Cogua	Cundinamarca	zipa	2600	113	Muisca ceramics production Petrographs found
Cota	Cundinamarca	zipa	2566	55	Petrographs found Still Muisca people living
Cucunubá	Cundinamarca	zipa	2590	112	Petrographs found
Facatativá	Cundinamarca	zipa	2586	158	Piedras del Tunjo
Funza	Cundinamarca	zipa	2548	70	Important market town
Gachancipá	Cundinamarca	zipa	2568	44	Muisca mummy found Muisca ceramics production
Guasca	Cundinamarca	zipa	2710	346	Siecha Lakes Muisca ceramics production Petrographs found
Madrid	Cundinamarca	zipa	2554	120.5	Lake Herrera Petrographs found
Mosquera	Cundinamarca	zipa	2516	107	Lake Herrera Petrographs found
Nemocón	Cundinamarca	zipa	2585	98.1	Muisca salt mines Preceramic siteChecua Petrographs found
Pacho	Cundinamarca	zipa	2136	403.3	Important market town
Pasca	Cundinamarca	zipa	2180	246.24	Battle of Pasca (~1470) Muisca raft found
El Rosal	Cundinamarca	zipa	2685	86.48
San Antonio del Tequendama	Cundinamarca	zipa	1540	82	Tequendama Falls Fortification againstPanche Petrographs found
Sesquilé	Cundinamarca	zipa	2595	141	Lake Guatavita Minor Muisca salt mines
Sibaté	Cundinamarca	zipa	2700	125.6	Petrographs found
Soacha	Cundinamarca	zipa	2565	184.45	Preceramic siteTequendama Herrera site Muisca ceramics production Petrographs found
Sopó	Cundinamarca	zipa	2650	111.5	Herrera site
Subachoque	Cundinamarca	zipa	2663	211.53	Petrographs found
Suesca	Cundinamarca	zipa	2584	177	150Muisca mummies found Lake Suesca Muisca ceramics production Important market town Petrographs found
Sutatausa	Cundinamarca	zipa	2550	67	Petrographs found
Tabio	Cundinamarca	zipa	2569	74.5	Hot springs used by the Muisca
Tausa	Cundinamarca	zipa	2931	204	Muisca salt mines Petrographs found
Tena	Cundinamarca	zipa	1384	55	Fortification againstPanche Petrographs found
Tenjo	Cundinamarca	zipa	2587	108	Petrographs found
Tibacuy	Cundinamarca	zipa &Panche	1647	84.4	Border withPanche Fortification againstPanche &Sutagao Petrographs found
Tocancipá	Cundinamarca	zipa	2605	73.51	Preceramic siteTibitó Muisca ceramics production Important market town Petrographs found
Zipaquirá	Cundinamarca	zipa	2650	197	El Abra Muisca salt mines Important market town Petrographs and petroglyphs found
Fúquene	Cundinamarca	zipa zaque	2750	90	Lake Fúquene
Simijaca	Cundinamarca	zipa (1490–1537)	2559	107	Conquered byzipaSaguamanchica uponzaqueMichuá (~1490)
Susa	Cundinamarca	zipa (1490–1537)	2655	86	Conquered byzipaSaguamanchica uponzaqueMichuá (~1490) Lake Fúquene
Ubaté	Cundinamarca	zipa (1490–1537)	2556	102	Conquered byzipaSaguamanchica uponzaqueMichuá (~1490) Muisca mummy found
Zipacón	Cundinamarca	zipa	2550	70	Agriculture Place of meditation for thezipa Petrographs found

Municipality	Department	Ruler(s)	Altitude (m)	Surface area (km2)	Remarks	Map
Junín	Cundinamarca	chipazaque	2300	337	Shared between zipa andzaque Petrographs found

• Capital – Hunza
• Area – 4,700 square kilometres (1,800 sq mi)
• Average elevation – 2,270 metres (7,450 ft)
• Last rulers –zaquesQuemuenchatocha,Aquiminzaque
• Date of conquest – 20 August 1537 (Hunza) –Jiménez & Pérez de Quesada
• First city – 6 August 1539 (Tunja) –Gonzalo Suárez Rendón

Municipality	Department bold is capital	Ruler(s) bold is seat	Altitude (m)	Surface area (km2)	Remarks	Map
Hunza	Boyacá	zaque	2820	121.4	Hunzahúa Well Cojines del Zaque Goranchacha Temple Muisca mummy found Important market town Petrographs found
Boyacá	Boyacá	zaque	2420	48
Buenavista	Boyacá	zaque	2100	125	Border withMuzo Nose piece and pectoral found, dated at 620 and 990 AD respectively[46]
Chinavita	Boyacá	zaque	1763	148
Chíquiza	Boyacá	zaque	2900	119.52	Lake Iguaque
Chitaraque	Boyacá	zaque	1575	157.65
Chivatá	Boyacá	zaque	2903	56
Ciénega	Boyacá	zaque	2460	73
Cucaita	Boyacá	zaque	2650	43.58
Gachantivá	Boyacá	zaque	2450	66	Muisca mummy found Muisca copper mines
Garagoa	Boyacá	zaque	1650	191.75
Macanal	Boyacá	zaque	1680	199.5	Border withTegua
Motavita	Boyacá	zaque	2690	62	Coca market town Petrographs found
Oicatá	Boyacá	zaque	2815	59
Pachavita	Boyacá	zaque	1985	68
Ramiriquí	Boyacá	zaque	2325	146.5	Place of death ofQuemuenchatocha Important ceramics production Petrographs found
Sáchica	Boyacá	zaque	2150	62.4	Petrographs found
Samacá	Boyacá	zaque	2660	172.9
San Miguel de Sema	Boyacá	zaque	2615	90	Lake Fúquene
Siachoque	Boyacá	zaque	2760	125
Somondoco	Boyacá	zaque	1670	58.7	Muisca emerald mines Important market town
Sutamarchán	Boyacá	zaque	1800	102	Muisca ceramics production
Tinjacá	Boyacá	zaque	2175	79.3	Muisca ceramics production
Tipacoque	Boyacá	zaque	1850	72.1	Chicamocha Canyon
Turmequé	Boyacá	zaque	2389	106	Important market town Fortification betweenzipa &zaque
Villa de Leyva	Boyacá	zaque	2149	128	El Infiernito Lake Iguaque Muisca mummy found Important market town
Sora	Boyacá	zaque	2650	42
Soracá	Boyacá	zaque	2942	57
Sotaquirá	Boyacá	zaque	2860	288.65
Sutatenza	Boyacá	zaque	1890	41.26
Tibaná	Boyacá	zaque	2115	121.76	Petrographs found
Togüí	Boyacá	zaque	1650	118
Tuta	Boyacá	zaque	2600	165
Ventaquemada	Boyacá	zaque	2630	159.3
Viracachá	Boyacá	zaque	2520	68
Zetaquirá	Boyacá	zaque	1665	262
Almeida	Boyacá	zaque	1925	57.98
La Capilla	Boyacá	zaque	1750	57.26
Jenesano	Boyacá	zaque	2076	59
Nuevo Colón	Boyacá	zaque	2500	51
Rondón	Boyacá	zaque	2075	158
Lenguazaque	Cundinamarca	zaque	2589	15.36
Machetá	Cundinamarca	zaque	2094	229.35	Petrographs found
Tibiritá	Cundinamarca	zaque	1980	57.2	Petrographs found
Villapinzón	Cundinamarca	zaque	2715	249

• Capital – Suamox
• Area – 4,163 square kilometres (1,607 sq mi)
• Average elevation – 2,630 metres (8,630 ft)
• Last ruler –iracaSugamuxi
• Date of conquest – Early September 1537 (Sogamoso) –Jiménez & Pérez de Quesada
• Important settlements – Suamox, Busbanzá, Firavitoba, Gámeza and Tota
• Archaeological remains –mummies,Sun Temple reconstruction,Lake Tota

Municipality	Department	Ruler(s) bold is seat	Altitude (m)	Surface area (km2)	Remarks	Map
Suamox	Boyacá	iraca Nompanim Sugamuxi	2569	208.54	Sun Temple Muisca mummy found Muisca carbon mines
Aquitania	Boyacá	iraca	3030	943	Lake Tota
Busbanzá	Boyacá	iraca	2472	22.5	Elector of newiraca
Cuítiva	Boyacá	iraca	2750	43	Lake Tota Statue ofBochica
Firavitoba	Boyacá	iraca	2500	109.9	Elector of newiraca
Gámeza	Boyacá	iraca	2750	88	Herrera site Muisca mummy found Minor Muisca salt mines Muisca carbon mines Petrographs found
Iza	Boyacá	iraca	2560	34	Herrera site Lake Tota Petrographs found
Mongua	Boyacá	iraca	2975	365.5	Petrographs found
Monguí	Boyacá	iraca	2900	81	Petroglyphs Birthplaces (Tortolitas)
Pesca	Boyacá	iraca	2858	282
Tasco	Boyacá	iraca	2530	167	Muisca mummy found
Toca	Boyacá	iraca	2810	165
Tota	Boyacá	iraca	2870	314	Lake Tota
Socotá	Boyacá	iraca Tundama	2443	600.11	Muisca mummy found
Tibasosa	Boyacá	Tundama iraca	2538	94.3

• Capital – Tundama
• Area – 2,920 square kilometres (1,130 sq mi)
• Average elevation – 2,470 metres (8,100 ft)
• Last ruler –Tundama
• Date of conquest – Late December 1539 (Duitama) –Baltasar Maldonado
• Important settlements – Tundama, Onzaga, Soatá,Chitagoto (now Paz de Río)

Municipality	Department	Ruler(s) bold is seat	Altitude (m)	Surface area (km2)	Remarks	Map
Tundama	Boyacá	Tundama	2590	266.93	Seat of Tundama In ancient lake
Onzaga	Santander	Tundama	1960	486.76	Important for wool and cotton production
Cerinza	Boyacá	Tundama	2750	61.63	Monument to the Muisca
Paz de Río	Boyacá	Tundama	2200	116	Coca market town
Paipa	Boyacá	Tundama	2525	305.924	Thermal springs
Sativanorte	Boyacá	Tundama	2600	184	Herrera site
Sativasur	Boyacá	Tundama	2600	81	Muisca mummy SO10-IX found Herrera site
Soatá	Boyacá	Tundama	1950	136	Herrera site Coca market town
Belén	Boyacá	Tundama	2650	83.6	Petrographs found
Corrales	Boyacá	Tundama	2470	60.85
Floresta	Boyacá	Tundama	2506	86
Nobsa	Boyacá	Tundama	2510	55.39
Santa Rosa de Viterbo	Boyacá	Tundama	2753	107
Susacón	Boyacá	Tundama	2480	191
Tibasosa	Boyacá	Tundama iraca	2538	94.3
Socotá	Boyacá	iraca Tundama	2443	600.11	Muisca mummy found

• Capital –none
• Area – 3,080 square kilometres (1,190 sq mi)
• Average elevation – 2,140 metres (7,020 ft)
• Importantcaciques – Guatavita, Ubaté, Chiquinquirá, Ubaque, Tenza, Vélez

Municipality bold is majorcacique	Department	Ruler(s)	Altitude (m)	Surface area (km2)	Remarks	Map
Vélez	Santander	cacique	2050	271.34
Chipatá	Santander	cacique	1820	94.17	First townconquered by the Spanish
Güepsa	Santander	cacique	1540	33.08	Border withGuane Border withYarigui
Charalá	Santander	cacique	1290	411	Border withGuane
Arcabuco	Boyacá	cacique	2739	155	Statue honouring theMuisca warriors
Betéitiva	Boyacá	cacique	2575	123
Boavita	Boyacá	cacique	2114	159	Muisca mummy found
Chiquinquirá	Boyacá	cacique	2556	133
Cómbita	Boyacá	cacique	2825	149
Covarachía	Boyacá	cacique	2320	103	Herrera site
Guateque	Boyacá	cacique	1815	36.04	Religious rituals atGuatoc hill
Guayatá	Boyacá	cacique	1767	112	Muisca money (tejuelo) found
Moniquirá	Boyacá	cacique	1669	220	Muisca mummy found Muisca copper mines
Pisba	Boyacá	cacique	2400	469.12	Muisca mummy found
Ráquira	Boyacá	cacique	2150	233	Muisca ceramics production
Saboyá	Boyacá	cacique	2600	246.9	Petrographs found
Tópaga	Boyacá	cacique	2900	37	Muisca mummy found Muisca carbon mines
Tutazá	Boyacá	cacique	1890	135	Muisca ceramics production
Tenza	Boyacá	cacique	1600	51	Tenza Valley
Chivor	Boyacá	cacique	1800	108.36	Muisca emerald mines
Úmbita	Boyacá	cacique	2480	148.17
Carmen de Carupa	Cundinamarca	cacique	2600	228	Tunjo found
Guatavita	Cundinamarca	cacique	2680	247.3	Muisca ceramics production Main goldworking town Petrographs found
Gachetá	Cundinamarca	caciqueGuatavita	1745	262.2
Guachetá	Cundinamarca	cacique	2688	177.45	Minor Muisca salt mines Petrographs found
Manta	Cundinamarca	cacique	1924	105
Ubaque	Cundinamarca	cacique	1867	104.96	Last publicreligious ritual (1563) Lake Ubaque
Ubalá	Cundinamarca	cacique	1949	505	Muisca emerald mines
Chipaque	Cundinamarca	cacique	2400	139.45	Petrographs found
Fómeque	Cundinamarca	cacique	1895	555.7
Quetame	Cundinamarca	cacique	1496	138.47
Une	Cundinamarca	cacique	2376	221
Fosca	Cundinamarca	cacique	2080	126.02	Fortification againstGuayupe

Yarigui	Guane		Lache		U'wa
Muzo
Panche					Achagua
Sutagao		Guayupe		Tegua
Cariban languages •Chibchan languages •Arawakan languages
Yarigui and Lache not shown on map • Tegua shown as Tecua • U'wa shown as Tunebo
[47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56]

The sacred sites of the Muisca Confederation were based in theMuisca religion andmythology. The Muisca were a highly religious people with their own beliefs on the origin of the Earth and life andhuman sacrifices were no exception to please the gods for good harvests and prosperity.

Lake Guatavita,Guatavita, was the location where the newzipa would be inaugurated. It became known with the Spanish conquerors as the site ofEl Dorado where the new zipa was covered in gold dust and installed as the new ruler of the southern Muisca.^[57]

In the legends of the Muisca, humankind originated inLake Iguaque,Monquirá, when the goddessBachué came out from the lake with a boy in her arms. When the boy grew, they populated the Earth. They are considered the ancestors of the human race. Finally, they disappeared unto the lake in the shape of snakes.^[58]

According to Muisca myths, theTequendama Falls, outsideSoacha, was the site where the firstzipaMeicuchuca lost his lover who turned in a snake and disappeared in the waters of theBogotá River.^[59][60]

El Infiernito, close to the present town ofVilla de Leyva was a sacred site where the Muisca erected structures based onastronomical parameters.^[61][62][63]

• Sun Temple,Sogamoso
• Hunzahúa Well,Tunja
• Goranchacha Temple,Tunja
• Cojines del Zaque,Tunja
• Moon Temple,Chía

• 
  Lake Guatavita; site ofEl Dorado
• 
  Lake Iguaque
• 
  Tequendama Falls
• 
  El Infiernito; astronomical site
• 
  Cojines del Zaque

Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta

Topography Cesar

Topography Santander

The harsh expedition through the jungles of Magdalena, La Guajira, Cesar and Santander cost the lives of more than 80% of the troops and they hadn't foundEl Dorado...

Tisquesusa
(† 1537)

Sagipa
(† 1540)

Sagipa, or Saquesazipa, was the last ruler of Bacatá, as successor of Tisquesusa, defeated nearFunza, on 20 April 1537, and died, as the prophecy said, "bathing in his own blood", due to attacks by the Spanish. His body was not found a year after. His defeat meant a new reign over the savanna and the foundation ofBogotá on 6 August 1538

Quemuenchatocha
(† 1537)

Aquiminzaque
(† 1539)

Túpac Amaru
(† 1572)

Aquiminzaque, as successor of Quemuenchatocha, defeated in his home inHunza, on 20 August 1537, was the last souvereign ruler of the Muisca and was decapitated by the Spanish, as would happen to Túpac Amaru of theInca, 34 years later

The conquest of the Muisca was the heaviest of all four Spanish expeditions to the great American civilisations.^[64] More than 80 percent of the soldiers and horses that started the journey of a year to the northern Muisca Confederation did not survive it.^[65][66][67] Various settlements were founded by the Spanish between1537 and1539.^{[68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75][76][77]}

A delegation of more than 900 men left the tropical city of Santa Marta and went on a harsh expedition through the heartlands of Colombia in search ofEl Dorado and the civilisation that produced all this precious gold. The leader of the first and main expedition underSpanish flag wasGonzalo Jiménez de Quesada, with his brotherHernán second in command.^[67] Several other soldiers were participating in the journey, who would later becomeencomenderos and taking part in the conquest of other parts of Colombia. Other contemporaneous expeditions into the unknown interior of the Andes, all searching for the mythical land of gold, were starting from laterVenezuela, led byBavarian and other German conquistadors and from the south, starting in the previously foundedKingdom of Quito in laterEcuador.

The first phase of the conquest was ended by the victory of the few conquistadors left overTisquesusa, the lastzipa ofBacatá, who fell and died after the battle atFunza, on theBogotá savanna, 20 April 1537. The arrival of the Spanish conquerors was revealed to Tisquesusa by themohan Popón, from the village ofUbaque. He told the Muisca ruler that foreigners were coming and Tisquesusa would die "bathing in his own blood".^[78] When Tisquesusa was informed of the advancing invasion of the Spanish soldiers, he sent a spy toSuesca to find out more about their army strength, weapons and with how many warriors they could be beaten. Thezipa left the capital Bacatá and took shelter inNemocón which directed the Spanish troops to there, during this march attacked by more than 600 Muisca warriors.^[79]

When Tisquesusa retreated in his fort inCajicá 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 ofFacatativá where they attacked him at night.

Tisquesusa was thrusted by the sword of one of De Quesada's soldiers but without knowing he was thezipa 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 theblack vultures circling over it.

When Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada found out thecaciques were conspiring against him, he sent out several expeditions of soldiers. His captain Juan de Céspedes went south to foundPasca on 15 July 1537.^[80] Hernán was sent north and Gonzalo himself went northeast, to search for the mythical Land of GoldEl Dorado. There he did not find golden cities, butemeralds, theMuisca were extracting inChivor andSomondoco. First foundation wasEngativá, presently a locality of Bogotá, on 22 May 1537.^[73] Passing throughSuba,Chía,Cajicá,Tocancipá,Gachancipá,Guatavita andSesquilé, he arrived inChocontá, founding the modern town on 9 June.^[74] The journey went eastward into theTenza Valley throughMachetá,Tibiritá,Guateque,Sutatenza andTenza, founded onSan Juan; 24 June.^[75] On the same day, Hernán foundedSutatausa.^[76] Gonzalo continued northwest throughLa Capilla andÚmbita. He arrived inTurmequé that he founded on 20 July.^[77]

In August 1537 Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada entered the territories of thezaque, who ruled fromHunza. When the Spanish conquerors entered the outskirts of Hunza and found a hill with poles were bodies were dangling, they named itCerro de la Horca ("Gallow Hill").^[81] At the time of the conquestQuemuenchatocha was thezaque and he ordered his men to not submit to the European invaders or show them the way to hisbohío. He sent messengers to the Spanish conquistadors with valuable peace offers. While this was happening, Quemuenchatocha had hidden his treasures from the Spanish. Hunza was located in a valley not as green as theBogotá savanna. The advantage of the Spanish weaponry and the use of the horses quickly beat the Muisca warriors.^[67]

When Gonzalo arrived at the mainbohío of Quemuenchatocha, he found the Muisca ruler sitting in his throne and surrounded by his closest companions. All men were dressed in expensive mantles and adorned with golden crowns. On 20 August 1537, the Spanish beat thezaque and the big and strong Muisca ruler was taken captive toSuesca. There he was tortured and the Spanish soldiers hoped he would reveal where he hid his precious properties. The absence of Quemuenchatocha paved the route for his nephewAquiminzaque to succeed him as ruler of the northern Muisca, apractice common in Muisca traditions. When Quemuenchatocha was finally released from captivity in Suesca, he fled toRamiriquí, where he died shortly after. The Spanish soldiers found gold, emeralds, silver, mantles and other valuables in Tunja. They were not able to take all the precious pieces and many were secretly taken away by the Muisca, using folded deer skins. They hid the valuables in nearby hills.^[67]

		Feb 1537	First contact @Chipatá
		Mar–Apr 1537	Expedition into Muisca Confederation
		20 Apr 1537	Conquest ofFunza uponzipaTisquesusa
		May–Aug 1537	Expedition & conquest inTenza Valley
		20 Aug 1537	ConquestHunza,zaqueQuemuenchatocha
		Early Sep 1537	ConquestSugamuxi,iracaSugamuxi
		Oct 1537 – Feb 1538	Other foundations on Altiplano & valleys
		6 Aug 1538	FoundationSantafé de Bogotá, byGonzalo
		20 Aug 1538	B. of Tocarema; Spanish &zipa beatPanche
		6 Aug 1539	FoundationTunja, byGonzalo Suárez
		15 Dec 1539	ConquestTundama, byBaltasar Maldonado
		Early 1540	Decapitation lastzaqueAquiminzaque,Hernán