Historical
Summary
Before
the invasion
of the Incas,
the provinces
of Azuay and
Canar were
inhabited
by the Canaris,
a population
which developed
and advanced
considerably.
According
to archaeologists,
the Canaris
actually occupied
more territory
than just
the two provinces
of Azuay and
Canar, extending
to parts of
Guayas, Chimborazo
and Loja.
Inca
Tupac-Yupanqui
initiated
the conquest
of Canari
territory.
These tribes
put up a fierce
resistance,
at one point
the Incas
had to withdraw
from Saraguro
andwere forced
to request
reinforcements
from Cusco.
Thanks
to the political
ability of
the Incas
in establishing
alliances
with the Canaris,
a peace treaty
was reached.
However,
the Canaris
still managed
to conserve
a degree of
autonomy and
freedom for
themselves.
The Canaris
later allied
themselves
with the Cuzco
imperialists
and collaborated
in the Inca
advance towards
the north.
The
Origin of
the Canaris
The
word 'Canari'
comes from
Kan=culebra
(snake) and
Ara=Guacamaya
(macaw).
For some linguists,
therefore,
the name signifies
'descendents
of the snake
and macaw'.
These animals
were considered
sacred and
there are
a number of
legends demonstrating
this.
Within the
huge Canari
family, there
were many
smaller groups,
each with
their own
cultures.
For instance,
the Peleusis
tribe located
in the city
currently
known as Azogues,
who exercised
hegemony over
neighbouring
tribes.
According
to ancient
legend, the
hegemony of
the Peleusis
tribe was
established
by local political
bosses Tenemaza
and Carchipulla,
surnames which
still exist
in the province
today.
Azogues
The
territory
occupied by
the Canaris
was rich in
minerals (gold,
mercury and
silver) and
limestone.
The Spanish
conquerors
knew about
this and went
to discover
for themselves,
illiciting
information
from the inhabitants
who manufactured
metal products,
such as those
that can be
observed today
in the Ingapirca
museum.
The Spanish
apparently
discovered
a mine in
Azogues near
to the province's
current capital
when Gil Ramirez
Davalos was
governor of
Quito.
A work camp
was set up
by the Spanish
to exploit
the mine,
for this reason
the name 'Azogues'
was given
to the region,
'azogue' meaning
mercury.
In
1582 a priest
called Fray
Gaspar Gallegos
lived in Azogues
who was the
first to spread
the word that,
in the region
there existed
'grand and
magnificent
buildings'.
The full name
as given to
the town by
the Spanish
was 'San Francisco
de Peleusi
de Azogues'.
In
1809, after
the first
cries of independence
on 10th August,
the region
of Azoguez,
along with
Cuenca, Canar
and Biblian
joined the
Patriotic
Front of Quito
(Junta Patriotica
de Quito).
In 1812, the
region's patriots
defeated the
realists in
the Battle
of Cazhicay.
Last Updated
2nd August
2006 (DLW)
