Enriquillo

Enriquillo was at the beginning of the 16th century, a famous chief of the Taino Indians on Hispaniola. The son of a Taino chief was adopted after the murder of his father by Spanish conquerors by Franciscan monks, the Catholic faith to the original name Guarocuya changed in Enriquillo after his conversion.

A dispute over the question of whether the " owner" of the practical as serf slaves living villagers had abused Enriquillos wife Mencia, escalated and prompted Enriquillo around 1520 to a rebellion against the Spanish occupiers.

In the rugged mountains of Bahoruco, where the rebels had withdrawn, they defended themselves successfully against the Spaniards, whose leader Francisco de Valanzuela even taken prisoner, and only thanks to the intercession Enriquillos survived.

Under the leadership Enriquillos the rebels could all attacks of the Spaniards retaliate and so unfavorable peace offers the occupiers who were sent among other things, by one of his former teachers at the Franciscans, reject.

1532 were sent under the command of Francisco de Barrionuevo against the Taino 200 heavily armed men. 1533 the delegations Barrionuevo with 30 soldiers, two priests and 30 Taino met ( under which Enriquillo was ) to negotiate peace. This meeting was held on today saltwater lake named Lake Enriquillo.

The parties agreed on a peace treaty with the key points: abolition of de facto slavery and freedom, and land ownership for the Taino. The Spanish royal family accepted and respected the agreement, approved the resettlement of the Taino and offered these livestock and seed. Enriquillo died peacefully one year after the signing of the contract. His wife Mencia organized the construction of a church in which his remains were buried.

However, by introduced pests and diseases, the time remaining 4000 Taino died - at the end of the 16th century, the tribe was extinct.

• Native American chief
• Born in the 15th or 16th century
• Died in the 16th century
• Man