Every year on July 20, Hondurans celebrate Lempira of the Lenca tribe more than 475 years after his death. Who was this famous man? He was a Native leader who gave his life in an attempt to stop the Spanish conquest. Lempira is a national hero, leader of thousands of soldiers, whose name graces a region of Honduras in the west and a Port in the east. Lempira is also the name of the Honduran currency since 1932. His is the only currency named for a Native person in the Americas.
Many facts about him are disputed. His date of birth may be 1497 or 1499. Lempira’s death was in 1537. How he died is now a matter of controversy. The traditional story was that he was tricked during a peace meeting with the Spanish and shot by an arquebus. A newer story turned up in the Sevilla archives that soldier Rodrigo Ruíz killed him with a sword. Ruíz made his claim in 1558, 21 years after the decisive battle, supported by witnesses in order to earn a pension, land and the work of indigenous people. I wonder how credible his story of beheading the great fighter is because the Spanish soldier had so much wealth to gain in return. 450,000 Lenca remain to this day. I wonder what story the Lenca tribe tell of their fallen leader?
Honduran sources say Lempira means “Lord of the Hills” in Lenca. However, Ruíz says the man’s name was not Lempira, but Erandique. Others call the Lenca leader Elempira. After almost 500 years, historical fact is not clear. However it is inspiring that a Lenca man is central to the identity of Hondurans. The sacrifice of Lempira is commemorated in their national anthem. The best part about the soldier’s claim is now there is proof that Lempira is not only a legend, he existed!
Thank you to my blogger friend Trina, for her article on Honduras that inspired this post!
¡Olé! –Rebecca
Honduras: El coraje de Lempira
Todos los años, el 20 julio los hondureños celebran Lempira del tribu Lenca, más de 475 después de su muerte. ¿Quién era este hombre famoso? Era un líder indígena quien dio su vida en la lucha para parar la conquista española. Lempira es un héroe nacional, líder de miles de soldados, cuyos nombre se ha puesto a una región de Honduras en el oeste y un puerto en el este. Lempira también es el nombre de la moneda hondureña desde 1932. Es la única moneda nombrada por una persona indígena en las Américas.
Muchos hechos de su vida están en disputa. Su fecha de nacimiento puede ser o 1497 o 1499. Lempira falleció en 1537. Como se murió, todavía hay controversia. La historia tradicional era que los españoles hicieron un truco durante una reunión de paz y lo mataron con un arquebus. Una historia nueva se escavó en los archivos de Sevilla; el soldado Rodrigo Ruíz dice que lo mató con su espada. Ruíz hizo su Probanza de méritos en 1558, 21 años después de la batalla decisiva, apoyado por testigos para ganar una pensión, tierra, y el trabajo de personas indígenas. Es posible que sea la verdad esta historia que Ruíz haya cortado la cabeza de este guerrero poderoso pero el soldado español tuviera tanta riqueza para ganar. Me pregunto, ¿cuál es la historia de sus líder fallecido que cuentan en el tribu Lenca? Hay 450,000 personas lencas todavía hoy.
El nombre Lempira significa “Señor de la sierras” en Lenca. Según Ruíz, el nombre de su enemigo era Erandique. Otros lo llaman Elempira. Cómo hablamos de eventos casí hace cinco siglos, los hechos históricos no son claros. Pero, es inspirante que un hombre lenco es central a la identidad hondureño, incluso el sacrificio de Lempira está comemorado en su himno nacional. Lo mejor de la Probanza descubierta es que muestra que Lempira es más que leyenda, ¡es persona histórica!
Gracias a mi amiga Trina por su artículo sobre Honduras que inspiró al mío.
¡Olé! –Rebecca
I really love this idea.
It teaches us a lot.
Keep sharing please.
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Thanks, Devang. Glad you like the article on Lempira.
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I was really loving the pics that you have Shared. But, this is a crucial share as well
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Thanks, Devang. You are so kind. You’ll go far in the blogging world, my friend!
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Why? 😃
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Your lively interactions create community, which in my book is what blogging is all about.
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Ohhh Thanks!
I’m learning this all from a fellow blogger like you 🙂
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Another great story from history – thanks Rebecca!
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Thanks, Kim. I just wish I knew the Lenca perspective!
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I always like a good history lesson 😊📝
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Excellent! I like talking about history, because we folks in the US can tend to have amnesia.
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Haha😂
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Glad I made you laugh. : ) Related story about bananas in Central America: https://fakeflamenco.com/2019/12/17/who-made-the-first-banana-split/
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*I
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I knew what you meant ; )
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😊
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I’m intrigued by how successful the Caste War of the Yucatan was, as described in the book “Time Among the Maya.’ And that the Maya lost because the Mayan soldiers returned home to plant their crops, rather than launch their. final assault (p. 367).
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Thanks, Carolyn. That’s fascinating. I hadn’t heard that part of the story!
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The details of his birth and death may be lost to history, but the legend lives on. Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you, Rosaliene. Yes, that’s exactly what I think as well.
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Despite the disputes about his birth year, way of death, and even his name, this Lenca leader is indisputably fearless in his attempts to fight back against the Spanish. His history lives on, thanks to the Honduran currency!
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He does. The currency, the place names and the yearly celebration keep his memory alive. : )
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I love these fascinating insights into a part of the globe whose history is unknown to me. Keep ’em coming, Rebecca!
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Thanks, Margaret. I appreciate your comments very much. I love learning about the Americas and sharing what I find.
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I had no knowledge of this. Thank you for enlightening me, Rebecca. You are a treasure trove of the history of the Americas. Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks, Janet. When Trina mentioned Lempira in her post about Honduras, I got intrigued.
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