The Kaqchikel (also called Kachiquel) are one of the Indigenous Maya peoples of the midwestern highlands of Guatemala and of southern Mexico. They constitute Guatemala's third largest Maya group. The name was formerly spelled in various other ways, including Cakchiquel, Kakchiquel, Caqchikel, and Cachiquel.
A Kaqchikel family | |
Total population | |
---|---|
1,068,356 | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Guatemala (Sacatepéquez, Sololá) Mexico (Chiapas, Campeche) | |
Languages | |
Kaqchikel, Spanish | |
Religion | |
Catholic, Evangelical, Maya religion | |
Related ethnic groups | |
K'iche', Tzutujil |
Language
The Kaqchikel language, one of the Mayan languages from the Quichean branch, is spoken today by 400,000 people. It is closely related to the Tzutujil language.
Location
In Guatemala they live in the departments of Sololá, Chimaltenango, Sacatepéquez, Guatemala, Baja Verapaz Department, and Escuintla.
In Mexico, the Kaqchikel communities are located in the state of Chiapas, in the municipalities of Amatenango de la Frontera, Mazapa de Madero, Motozintla, Frontera Comalapa, El Porvenir and Villa Comatitlan, due to recent migrations, there are small Kaqchikel communities in the state of Campeche located in the municipalities of Campeche and Champotón.
History
In Postclassic Maya times the capital of the main branch of the Kaqchikel was Iximché. Like the neighboring K'iche' (Quiché), they were governed by four lords: Tzotzil, Xahil, Tucuché and Acajal, who were responsible for the administrative, military and religious affairs. The Kakchikel recorded their history in the book Annals of the Cakchiquels, also known as Memorial de Sololá.
The Chajoma were another Kaqchikel-speaking people; the ruins of Mixco Viejo have been identified as their capital.
Iximché was conquered by the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Alvarado in 1524. At that time, the Kaqchikel were the enemies of the neighbouring K'iche' Kingdom, and helped the Spaniards to conquer it. The first colonial capital of Guatemala, Tecpán Guatemala, was founded near Iximché on July 25, 1524. On November 22, 1527, after several Kaqchikel uprisings, the capital was moved to Ciudad Vieja, near Antigua Guatemala.
See also
- Our Elders Teach Us
References
- "Resultados Censo 2018" (PDF). Instituto Nacional de Estadistica Guatemala. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
- Baily, John (1850). Central America; Describing Each of the States of Guatemala, Honduras, Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. London: Trelawney Saunders. p. 83.
- Carlsen, Robert S. "Kaqchikel." In Davíd Carrasco (ed). The Oxford Encyclopedia of Mesoamerican Cultures. : Oxford University Press, 2001. ISBN 9780195188431
- "Atlas de los Pueblos Indígenas de México: Kaqchikeles – Lengua".
- "Atlas de los Pueblos Indígenas de México: Kaqchikeles – Localización".
- "The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Annals of the Cakchiquels, by Daniel G. Brinton". www.gutenberg.org. Retrieved 2018-02-07.
External links
- Media related to Kaqchikel at Wikimedia Commons
The Kaqchikel also called Kachiquel are one of the Indigenous Maya peoples of the midwestern highlands of Guatemala and of southern Mexico They constitute Guatemala s third largest Maya group The name was formerly spelled in various other ways including Cakchiquel Kakchiquel Caqchikel and Cachiquel Kaqchikel Cakchiquel A Kaqchikel familyTotal population1 068 356Regions with significant populations Guatemala Sacatepequez Solola Mexico Chiapas Campeche LanguagesKaqchikel SpanishReligionCatholic Evangelical Maya religionRelated ethnic groupsK iche TzutujilLanguageThe Kaqchikel language one of the Mayan languages from the Quichean branch is spoken today by 400 000 people It is closely related to the Tzutujil language LocationIn Guatemala they live in the departments of Solola Chimaltenango Sacatepequez Guatemala Baja Verapaz Department and Escuintla In Mexico the Kaqchikel communities are located in the state of Chiapas in the municipalities of Amatenango de la Frontera Mazapa de Madero Motozintla Frontera Comalapa El Porvenir and Villa Comatitlan due to recent migrations there are small Kaqchikel communities in the state of Campeche located in the municipalities of Campeche and Champoton HistoryIn Postclassic Maya times the capital of the main branch of the Kaqchikel was Iximche Like the neighboring K iche Quiche they were governed by four lords Tzotzil Xahil Tucuche and Acajal who were responsible for the administrative military and religious affairs The Kakchikel recorded their history in the book Annals of the Cakchiquels also known as Memorial de Solola The Chajoma were another Kaqchikel speaking people the ruins of Mixco Viejo have been identified as their capital Iximche was conquered by the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Alvarado in 1524 At that time the Kaqchikel were the enemies of the neighbouring K iche Kingdom and helped the Spaniards to conquer it The first colonial capital of Guatemala Tecpan Guatemala was founded near Iximche on July 25 1524 On November 22 1527 after several Kaqchikel uprisings the capital was moved to Ciudad Vieja near Antigua Guatemala See alsoOur Elders Teach UsReferences Resultados Censo 2018 PDF Instituto Nacional de Estadistica Guatemala Retrieved 9 May 2020 Baily John 1850 Central America Describing Each of the States of Guatemala Honduras Salvador Nicaragua and Costa Rica London Trelawney Saunders p 83 Carlsen Robert S Kaqchikel In David Carrasco ed The Oxford Encyclopedia of Mesoamerican Cultures Oxford University Press 2001 ISBN 9780195188431 Atlas de los Pueblos Indigenas de Mexico Kaqchikeles Lengua Atlas de los Pueblos Indigenas de Mexico Kaqchikeles Localizacion The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Annals of the Cakchiquels by Daniel G Brinton www gutenberg org Retrieved 2018 02 07 External linksMedia related to Kaqchikel at Wikimedia Commons This Guatemala related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte This article relating to the Indigenous peoples of North America is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte