| The little town Diriá claims to be the
hometown of the great Indian army leader Diriangén. Another city,
Diriamba, about 30 km away has also adopted Diriangén as one of their
sons and given his name to their football team. In the beginning of
the 16th century Nicaragua was dominated by tribes who had fled from
the north, from what today is known as Mexico, due to the expansion of the
empires of Olmecas, Toltecas and Aztecas. They shared the land with
tribes of Maya origin.
The Spanish storytellers have formed a legend about two
chiefs. Nicarao, who was leader of the Maya tribes in the Rivas area,
and Diriangén from the Meseta highlands. Nicarao tried to negotiate
with the Spaniards (without results), while Diriangén attacked and
forced the Spaniards to withdraw. Later they turned back
with enforcement, though, and also Diriagen's troups had to resign.
Recently Nicaraguan historians have questioned the existence of
Nicarao, but confirms that Diriangén is a historical person. His
tribe was called Chorotegas and lived in two areas: Arround Diría-Diriomo-Catarina,
and in the triangle Diriamba-San Marcos-Jinotepe.
Between these two settlements lived groups of Nahuas, in
Masatepe-Nandasmo-Niquinohomo. |
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