Quich� (original) (raw)

Quich� is the name of a Native American people of Guatemala, as well as of their native language, and their nation in pre-Columbian times. El Quich� is also the name of a department of modern Guatemala.

The Quich� People

The Quich� people are native to the Guatemala highlands. They are one of the Maya peoples.

In pre-Columbian times they were one of the most powerful states in the region.

The capital city was Gumarcaj, the ruins of which are a short distance from Santa Cruz del Quich�.

They were conqured by the conquistador Pedro de Alvarado in the early 16th century. The last Quich� king, Tec�n Um�n, who was killed by Alvarado, remains a folk-hero and figure of legend.

The El Quich� department of Guatemala is named after them. The department is the heartland of the people, but in former times they were spread over a wider area of the Guatemala highlands.

The Quich� language

Quich� is part of the Maya language family. It is still spoken by many Quich� people, although most also have at least a working knowledge of the Spanish language except in some isolated rural villages.

The most famous work in the Quich� language is the Popol Vuh.