Guachichils

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Settlement areas of the Chichimecs

The warlike guachichils or huachichils were a subgroup of the Chichimecs in the highlands of Mexico . Parts of the present-day states of Zacatecas , San Luis Potosí and Jalisco belonged to their tribal area .

Tribal groups

The various nomadic tribes ( Negritos, Macolias, Samúes, Maticoyas, Alaquines, Capiojes, Machipaniquanes, Leemagues, Mascorros, Caisanes, Coyotes, Guanchenis, Guenacapiles, Alpañales, Pisones, Cauicuiles, Alacazauis, Guazancores and Chanales ) roamed the non-state-organized Guachichilen the areas about 200 to 400 km north of the high valley of Mexico.

history

The guachichils came into contact with the Spanish conquistadors and colonizers only in the second half of the 16th century . Because of the numerous, never-ending battles, the Spaniards settled their Indian auxiliaries (especially Tlaxcalteks ) in the area of ​​the guachichiles (see Pinos (Zacatecas) ).

Warfare

Spanish sources report that the guachichiles never faced the enemy in open field battle, but preferred gang-style guerrilla tactics. This made them - despite their simple weapons (bows and arrows, lance sticks, wooden clubs studded with obsidian or stone splinters) - difficult to predict and defeat. When fighting, they dyed their face and hair red. Often they attacked the silver transports heading for Mexico City from the mines around Guanajuato , San Luis Potosí , Zacatecas and Fresnillo (see Camino Real de Tierra Adentro ). In the years between 1550 and 1590 they were involved in the so-called Chichimek War (Guerra Chichimeca) . It was not until the second half of the 17th century that the coexistence between Spaniards and Guachichils became more bearable for both sides.

religion

The guachichils knew neither cult images nor altars or even temples ; they looked up to the sky, watched the stars, and feared lightning and thunder. In the second half of the 16th century, the Franciscans established several mission stations and gradually converted the guachichils to Christianity .

Quote

The Franciscan monk Juan Bautista de Mollinedo († 1628) wrote the following short note:

"In the mountains across from the Xaumave, the Indians of the Chichimeks from the Negrillos tribe lived - wild individuals who ran around completely naked and ate each other when there was a lack of food and because of the inadequate food sources."

literature

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