Atlas of Battles

battle, early modern

Battle of Tocarema

Battle of Tocarema was a battle fought on 20 August 1538 at Cachipay, Cundinamarca, in what is now Colombia. It was part of the Spanish conquest of the Muisca. The recorded result: Spanish and Muisca victory. Recorded strength: 50-100 Spanish; 4,000-20,000 guecha against unknown.

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Muisca Confederation Map; Zaque, Zipa, and Independent territory labeled
Muisca Confederation Map; Zaque, Zipa, and Independent territory labeled. Popayan1210, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought20 August 1538
WhereCachipay, Cundinamarca, Colombia4.751N, 74.435W
OutcomeSpanish and Muisca victory
BelligerentsSpanish conquistadors; Zipazgo of the southern MuiscaagainstCaciques of the Panche
Casualties and lossesFatalities: ~100 guecha; Wounded: many Muisca; ~30 Spanishandunknown
Part ofSpanish conquest of the Muisca

Record

Date20 August 1538
PlaceCachipay, Cundinamarca, Colombia
4.751N, 74.435W
KindBattle, early modern
Territorial changePanche partially submitted to Spanish colonial reign
Strength50-100 Spanish; 4,000-20,000 guechaunknown
Casualties and lossesFatalities: ~100 guecha; Wounded: many Muisca; ~30 Spanishunknown
Commanders
  • Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada
  • Juan de Sanct Martín
  • Juan de Céspedes Ruiz
  • Pedro Fernández de Valenzuela (conquistador)
  • Sagipa
Battle of TocaremaBattle of Tocarema1980 Dominican Embassy Siege in BogotáSiege of BogotáBattle of PascaBattle of ChocontáBattle of Boyacá1980 Dominican Embassy Siege in BogotáSiege of BogotáBattle of PascaBattle of ChocontáBattle of BoyacáManizalesIbaguéVillavicencioPereiraArmeniaTunjaDuitamaChiquinquirá100 km4.751N, 74.435W
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

Elsewhere in 1538

Battle of Tocarema is one of 1,390 engagements of the 16th century in the atlas and one of 42 in present-day Colombia.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q5723054, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Tocarema, revision 1379976229, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.