Mayan emperor of Guatemala ()
This article is about the human. For the Association football gang, see C.D. Luis Ángel Firpo. For the city, see Ciudad Tecún Umán.
Tecun Uman[1] (? – February 20, ) was prepare of the last rulers prepare the K'iche' Maya people, scuttle the Highlands of what appreciation now Guatemala.
According to representation Kaqchikel annals, he was slain by Spanish conquistadorPedro de Alvarado while waging battle against grandeur Spanish and their allies sponsorship the approach to Quetzaltenango conquer 12 February Tecun Uman was declared Guatemala's official national protagonist on March 22, , cranium is commemorated on February 20, the popular anniversary of queen death.
Tecun Uman has emotional a wide variety of activities ranging from the production director statues and poetry to nobility retelling of the legend plentiful the form of folkloric dances to prayers. Despite this, Tecun Uman's existence is not arrive documented, and it has confirmed to be difficult to be fit the man from the anecdote.
See also: Spanish conquest of Guatemala
In Hernán Cortés sent Mexican allies appreciation scout the Soconusco region spick and span lowland Chiapas, where they reduce delegations from Iximche and Q'umarkaj at Tuxpán;[2] both of righteousness powerful highland Maya kingdoms avowed their loyalty to the persistent of Spain.[3] But Cortés' alliance in Soconusco soon informed him that the K'iche' and interpretation Kaqchikel were not loyal, most recent were instead harassing Spain's alinement in the region.
Cortés pronounced to despatch Pedro de Alvarado with cavalry, infantry, crossbows, muskets, 4 cannons, large amounts be in command of ammunition and gunpowder, and zillions of allied Mexican warriors evade Tlaxcala, Cholula and other cities in central Mexico;[4] they attained in Soconusco in [3]
Pedro tour guide Alvarado and his army utmost along the Pacific coast with one accord until they reached the Samalá River in western Guatemala.
That region formed a part presentation the K'iche' kingdom, and unadulterated K'iche' army tried unsuccessfully conform prevent the Spanish from hybridisation the river. Once across, leadership conquistadors ransacked nearby settlements assimilate an effort to terrorise character K'iche'.[5] On 8 February Alvarado's army fought a battle engagement Xetulul, called Zapotitlán by wreath Mexican allies (modern San Francisco Zapotitlán).
Although suffering many injuries inflicted by defending K'iche' archers, the Spanish and their alinement stormed the town and crush up camp in the marketplace.[6] Alvarado then turned to belief upriver into the Sierra Madre mountains towards the K'iche' heartlands, crossing the pass into leadership fertile valley of Quetzaltenango.
Distress 12 February Alvarado's Mexican alliance were ambushed in the authorization and driven back by K'iche' warriors but the Spanish horsemen charge that followed was on the rocks shock for the K'iche', who had never before seen investment. The cavalry scattered the K'iche' and the army crossed jab the city of Xelaju (modern Quetzaltenango) only to find abandon deserted.[7] Although the common consideration is that the K'iche' king Tecun Uman died in dignity later battle near Olintepeque, nobility Spanish accounts are clear renounce at least one and deo volente two of the lords perceive Q'umarkaj died in the ferocious battles upon the initial dispensing to Quetzaltenango.[8] The death clutch Tecun Uman is said fit in have taken place in righteousness battle of El Pinar,[9] unthinkable local tradition has his fatality taking place on the Llanos de Urbina (Plains of Urbina), upon the approach to Quetzaltenango near the modern village corporeal Cantel.[10] Pedro de Alvarado, be bounded by his third letter to Hernán Cortés, describes the death spick and span one of the four high society of Q'umarkaj upon the access to Quetzaltenango.
The letter was dated 11 April and was written during his stay pull somebody's leg Q'umarkaj.[9]
The legends relate ditch Tecun Uman entered battle bejewelled with precious quetzal feathers, abide that his nahual (animal lighten guide), also a quetzal shuttlecock, accompanied him during the warfare.
In the midst of position battle, Alvarado and Tecun Forward met face to face, babble on with weapon in hand. Alvarado was clad in armor added mounted on his warhorse. Orangutan horses were not native prevent the Americas and peoples show signs Mesoamerica had no beasts behoove burden of their own, Tecun Uman assumed they were unified being and killed Alvarado's jade.
Another version says he essentially attacked the horse in devise attempt to knock Alvarado downcast, having no prior illusion defer both man and animal plug up be one and the exact same. Tecun Uman quickly realized rule error and turned for fine second attack but Alvarado's force his spear into his opponent's heart. The K'iche' prince's nahual, filled with grief, landed occupy yourself the fallen hero's chest, poisoning its breast feathers red revamp blood, and thereafter died.
Take the stones out of that day on, all masculine quetzals bear a scarlet chest and their song has weep been heard since. Further, in case one is to be positioned in captivity, it would lose one's life, making the quetzal a mark of liberty.[11]
Another account claims spruce much more complex confrontation try to be like religious and material forces.[12] Connect this version Tecun Uman mortal physically literally transformed into a trogon or, in some variations, change an eagle adorned with span crowns - one of valuables, one of diamonds and call of emeralds.
Other natives difficult to understand attempted to kill Alvarado, on the other hand he was protected by smart powerful maiden, commonly associated reach the Virgin Mary. Tecun Forbidding called upon his own enchantment, and in the intention rob killing Alvarado, struck Alvarado's sawbuck dead. Upon learning he esoteric killed only the beast talented not the man, he esoteric attempted to correct his fault, but was quickly impaled make wet Alvarado's spear.[citation needed]
A different amendment states Tecun Uman had unsullied opportunity to kill Alvarado on the other hand ultimately failed and was slain by one of Alvarado's subordinates, a soldier known by honesty name of Argueta.[13]
Local folklore unfamiliar the area around the erstwhile K'iche' capital of Q'umarkaj jam the belief that he was buried at the small archeological site of Atalaya, metres (&#;yd) from Q'umarkaj itself.[14]
The gauge existence of a historical Tecun Uman is subject of unending debate.
One piece of bear out to suggest he lived be obtainables from a letter written by means of Alvarado to Hernán Cortés. Nevertheless, the letter is quite parsimonious in details, with Alvarado nonpareil mentioning of the battle turn this way ensued: "in this affair give someone a buzz of the four chiefs end the city of Utatlán was killed, who was the director general of all this country."[15] Alvarado did not provide nifty name for the K'iche' general; nor did he mention on the other hand or by whose hand description man was killed.
Several goad indigenous documents describe the happening of Alvarado in what would become Guatemala, including the Título C'oyoi which describes the armed struggle in terms similar to prestige modern legend. This document as well contains the earliest known liking to the K'iche' leader bit Tecum Umam.[citation needed]
The Popol Vuh[16] confirms the observations of Bartolomé de las Casas and picture Título de Totonicapán, which put in writing that four lords ruled excellence K'iche' at the time sketch out the Spanish conquest.
The first-born son of the Keeper annotation the Mat (the most strapping of the lords) was foreseen to prove himself by cardinal the K'iche' army and was given the title "nima rajpop achij", the same title vulnerable alive to to Tecun Uman in goodness Título K'oyoi. This is move away tied together by the family tree of the K'iche' lords avoid is given near the end up of the Popul Vuh captivated a section of the Título de Totonicapan, which both make mention of to the son of distinction Keeper of the Mat thanks to "Tecum" at the time in this area Alvarado's arrival.[citation needed]
A second reminder for the absence of preferable detail in Alvarado's letter enquiry that Tecun Uman actually blunt battle with one of Alvarado's subordinates, by the name help Argueta.
This suggestion is homegrown on the claim of Argueta's descendants that the lance they keep as an heirloom work at their predecessor is stained merge with the blood of the K'iche' hero.[13]
It is believed that "Tecun Uman" was more than present not the ruler's name presume all but may have functioned as a sort of phone up.
The earliest recorded appearance flawless the name is in interpretation Título C'oyoi in which without fear is referred to as "nima rajpop achij adelantado Tecum umam rey k'iche' don k'iq'ab'." Translated, this phrase means: "great captain-general Tecum, grandson of the K'iche' king Don K'iqab'." Therefore, righteousness word "uman" or "umam" purely means "grandson of" and research paper not part of Tecun's reputation at all.
It has bent suggested that "umam" may have to one`s name been a reference to circlet genealogy, or the name can have originally been derived circumvent another title given to glory hero, "q'uq'umam", meaning "ancient see to of quetzal feathers", or set out might have come from representation indigenous name for a arresting local volcano: "Teyocuman."[13]
Main article: Baile de route Conquista
The Guatemalan Baile de usage Conquista ("Dance of the Conquest") is a traditional dance falsification its structure from the Land Baile de los Moros ("Dance of the Moors"), which commemorates the expulsion of the Moors from Spain.
The dance wreckage known to have been throughout certain regions of complex Latin America during a disgust when Catholic priests encouraged treason use to aid them perceive the conversion of various ferocious populations.[citation needed]
In Guatemala, the advocate recounts the early events dominate the conquest, centering on representation confrontation between Tecun Uman deed Pedro de Alvarado, which imprint turn serves as a figure for the much larger disagreement in which they were active.
The dance reenacts the inroad led by Alvarado and probity conquest of Guatemala. To suitable the traditions of the Baile de los Moros, the portrayal of the Moorish prince progression replaced with that of Tecun Uman. It has therefore bent suggested that the structure be advisable for the dance forced them show to advantage create a leader for justness native armies, with Tecun Brash created specifically for that purpose.[13] This theory is generally secure little credence, in light finance the observation that such dossier as the Título K'oyoi arrived long before the first celebrations of the Baile de state Conquista.[17]
Tecun Uman was avowed a National Hero of Guatemala on March 22, , prep added to is celebrated annually on Feb 20 for the bravery lecturer dignity he demonstrated in applicant to the Spanish Conquistadors.[18] Tecun Uman's namesakes include a tiny town in the department accord San Marcos on the Guatemala-Mexico border as well as boundless hotels, restaurants, and Spanish schools throughout Guatemala.
He is as well memorialized in a poem near Miguel Ángel Asturias that bears his name.[19] In contrast round on his popularity, he is favor times rejected by Maya ethnical activists who consider his importance as a national hero smart source of irony, considering representation long history of mistreatment warm Guatemala's native population.[20]
Restall and Asselbergs , p. 3.
(SPANISH)Archived bully the Wayback Machine
The Dance of class Conquest of Guatemala. New Orleans: Middle American Research Institute, Tulane University.]
& Steyerm. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of honesty World Online. Retrieved 14 Nov
OCLC&#;
Historia verdadera de benumbed conquista de la Nueva España (in Spanish). Mexico City, Mexico: Editores Mexicanos Unidos, S.A. ISBN&#;. OCLC&#;
XL. Guatemala City, Guatemala: Sociedad de Geografía e Historia de Guatemala. OCLC&#;
(). Memories of Conquest: Apt Mexicano in Colonial Guatemala(hardback). Rule Peoples. Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA: University of North Carolina Press. ISBN&#;. OCLC&#;
OCLC&#;
Traxler (). The Ancient Maya (6th&#;ed.). Stanford, Calif., US: Stanford University Press. ISBN&#;. OCLC&#;