Tecun Uman

     A nationally recognized hero, Tecun Uman was born and raised in Olintepeque, Guatemala, a small village just outside of Quetzaltenango. Tecun Uman was a famous leader of the K’iche’ Mayan nation nearly six hundred years ago in 1500. Today, Tecun Uman is most famous for his triumphant death at the hands of the Spanish in the Battle of El Pinal.

            Don Pedro de Alvarado y Contreras, a Spanish conquistador, had been sent on a mission to conquer the lands south of Mexico and claim them for Spain. For his mission, Alvarado was given around three hundred soldiers, one hundred archers and gunners, and one hundred and fifty horsemen, a total of nearly five hundred and fifty men. In 1524, Alvarado’s hard work looked like it was finally going to pay off.

            Early in the year of 1524, the Spanish discovered natives who are now thought to have been of Mayan origin and known as the K’iche’. These natives occupied an area of land in southern Mexico, the exact place the Spanish had intended to conquer. Alvarado wanted this land for himself and his country, so he allied himself and his five hundred soldiers with the Kaqchikel, bitter rivals of the K’iche’ nation. Alvarado hoped that the K’iche’ would heed the warnings of the messages Cortes had sent out asking the nation to surrender, but if they didn’t he knew that he would need help taking the kingdom of the K’iche’ by force.

            The K’iche’ nation denied the Spanish’s requests for them to surrender and silently prepared for battle, and with good reason for the Spanish soon arrived in Xelaju, a town now known as Quetzaltenango, just outside of Olintepeque. A messenger stationed at Xelaju sent word to Olintepeque, where the K’iche’ warriors were preparing for battle. When the K’iche’ got word of the Spanish’s arrival, they chose Tecun Uman, a young warrior from their village, as their commander against the Spanish troops.

            Though the Battle of El Pinal is a real historical event, there aren’t many records of what happened that day that the Spanish and K’iche’ met in battle. However, we are not clueless. Legend says that Tecun Uman entered battle adorned with quetzal feathers and a nahual, or spirit guide, which was also a quetzal. After many hours of fighting, the two leaders, Alvarado and Uman, met face to face in combat. Even though the reasons for this next action are not known or understood, it is said that Tengu Uman immediately struck Don Pedro de Alvarado’s horse, causing it to collapse to the ground. Alvarado quickly recovers and stabs Uman, killing him. The blood gushing from Uman chest was said to have stained the chest of the quetzal he wore around his neck a scarlet red, thus creating the scarlet-chested quetzal we see today.

            Legends and stories passed by word of mouth get fussy and blurry overtime but, undoubtedly, the K’iche’ lost the Batlle of El Pinal that day. However, it was not the chance for victory that made Tecun Uman famous. It was the way that he died so selflessly for his people. The acts of Tecun Uman are still remembered and celebrated on February 20 each year and they are likely to still be celebrated far into the future. 

Bibliography

"Tecun Uman Spanish School Antigua Guatemala - Who Is Tecun Uman."

Tecun Uman Spanish School. Web. 06 June 2011.

<http://www.tecunuman.centramerica.com/who_is_tecun_uman.htm> 

"Tecun Uman." 

Wikipedia-the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 06 June 2011

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tecun_Uman>