Prehistory
of Imbabura
The
province’s
prehistory
mainly revolves
around different
tribes which
inhabited
the area:
the Imbayas,
Cayambis and
Otavalos.
The latter
were dominated
by the Caras,
a civilisation
which arrived
in Ecuador
via Esmeraldas.
These tribes
contributed
to the birth
of the Caranqui
culture. The
Inca conquest
came shortly
after, instigated
by Tupac-Yupanqui,
and continued
by Huayna-Capac
to whom Cacha
(Shiry XV)
put up fierce
resistance
in the northern
fortresses
(Cochasqui,
Guachala y
Pesillo).
One of the
chief leaders
of the resistance
against the
Cuzco offensive
was Regulo
de Cayambi:
Nasacota Puento.
Eventually Cacha
was destroyed
in the Battle
of Atuntaqui
in which more
than 12 thousand
men perished.
Paccha, daughter
of Cacha was
proclaimed heiress
to the throne
by the Carangues
who then proceeded
to attack the
Cuzquenos, surprising
them whilst
they were sleeping,
however, the
Cuzquenos retaliated
and pursued
the Carangues
to Yaguarcocha
where they were
eventually defeated.
Conquest
and Foundation
“Imbabura
and its regions
were discovered
in 1534, around
the same time
that Benalcazar
occupied the
territory
marching towards
the north
in search
of treasure;
the conquest
took place
afterwards.”
(Monograph
of Ibarra)
“The Spanish
founded Otavalo
and Caranqui
with luck as
up until the
first years
of the seventeenth
century they
found many towns
with mainly
indigenous populations
between Quito
and Pasto and
experimented
with the need
to found a town
of Spanish people”
(Gonsalez Suarez).
In the year
1600 a Vizcayan
named Don Miguel
de Ibarra became
president of
Quito who, on
the 19th September
1606 founded
the town called
San Miguel de
Ibarra. The
town was to
be given full
control of its
civil and criminal
jurisdiction.
Independence
After
the defeat
of the Spanish
troops commanded
by Aymerich
in the Battle
of Pichincha
(24 th May
1822) Liberator
Simon Bolivar
who was staying
in the hacienda
"El Garzal"
in Los Rios
received the
news that
a realist
uprising had
taken place
in Pasto which
was threatening
to extend
to Quito,
commanded
by Colonel
Agustin Agualongo
who had succeeded
in defeating
Colonel Juan
Jose Flores.
Bolivar started
a 7-day campaign
to crush the
rebellion.
On 17 th July
1823 after
a bloody battle
Agualongo’s
troops were
annihilated,
Ibarra therefore
has the honour
of boasting
the fact that
the Liberator
himself led
a victorious
battle on
the town’s
territory.
The
Earthquake
of Ibarra
At
1am on the
16 th of August
1868 the city
of Ibarra
and other
small towns
and villages
were buried
under a mountain
of rubble
as a result
of a violent
earthquake
that took
place in the
area. Espinosa
was president
of Ecuador
at this time
and named
Garcia Moreno
civil and
military chief
of Ibarra.
‘It was Garcia
Moreno’s organisational
skills and
energy that
were expressed
like on no
other occasion’,according
to historian
Alfredo Pareja.
Survivors
of the earthquake
emigrated
to other towns
and provinces
and some stayed
in La Esperanza.
Four years
later (1872)
the reconstruction
of the city
was ordered
in the same
place and
in April of
the same year
the new city
of Ibarra
was inaugurated.
Otavalo
During
the colonial
era the then
'Corregimiento
de Otavalo'
formed part
of the Real
Audiencia
de Quito,
before the
founding of
Ibarra. Since
ancient times
Indians from
Otavalo have
enjoyed the
reputation
of being expert
knitters and
weavers.
The Otavaleno
community
is the community
which has
made most
headway in
maintaining
its own physiognomy.
Otavalo is
composed of
the communities
of Agato,
San Jose de
la Bolsa,
Peguche, Selva
Alegre, Quinchuqui,
Costama and
Iluman. The
principle
characteristic
of Otavalo
is its commercial
initiative
which has
succeeded
in cracking
markets outside
of the town
and even on
an international
level.
Otavalenean
women take
a lot of pride
in their appearance,
especially
with clothes.
Rich and poor
use the same
traditional
dress. The
only difference
is in the
quality. Rich
and poor also
live in the
same houses
and dedicate
themselves
to the same
line of work.
Folklore
and culture
in Otavalo
is among the
richest in
the country;
this is manifested
in festivals
such as San
Luis (1 and
4 May), )
San Luis Obispo
(15 to 22
August) San
Miguel, San
Juanes (24/29
July) and
Yamor (1 to
8 September).
Last Updated
14th August
2006 (DLW)
