Enriquillo was a Taíno Cacique who rebelled against the Spaniards from 1519 to 1533. His father had died in a Spanish raid against a non-violent^{[citation needed]} Indian demonstration in Jaragua and he was raised in a monastery in Santo Domingo. One of his mentors was Bartolomé de Las Casas. The reconstruction of Taino village, Cuba The Taíno are pre-Colombian indigenous inhabitants of the Bahamas, Greater Antilles, and some of the Lesser Antilles. ... Cacique may be in reference to: Cacique is one the finest brands of rum produced in Venezuela. ... Santo Domingo de Guzmán, population 2,061,200 (Metro) (2003), estimated 2,253,437 (Metro) in 2006, is the capital and the largest city of the Dominican Republic. ... Bartolomé de Las Casas This article is about a Spanish priest in the 16th century. ...

Life

The good relations between Christopher Columbus and the local Taíno Indians of Hispaniola did not last long; 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. Enrique 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. Christopher Columbus (Genoa?, Italy, 1451? – Valladolid, Spain, May 20, 1506) was a navigator and maritime explorer credited as the discoverer of the Americas. ... Early map of Hispaniola The island of Hispaniola (from Spanish, La Española) is the second-largest island of the Antilles, lying between the islands of Cuba to the west, and Puerto Rico to the east. ... // This article is about crop plantations. ... Statistics Capital: Neyba Area: 1,282 km² Population (2000 est. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Look up Possession in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Enriquillo also had a wife, called Mencía, an later Doña Mencía due to Enriquillo's relations with the spaniards, who was molested by an unnamed spaniard. When Enriquillo tried to take the issue to the spanish courts, nothing could be done, since it was her Mencia's words agaisn't the spaniard's word. This, contend some writers, was the tipping point for Enriquillo to revolt in the Bahoruco mountains.

Guarocuya

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 successor 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.

His name Enriquillo would come after his baptism as a Catholic and his new given name, Enrique. This in addition to his reported small stature, granted him the nickname of little Enrique or Enriquillo.

Lago Enriquillo

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. Lake Enriquillo from space, September 1993 Lake Enriquillo (located at 18°30′ N 71°35′ W) is the only saltwater lake in the world inhabited by crocodiles. ... Statistics Capital: Neyba Area: 1,282 km² Population (2000 est. ... Las Caritas (The faces) is a collection of Indian inscriptions in a rock formation looking out over Lake Enriquillo in the Dominican Republic. ...

In modern culture

The highest rank of the Asociación de Scouts Dominicanos is named after him. Membership badge of the Asociación de Scouts Dominicanos The Asociación de Scouts Dominicanos (Dominican Scout Association) is the national Scouting organization of the Dominican Republic. ...

See also

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

Early map of Hispaniola The island of Hispaniola (from Spanish, La Española) is the second-largest island of the Antilles, lying between the islands of Cuba to the west, and Puerto Rico to the east. ... The Dominican Republic occupies the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola. ... The reconstruction of Taino village, Cuba The Taíno are pre-Colombian indigenous inhabitants of the Bahamas, Greater Antilles, and some of the Lesser Antilles. ... Millions of indigenous people lived in the Americas when the 1492 voyage of Christopher Columbus began an historical period of large-scale European contact with the Americas. ...

References

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

External links

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