When theSpanish arrived in the centralColombian highlands, the region was organized into theMuisca Confederation, which had two rulers; theZipa was the ruler of the southern part and based inMuyquytá. TheZaque was the ruler of the northern area and based inHunza, known today asTunja.[1]
Zipa (Psihipqua) andZaque (Hoa) were the titles given to these rulers of the ancient confederation. Neither exercised absolute power, not rigid or strict control over those to whom they owed their power, so that they can be considered kings. However, these positions of power were of great honor and were surrounded by a rather elaborate ceremony. The position of theZipa was such that not even the members of the nobility dared to look him in the face, and it is said if theZipa needed to spit, someone would hold out a piece of rich cloth for him to spit on, because it would be sacrilegious for anything so precious as his saliva to touch the ground. Whoever held the cloth (all the while carefully looking the other way) then carried it off to be reverently disposed of.[1]
TheZipa was also given the responsibility of offering gold to the gods. He would cover himself with gold and float out on a royal barge to the middle of thesacredLake Guatavita, where he would offer up golden trinkets. This is widely believed to be how the legend ofEl Dorado started.[1]
WhenGonzalo Jiménez de Quesada arrived in the Muisca territories the rulingZipa wasBogotá and theZaque wasEucaneme.
The position of the ruler was inherited, but the line of succession was notpatrilineal. Instead, the king was succeeded by his nephew, the oldest son of his oldest sister. There were exceptions, and the ruler's subjects, apparently, had some say in the matter, if only to confirm the successor in his post.[1]
| Muisca rulers ofHunza (Zaques) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image | Name | Start | End | Details |
 | Hunzahúa | ? | 1470 | Founded city ofHunza, now Tunja |
 | Michuá | 1470 | 1490 | Died in theBattle of Chocontá |
 | Quemuenchatocha | 1490 | 1537 | Ruled when theSpanish arrived in modern-day Colombia |
 | Aquiminzaque | 1537 | 1539 | Last Muisca ruler |
| Muisca rulers ofBacatá (Zipas) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image | Name | Start | End | Details |
 | Meicuchuca | 1450 | 1470 | According to legend slept with a snake |
 | Saguamanchica | 1470 | 1490 | Died in theBattle of Chocontá |
 | Nemequene | 1490 | 1514 | Introduced the brutalNemequene Code |
 | Tisquesusa | 1514 | 1537 | Ruled when theSpanish arrived in Colombia |
 | Sagipa | 1537 | 1539 | Last southern Muisca ruler |
| Muisca rulers ofTundama,Sugamuxi andTurmequé | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image | Name | Start | End | Details |
| Tundama | -1539 | Last ruler ofTundama | ||
 | Sugamuxi | -1539 | Lastiraca ofSugamuxi | |
| Nompanim | Second-lastiraca of Sugamuxi | |||
| Diego de Torres y Moyachoque | 1571 | 1590 | Mestizocacique ofTurmequé | |
