Belalcázar, moving northward into present day Colombia…
July 1536 CE
Belalcázar, moving northward into present day Colombia in search of El Dorado in 1535, had entered the Cauca River Valley, which is home to many indigenous tribes, mostly speakers of Cariban languages.
In the region between the Cauca River and the Western Cordillera, the Gorrones had established themselves between the present day Roldanillo and Santiago de Cali.
The biggest town of the Morrones is sited on the River Pescador near the present-day towns of Zarzal and Bugalagrande.
The Morrones trade with the Quimbayas, who inhabit the north of the Valle del Cauca.
Belalcázar first encounters the Timbas who run away before the arrival of the men, leaving behind their towns and gold.
After the Timbas, towards the north, the Spaniards enter the territory of the chief Jamundí and his tribe, the Jamundíes, between the rivers Pance and Jamundí.
This tribe offers a strong resistance to the invaders, fighting with poisonous darts and arrows against the arquebuses and swords of the Spaniards.
Eventually, the Spanish prevail in the struggle over the central valley.
Before taking complete control over the region, the Spaniards have to defeat the chief Petecuy, whose tribe inhabits the area between the river Lilí and the Western Cordillera.
Petecuy forms a large army with many tribes and fight the Spaniards on Holy Tuesday of 1536.
The natives lose to the Spaniards and are divided in encomiendas.
The future site of Santiago de Cali, first established a few kilometers north of the present location, near what are now the towns of Vijes and Riofrío, on July 25, 1536, is important for Belalcázar because it is outside the Inca empire.
After the capture and execution of the Inca Atahualpa at Cajamarca, Francisco Pizarro had sent Belalcázar to take possession of Guayaquil and Quito on his behalf, but the Cali region, being outside the Quechua empire, is claimed by Belalcazar as his own territory.
After his death, his descendants will maintain possession of much of the land until the war of independence against Spain.
Locations
People
Topics
Commodities
Subjects
Regions
South America
View →Subregions
