Guacanagari was one of the five native kings of Hispaniola. He received Christopher Columbus after the Santa Maria was wrecked. When Columbus left, neighbouring caciques attacked the Spanish settlement La Navidad. The Spanish were massacred and both La Navidad and the town of Guacanagari were burnt down.

Guacanagari refused to co-operate with other caciques, who tried to expel the Spanish. He was forced to flee to the mountains, where he later died.