Prehistory
Before the Inca conquest the region was populated by the Puruhas who were made up of different groups. According to historian Gonzalez Suarez there were a considerable number of mitimaes and puruhaes inhabiting the area. The Shyris from Quito were not able to overtake the region thanks to a marital alliance when Caran Shyri appointed his daughter Toa as legitimate heiress to the throne offering her to Duchicela, son and heir of Condorazo. From then, the Duchicela dynasty took the helm of the kingdom of Quito . The kings of Puruha were called Duchicelas. The Duchicelas also existed as leaders in Chimbo, Mochas, Hambatos, Tacungas and Sigchos.

The Inca Conquest

When Tupac-Yupanqui embarked on his conquest of these areas, Hualcopo Duchicela was the fourteenth Shyri and fiercely resisted the Cuzquenean offensive. His brother Epiclachima organised the troops but died heroically with 16 thousand Puruahes in the Battle of Tiocajas. Hualcopo named Calicuchima (oldest son of Epiclachima) head of the armed forces but his defence could not match that of the superior armed forces from Cuzco . First-born son Cacha succeeded Hualcopo after his death but was still defeated by Huayna-Capac’s troops. Cacha’s first-born daughter Princess Pacha was born on Puruha territory and therefore belonged to Puruha lineage. Pacha was proclaimed sovereign of Quito and heiress to the Shyris throne on the death of her father. From her union with Huayna-Capac, Atahualpa was born, the last of the Incas.

The Foundation of Santiago de Quito in Riobamba

On the 15 th of August 1534 the “magnificent Diego de Almagro, Mariscal de S. Majestad founded the city Santiago de Quito in Riobamba . Mayors and leaders were appointed and land was distributed among some Castilians. After a long anticipated agreement with Don Pedro de Alvarad, the foundation transferred to “the spot where the Indian town known as Quito had been” (Gonzalez Suarez). Mariscal don Diego de Almagro, therefore, virtually founded two cities, Quito and Riobamba , literally days apart.

Riobamba, the Sultaness

After its foundation, the town San Pedro de Riobamba was constructed and completed. In 1623 the “very noble and loyal” city of Riobamba was given a coat of arms. In 1745 Don Pedro Maldonado stated that Riobamba was actually better than a lot of towns in Spain . Father Juan de Velasco, another outstanding Riobambenian, elaborately described the city’s buildings, temples and plazas, which, unfortunately, on Saturday 4 th February 1797, just before 8am, were destroyed by a violent earthquake. Volcanoes Altar, Tungarahua and Quilotoa erupted causing a series of tragedies in the cities of Ambato and Latacunga. It is estimated that some 20 thousand people inhabited these provinces. The Riobambenians decided to reconstruct their city on the terrain where it lies today, extending along the Tani plateau, which, according to Gonzalez Suarez “is a splendid horizon, perhaps one of the most beautiful in the world, formed by snow-capped mountains and rolling hills”.

Independence and the First Constitution
Riobamba ’s independence was sealed by the glorious Battle of the 21 st April 1822, which was the prelude to the famous Battle of Pichincha on the 24 th May of the same year. The department of Ecuador was consequently incorporated into Gran Colombia with its three provinces: Pichincha, Imbabura and Chimborazo . The situation didn’t change until Gran Colombia dissolved on 13 th May 1830. Ecuador ’s First Constituent Congress was installed on the 14 th August 1830 in the Convent of the Dominican Fathers. This date is important because it signified Ecuador ’s transformation into a truly independent republic with its own government. The First Constitution was complied by a commission which included Fernandez Salvador, Manuel Matheu, Jose Joaquin Olmedo and Vicente Ramon Roca. Juan Jose Flores was appointed President of the New Republic and Liberator Simon Bolivar as the Father of the Patria.

Fernando Daquilema... King of Cacha

During the colonial period and the republican era there were a number of indigenous uprisings. One such rebellion was headed by Fernando Daquilema, native of Cacha, at the end of 1871 during the Garcian period. Incensed by the payment of tributes and exploitation, the inhabitants of the Cacha and Amula hills wanted to take revenge against an abusive leader, who they assassinated. Daquilema organised his people and embarked on offensive against Cajabamba. Suddenly the indigenous disbanded and Daquilema ordered the occupation of Punin by the rebels. The province’s governor arrived at Punin with reinforcements and retook Punin which was subsequently abandoned by the indigenous. The repression that followed was ruthless. Fernando Daquilema was put in prison, and along with other prisoners, was executed in Yaruquies Plaza on 8 th April 1872.

Last Updated 9th August 2006 (DLW)

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