Diego de Torres y Moyachoque
Diego de Torre(s) y Moyachoque (1549 in Tunja, New Kingdom of Granada – 4 April 1590 in Madrid, Spain) was cacique of Turmequé, in the New Kingdom of Granada. He served as chief from 1571 to his death. De Torres y Moyachoque was a mestizo, the child of a Spanish conquistador and a Muisca noble. He is known for his defense of the local Muisca and resistance against the Spanish encomenderos, particularly his half-brother Pedro de Torres. De Torres y Moyachoque is also known as the first cartographer of the lands surrounding the capital of the New Kingdom of Granada, Santa Fe de Bogotá.
Diego de Torres y Moyachoque | |
|---|---|
| cacique | |
Monument of Diego de Torres located at Turmequé's main square. | |
| Reign | 1571–1590 |
| Predecessor | Maternal uncle; Moyachoque |
| Born | 1549 Tunja, New Kingdom of Granada |
| Died | 4 April 1590 (aged 40–41) Madrid, Crown of Spain |
| Queen | Juana de Oropesa |
| Issue | Beatriz de Torre(s) y Moyachoque (sister) Pedro de Torre(s) (half-brother) María de Herrezuelo (half-sister) |
| Father | Juan de Torre(s) |
| Mother | Catalina Moyachoque |
| Memorials | Main square of Turmequé |
De Torres y Moyachoque traveled twice to Spain, first in 1575-1577 and the second journey in the 1580s, where he presented complaints about the mistreatment of the Muisca by the Spanish settlers to the Spanish King Felipe II. After this travel, he stayed, married, and died in Madrid on April 4, 1590.