FERNANDO DAQUILEMA: BIOGRAPHY AND WORKS - HISTORY - 2025

Fernando Daquilema (1848-1872) was an Ecuadorian remembered for having been the leader of one of the most important indigenous uprisings, which is why he is currently considered a hero of the nation. His fight was aimed at obtaining equal treatment and more honest and better paid jobs for his people, mistreated and forced to pay high taxes.

With an introspective and silent character, typical of those who live in the cold mountains and icy peaks of Ecuador, Fernando Daquilema was elected as leader and representative of the people of Cacha on December 18, 1871.

At the beginning of the process, Daquilema did not see himself as the one to lead the indigenous rebellion; however, he had strong courage and determination, which led to him being elected by the people.

From a young age, Fernando had witnessed the inhuman behavior with which his people were treated; The young indigenous man was even forced to see how his father and the rest of the employees of his community were flogged at the Tungurahuilla farm, since he lived there.

In other words, Daquilema was aware of the constant humiliation suffered by the indigenous people and the little pay they received in exchange for arduous work for several days in a row, without obtaining a relevant remuneration for working without rest.

At that time, if indigenous employees refused to carry out their work, they were punished by being sent to prison, without having any law to protect them.

Due to this, Daquilema decided to take the reins of his community, accepting the position of leader and becoming a symbol of freedom and admiration for the oppressed.

Biography

Fernando Daquilema was born on June 5, 1848 in Kera Ayllu. His parents were Ignacio Daquilema and María Ruiz, descendants of the Puruhá Indians.

Ignacio worked on the Tungurahuilla farm, which resulted in his son Fernando experiencing first-hand the mistreatment exercised by the foremen and landowners of his town.

According to the researchers, the old surname "Daquilema" has its origins in one of the oldest and noblest families in Ecuadorian territory.

It is an immemorial family that lived in the towns of Lincán, Cachabamba, Cacha, Punín, Yaruquíes, Cajabamba and Sicalpa, which is now known as the province of Chimborazo.

Role within your community

Due to his possible noble ancestry, years later Fernando Daquilema was decorated as king within his community; This happened at the moment when he led the first act of rebellion against the authority of the government.

Fernando married Martina Lozano; however, no information has been found on the offspring of this leader.

During the 1860s there was an overexploitation of the indigenous people, which implied a drastic decrease in the native population and an excessive increase in the payment of the tithe.

The Daquilema community, located in Yaruquíes under the jurisdiction of Riobamba, was one of the most affected by these alienating measures. For this reason, Fernando decided to participate in the indigenous uprisings and was chosen as the leader of the rebellion by his own people.

Background to the uprising

When Gabriel García Moreno assumed the presidency, he decided to implement an ambitious project to modernize Ecuador, which should focus mainly on the production of cocoa and other foods based on the international capitalist system.

In order to meet his objectives, Moreno had to articulate the different Ecuadorian economic regions, which would thus facilitate the construction of a national market.

Although at first it seemed a sustainable idea, García validated his project through the exploitation of the indigenous sector, which later cost him dearly.

García managed to control the market by destroying the small agricultural and artisanal production of indigenous communities, forcing the sector to work for large companies and thus incorporating it into ranch production under severe and inhumane conditions.

Time of lifting

In 1872 the tithe came to the indigenous community to collect, as usual, a large sum from the native inhabitants.

The people, who had endured enough abuse, decided to rise to command of Daquilema. It was then that they knocked the tithe off the mule and decided to torture him, letting themselves be carried away by collective anger and a thirst for revenge.

President García Moreno, who was a faithful friend of order and control, did not hesitate to exercise total repression against the rebellious indigenous peoples. Despite this, the native society of Ecuador - coming from various parts of the region - multiplied along with the uprisings.

More than two thousand indigenous people gathered to follow in the footsteps of Fernando Daquilema, who, in an act full of adrenaline and exacerbation, was awarded a scarlet cloak and the metal crown corresponding to the statue of San José, which was in the small Plaza de la Virgen del Rosario in Cacha. The aim was to proclaim Daquilema as their king.

Similarly, the Indian Juan Manzano gave Daquilema a whip made of chonta wood, on which Rumiñahui's rings were engraved, symbolizing justice.

At that time Fernando appointed José Morocho as head of the rebel army, entrusting him with the task of forming a cavalry of 300 men.

Daquilema decided to send ambassadors to the different communities to carry the message of the rebellion, in order to convince them to join his troops and swear obedience to him.

First attacks

They selected a hut on the top of the mountain as the house of the provisional government; this was furnished with artifacts expropriated from the church. That night, the rebels were agitated preparing the attack.

On Tuesday the 19th the indigenous rebellion attacked the parish of Yaruquí. However, the troops had to withdraw thanks to the presence of the soldiers who had arrived from Riobamba; therefore, Daquilema's men had to rearrange themselves in order to continue the battle.

This readjustment of its warriors was precisely what allowed the indigenous community to obtain victory on this occasion.

After this the rebel group attacked Sicalpa, where they assassinated the head of the government army. The fierceness of Fernando's men allowed them to take this place, as well as the towns of Punín. Within this fight, an indigenous warrior known as Manuela León stood out.

This woman worked hand in hand with Fernando Daquilema, leading actions in defense of the rights of her people and against the strong oppression of the García Moreno government. As a result of her actions, she was shot on January 8 during the year of the uprising.

Surrender and execution of the leaders

Despite initial successes, government contingents from Riobamba and Ambato began to arrive in large numbers. Taking advantage of native superstitions, the president's men made the natives believe that they would be punished by Saint Sebastian.

This managed to alarm the rebels, who thought that the saint had already begun to punish the members of the rebellion due to the notable number of deaths during the battle. Thanks to this, little by little the indigenous people were deserting, until on December 27 they decided to surrender.

On January 8, Manuela León, along with Juan Manzano, were shot in front of his people, who had been forced by the government to witness the ceremony in order to teach them a lesson in obedience. As for Daquilema, he was taken to Riobamba prison, where he was given a special trial and sentenced to death.

Fernando Daquilema lived in prison until April 8, 1872, when his execution was carried out. Despite the assassination of this leader, the indigenous uprisings did not stop; on the contrary, they continued to demonstrate with greater determination.

Plays

Using his noble surname and the prestige of his family, at the age of 26 Fernando Daquilema had the ability to rally a remarkable number of indigenous people to rise up against the whites, who wanted to maintain the hegemony that had been established in Ecuador. at the time of the Spanish conquest.

Daquilema managed to conglomerate 3,000 armed indigenous men, despite the fear felt by most of the indigenous communities in the face of the whip of President García's authorities.

This indigenous hero is remembered for being one of the first Ecuadorian workers of the 19th century to stand up against injustices in his search for equality.

Daquilema's work focused on the collective well-being of those sectors of the Ecuadorian population that were outside the law and did not have any type of protection.

In other words, his behavior was of a social nature and, for this reason, today he is considered one of the most important characters in the history of Ecuador.

References

1. Guartambel, C. (2006) Indigenous Justice. Retrieved on December 9, 2018 from Google Books: books.google.com
2. López, L. (sf) Ethnogenesis and Andean rebellion the uprising of Fernando Daquilema in the province of chimborazo in 1871. Retrieved on December 9, 2018 from Digital CSIC: digital.csic.es
3. Lucas, K. (2000) The Rebellion of the Indians. Retrieved on December 9, 2018 from Digital Repository: digitalrepository.unm.edu
4. Pérez, R. (sf) Fernando Daquilema. Retrieved on December 9, 2018 from Culture in Ecuador: culturaenecuador.org
5. Simbaña, F. (2013) Plurinationality and Collective Rights. Retrieved on December 9, 2018 from Bibioteca Clacso: library.clacso.edu.ar