ALONSO DE ILLESCAS: BIOGRAPHY - HISTORY - 2024

Alonso de Illescas (c. 1528 - c. 1596) was an Ecuadorian hero who fought for freedom in the 16th century. He was a maroon who became governor and leader of a group of African freedmen who settled in Ecuador. Its area of ​​influence was included in what is known as the province of Esmeraldas.

He is currently recognized and honored as one of the fundamental pieces in the history of the Afro-descendant ethnic group in Ecuador. Together with the group that accompanied him, he began a miscegenation in the country that did not exist until then, such as that of indigenous people and Africans.

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He was born in Africa, but from a very young age he was taken to Spain, where he grew up as a slave in the city of Seville. There he came into contact with the Iberian civilization, learned their customs, their language and also the Catholic religion.

The ship in which he was transported on his way to Peru, along with other slaves, was wrecked after some crewmen arrived at the shores of Esmeralda. There they established a government in which they could live in freedom and peace, led by Alonso de Illescas.

His authority over this territory was recognized both by the locals and by the Spanish, who saw him as a tenacious enemy. So much so that the king himself sent Illescas an appointment as governor.

On October 2, the day of Afro-Ecuadorian freedom is celebrated in Ecuador, of which Illescas is considered the greatest hero in the national holiday.

Biography

Early years

Alonso de Illescas was born around the year 1528. It is not known exactly what his native land was, however, it is thought that it was Cape Verde, in the Senegal peninsula, Africa.

What is known for sure is that at the age of 10 he was sold as a slave in exchange for a barrel of beer and was subsequently transferred to Seville, Spain. There the boy finished growing up.

As a child they gave him the Christian name Enrique, although there is no record of his original name. Then he was named after his master, Alonso de Illescas, as the custom of the time dictated, and with that name his story passed to posterity.

The Illescas were one of the most notable families in the region and, as Alonso grew up, they saw to it that he learned the Spanish language, customs and the Catholic religion, its rites and practices.

Even Alonso de Illescas knew how to play the Spanish guitar. The young slave remained in the city of Seville for at least 17 years. He also acquired a very special knowledge that would serve him in the future: that of war.

He learned the way to fight and the strategies used by the Iberians when it came to fighting, as well as the mastery of their weapons and how they could use them in different scenarios.

Trip to the Indies

The Illescas had trades in the New World and also in Europe. Alonso was required to collaborate in the businesses of his masters overseas. It was then that he left for Santo Domingo, current capital of the Dominican Republic.

The treatment that Alonso received from the family during his time of service was not that commonly given to a slave. Rather, he was entrusted with the functions performed by a free servant.

It is believed that he worked with the eldest of the Illescas brothers during his stay in Spain and was therefore privileged. While in Santo Domingo, they went to Panama, approximately in the year 1553.

Then, they headed towards Peru, the gold capital of America, since there was another headquarters of the Illescas family businesses.

But the trip did not go as planned. After a month of sailing, facing dire weather, they ran out of supplies. That is why they made the decision to dock at the Portete de San Francisco, in the province of Esmeraldas.

On those coasts of present-day Ecuador, the white sailors made landfall along with the 23 slaves who traveled in the boat.

Freedom

The climate continued to play in favor of that group of subjects. The wind and swell caused the ship, which was parked in a rocky harbor, to smash against the reef that was a short distance away.

It was then that the 17 men and 6 women who were about to arrive at a destiny of slavery, managed to enter the jungle where full freedom awaited them in a land of plenty.

Meanwhile, the Spanish sought refuge in the settlement known as Porto Viejo, trying to protect their own lives.

At first, the maroons were under the command of Anton, who entered the lands of an Indian known as Pidi and subdued the village. Later, the first settlement had conflicts with other Indians in the area, who finally fled.

However, Antón recognized that Alonso de Illescas would have a better future as a ruler because of his education and knowledge of Spanish customs, which would be useful when confronting them in the fight to keep them out of their new dominions.

Beginnings in command

Alonso de Illescas took as his companion an Indian woman, the daughter of an important chief of the Niguas tribe. Thanks to their union, ties between freed blacks and Native Americans were strengthened.

The maroon leader could read and write in Spanish, knew their customs and the arts of war. In addition, he quickly learned the native languages ​​of the area and created friendly ties with the local Indians.

He also knew how to win the favor of the castaways, who came to the area in abundance, lending their support in the face of disaster.

Arranged marriages served Illescas, and the other maroons who accompanied him, to gain governance of the land through alliances. It also made use of internal trade or with Spanish navigators and inter-tribal diplomacy.

Those who lived in their settlement did so as free men, without paying taxes and following basic rules of coexistence. They also had to face other Africans who came ashore in situations similar to theirs.

Government in Esmeraldas

In the first months of the year 1577, the Spanish religious Miguel Cabello Balboa arrived in the region known as Esmeraldas and his mission was to spread the Catholic faith among the inhabitants in a peaceful way, so that they would join the Spanish crown as subjects.

The fame of Alonso de Illescas was already great at that time, his power was recognized, and the natives of the area fought against him or joined him, but they did not remain indifferent.

In an invitation that the Spanish clergyman made to Illescas, Cabello Balboa celebrated the sacrament of mass and in his prayers thanked the maroon for being kind to the sailors who lost their way and always found an outstretched hand in him.

The religious also announced to Illescas that the Spanish king was sending pardons for all Africans and indigenous people. In addition, he carried a special message for him: an appointment as governor of those lands.

The condition imposed to receive the position was that they settle near the source of the Esmeraldas River. Illescas tried to accept the deal to achieve a peaceful government for his people, but that resulted in a fierce war between the blacks and Indians of the area.

Final years

Around the year 1586, Alonso de Illescas tried to interrupt the colonization of the Esmeraldas territory by Rodrigo Rivadeneira, who had credits and permits from the Spanish crown. In return he offered to pacify the territory for the King of Spain.

However, that request did not come to fruition and was considered a minor matter by the authorities.

His sons Sebastián and Antonio collaborated with Alonso de Illescas in his work as governor in the final years of his life.

Death

Although the date of his death is not established, it is considered that the maroon Alonso de Illescas died between the years 1587 and 1596. One of the factors that supports this theory is that there is no record of his steps in the 1600s.

Illescas did not see his dream of freedom and peace come true, but his son achieved the agreement that he sought. Sebastian obtained the title of "Don" and was confirmed in Christianity. Furthermore, the descendants of Alonso de Illescas ruled the territory of Esmeraldas for several generations.

Legacy

The National Congress of Ecuador declared October 2 as the national day of Afro-descendant Ecuadorians. That day also commemorates the life of Alonso de Illescas, who since then has been recognized as a hero of freedom and of the African community that settled in the country.

At the beginning of 2018, campaigns promoted by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Communication of Ecuador were carried out in which some characters of national life were exalted monthly.

In February, Antonio de Illescas was selected, his biography was disseminated with a documentary that was shown in the official media and on social networks and, also, in all public offices in Ecuador.

References

1. En.wikipedia.org. (2018). Alonso de Illescas. Available at: en.wikipedia.org.
2. Alonso de Illescas - Short documentary. (2018). Ecuador: Secretariat of Communication and the Ministry of Culture.
3. Drafting El Telégrafo. (2018). Alonso de Illescas, the Afro leader, is the historical figure of the month. The Telegraph. Available at: eltelegrafo.com.ec.
4. Pérez Pimentel, R. (2018). ALONSO DE ILLESCAS. Biographical Dictionary of Ecuador. Available at:biograficoecuador.com dictionary.
5. Pérez, P. (2018). Alonso de Illescas (1528-1585). www.elnorte.ec. Available at: elnorte.ec.
6. Secretariat of Communication (2018). This Thursday a short film about Alfonso de Illescas will be broadcast. EcuadorTV. Available at: ecuadortv.ec.