"The Maya Lenca Principality".
The Maya Lenca Principality was a principality formed around 900 BC in a region of what is now El Salvador. The crown prince is currently in exile.
Managuara (Enchanted Valley) is situated to the south east of La Union El Salvador. The early rulers of this land administered the city states in the vicinity of their family royal precinct and the northern regions. The oral tradition tells of an uninterrupted Lenca line of descent that began with Balam Colop and his tribe which is mentioned in the Popol Vuh, one of the few surviving pre-Columbian books of the Americas. He obtained the Lordship of the Jaguar People and was the receiver of their language at the time that God became languages, in a sacred mountain. The acquisition of a language was of great significance because according to oral tradition each tribe carried a part of god in the form of language thus legitimising his divine rule.
The family obtained a substantial possession within the territory of the southern most point of Mesoamerica.The importance of his rule was demonstrated by erecting sacred settlements such as a rock shelter known as Corinto Cave and later cities such as Kelepa.
Lenca is the name given to a Mesoamerican ethnic group linked to the Maya culture. They have ruled several areas of what is now Honduras and El Salvador. During the Spanish invasion, the Lencas of the eastern region of El Salvador organized a war of resistance that lasted about ten years, ending with the death of the cacique Lempira. Nevertheless, the Lenca dynasty did not abdicate and its lineage can be traced back to ancient times through the oral tradition. The Lenca dynasty of El Salvador is active and has several cultural programs with cultural entities, universities and community councils to preserve and promote their heritage. Their Crown Prince resides in exile.'''
These were the Eagle People and they mixed in marriages with the Lencas, thus the royal family divided into three main lines, the Managuara, the Cacaguatique Sesoli and the Uxulvotan know known as Usulutan.
Together they established the city states of Anamoros, Arambala,Araute,Arcatao, Cacahuatique, Canaire, Cancasque, Conchagua, Curaren, Chapeltique,Chilanga, Chirilagua, Chocoaique, Ereuayquin, Gotera, Gualama, Gualcho, Guancora, Guatajiagua, Guarrapuca, Guaymetique, Guaripe, Intipuca,Jiquilisco, Joateca, Jocoaitique, Jocomontique, Jocoro, Jucuaran, Camauayquin, Lislique, Lolotique, Manaquil, Maquigua, Meanguera, Moncagua, Monteca, Muyukakin, Niqueresque, Asicala, Pasaquina, Perquin, Poloros, Potonico, Queiquin, Quelepa, Saco, Sensembra, Sesoli, Silaiquin, Singaltique, Sinsimontique, Sirigualtique, Tihuilotal, Torola, Yamabal, Yoloaikin, Yucuaikin, Yusique, and some settlements on the northern shores of the Lempa River.
A fusion of the blood lines was preserved by marrying within relatives of the same clan. At the beginning of the 14th century the two main tribes allowed the marriage of their heirs, uniting the two main crowns in one, (The eagle and the Jaguar). At the turn of the 15 th century, (1525 – 35) Luis de Moscoso invaded the Lenca Kingdom but the Lenca tribes ruled by Crown Princess Antu Silan Ulap I, resisted the invasion, she organized and gathered warriors from all cities to fight the invasion. Three years later, she is taken to a safe refuge to give birth and the Lenca troops are put in the hands of a war chief named Lempira.
From this point onwards, the Lencas hid their nobles and for decades fought for survival in the occupied land. The Lenca royal family introduced a new Family Covenant in which stipulates that the first and the last born of the oldest line of descent should have the right to the hereditary title and should represent the family as the Regent of the House. And the Guancasco (gathering of all tribes). The provisions of this covenant as well as other provisions were maintained as oral tradition and is present in the recital called “ Cantares del Pinol” (Singing of the Corn Gruel) which along with the bloodline forms the basis of the right to succession to the throne in the Principality of Managuara. In the critical hours of the history of the early 18th century, the House of Managuara stood by President Gerardo Barrios In his decisive victory against the conservative aristocrats and the church.
In 1975, Francisca Barbara Guevara Romero, last survivor of the royal family commissioned her son Benito to document her oral history, philosophy, spirituality, medicine, law and genealogy.
In 1993-4, she was formally proclaimed by the community as “The Royal Elder Francisca B.G.R, Lenca Princess of Enchanted Valley Managuara Najochan.
In 1997, her grandson in exile L Antonio Chevez was proclaimed successor and ascended to his formal role of Crown Prince. From exile the prince coordinates cultural programs to help the Lenca community to improve their knowledge of their history, health and human rights.
The Lenca Crown is a neutral institution not sanctioned by the government as the Maya Lenca see no conflict with their coexistence as a particular ancient people within a contemporary established state.
History of El Salvador | History of Central America | Pre-Columbian cultures
Lenca | Lencas | Lencas | Lenka (narod)
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
It uses material from the "The Maya Lenca Principality".
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