Lady of Cofitachequi

Historical Accounts of The Lady

There is little known about the biography of the grand lady, and most accounts that mentioned her came from Spanish colonizers who seeked to steal her wealth and take over her land. Despite their malicious intentions, she is almost always described as beautiful, powerful, and smart. Her reputation had reached them long before they made plans to come about her town. It was in fact this very reputation that pushed them to look for Cofitachequi; to procure gold and meet this captivating leader.

Exploring the Tensions Between De Soto and the Grand Lady

It is said that De Soto's search for Cofitachequi was what led to it dying out. Spanish conquistador Hernando De Soto exploited the land and treated its people horribly. The Lady of Cofitachequi was quick-witted, though, and she was able to hold out the damage he was inflicting for as long as possible. She did this by giving De Soto some of his requests while remaining firm on other boundaries. This is where she got her title as 'Cultural Mediator' by historians and researchers. In the end, she was taken as a hostage. Her astuteness and intuitiveness was ultimately what helped her escape and save some of her people from the wrath of De Soto.