The cacique Enriquillo was the leader of Aboriginal resistance on the island of Spanish in the Dominican Republic. He was a war strategist, defender of indigenous rights, and leader of the aboriginal resistance against Spanish invaders in the 16th century.
He was born in approximately 1496, as heir to the nitainato (territorial division of the chiefdom) of Bahoruco, in the lands of the chiefdom of Jaragua.
Biography
He was the son of Maniocatex, a Nitaíno tribal chief. He was orphaned in 1503, when Governor Nicolás de Ovando assassinated his father in the Jaragua massacre while they were celebrating a peace agreement.
After his father died, Enriquillo was sent to live with Franciscan monks. He was raised and educated by them in a convent, as was done with all the children of caciques, to convert him to Christianity.
There he grew up, in the mountainous region of Jaragua. This is how he learned European customs, and to read and write Spanish.
He was also indoctrinated in the Catholic religion. The Catholic precepts were deepened in his being, so he strictly adhered to their teachings and morality.
Consequently, he imposed his moral and religious rigidity and conduct on those around him.
Despite his education, he was sent to work in the fields in 1514 with the Spanish Francisco de Valenzuela and his heir Andrés. Enriquillo cooperated with the Spanish by working in the mines and growing food for them.
Later he married Mencía, his cousin and granddaughter of the Caonabo and Anacaona caciques. According to one version of the story, his wife was abused by Andrés Valenzuela, one of the sons of the owner of the ranch where Enriquillo worked.
As a result of this, Enriquillo sought help from the law, but did not find an answer.
Either because of this circumstance or because of his fed up with the injustices he saw daily, he decided to go live with his wife in the mountains of Bahoruco. In this way he demonstrated his rebellion towards Andrés Valenzuela and his family.
He was pursued by the Spanish, confronted them and killed some and wounded others, sparing Valenzuela's life.
Resistance
From his new home he began his resistance on both sides of the Bahoruco mountains.
His style was the guerrilla. He assaulted the Spanish haciendas, took their weapons and repelled their attacks. Did this for 14 years.
Between 1519 and 1533 Enriquillo articulated an army, initially of few men, to carry out his company of revolution and freedom.
He was able to add to his cause the Africans, who had been enslaved and taken by force to American lands.
End of the fight
In 1533, tired of fighting, he made a peace agreement with Captain General Francisco de Barrionuevo, representative of the Spanish Crown.
In the pact he negotiated the freedom of the Taíno people by eliminating the encomienda, exemption from taxes to the Crown and granting of territory to the original inhabitants of the lands.
He died around 1536 at 40 years of age, in the area that is now the province of Monte Plata. On his grave the church of Agua Santa was built in the community of Boya.
Contributions
Enriquillo bequeathed to his people his courage and desire for freedom and justice. He managed to maintain a fight for 14 years.
Although he never had a real chance of victory, he did not flinch. His courage and convictions will always be with his people.
Some of his main contributions were:
-He was the fundamental figure of the aboriginal resistance against European colonialism.
-He is considered the first guerrilla of the new world for his courage to face the imperial power.
References
- Editor (2017) Dominican History. 12/15/2017. Official Portal of the Dominican State. gov.do
- Milton Olivo (2006) The Taino secret: the civilization found by Colon in Hispaniola. Printed Mayobanex, Santo Domingo.
- Editor (2016) Cacique Enriquillo, Dominican Republic. 12/15/2017. Geographic. geographic.org
- Francis Sullivan (2010) Indian Freedom: The cause of Bartolome de las Casas 1484-1566.
- Junius P. Rodríguez (1997) The Historical Encyclopedia of World Slavery. Library of Congress, Santa Barbara, California.