Enriquillo

Enriquillo was a Taíno Cacique who rebelled against the Spaniards from 1519 till 1533. His father had died in a Spanish raid against a non-violent Indian demonstration in Jaragua and he was raised in a monastery in Santo Domingo. One of his mentors was Bartolomé de Las Casas.

The good relations between Christopher Columbus and the local Taíno Indians of Hispaniola did not last long, and soon the indians were used as slaves on sugar plantations. Several revolts followed in the first half of the 16th century, the most famous of which happened in 1522. Enriquillo started the revolt with a large number of Indians from the mountain range of Bahoruco and the Indians were able to continue the rebellion because of their better knowledge of the region. As the Spaniards were not able to control the rebellion, a treaty was signed granting to the Indian population among others the right of Freedom and of Possession. It had little consequences however, as by this time the Indian population was rapidly declining due to European diseases.

Most historians agree that Enriquillo was the same person as the cacique Guarocuya. In that case then Enriquillo belongs to the highest house of the Jaragua cacicazgo. Guarocuya was the nephew of Anacaona, sister to the cacique of Jaragua Bohechío and his eventual succesor once Bohechío was killed. Anacaona was married to Caonabo who was the cacique of the neighboring Maguana kingdom. A minority of historians who differ claim that Guarocuya was captured and hanged, while Enriquillo succeeded in his revolt. Most historians believe both rebels were the same person, arguing that the tales of Guarocuya's demise are identical to the more verifiable accounts of the capture and execution of his aunt Anacaona and the stories have been confounded. It is also well documented that the character of Enriquillo was married to Mencía, the mestizo grand-daughter of Anacaona.

The salt water lake Lago Enriquillo in the Dominican province of Baoruco was named after him. Looking out over it is the Trono de Enriquillo, where he is said to have camped during the rebellion.

References

• Van Der Helm, Rien. Reis-handboek Dominicaanse Republiek (Dutch language, Elmar, 1991)

See also

• Hispaniola
• History of the Dominican Republic
• Taíno opposition against the Spanish
• Population history of American indigenous peoples

External links

• Jaragua-Bahoruca-Enriquillo Reserve
• Guarocuya at Rincón Dominicano(In Spanish)