Mosquito Coast

The term Miskito coast (according to the indigenous people of the Miskito, German and Miskito Indians named; Spanish, however: Costa de los Mosquitos = Mosquito Coast ) pointed particularly during the colonial period, the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua, which was as well Belize ruled in many parts of Great Britain.

Geographical demarcation

Although the name of some authors for the entire east coast of Nicaragua was used to Río Negro or Rio Tinto and sometimes even La Mosquitia, today's northeastern Honduras, conceptually included, the actual term referred to a narrow strip along the Caribbean coast of 11 ° 45 ' to 14 ° 10' N, extending to an average width of about 60-70 km and about 360 km in length from the Río Wawa in the north to Río Rama in the south. The eastern edge of the Nicaraguan highlands forms the western boundary on the mainland.

Population

The Miskito Coast, according to the majority of its inhabitants, the Miskito indigenous, named. In addition to the Miskito, the small tribes of the Sumo and Rama on the Miskito Coast live. The Miskito are small in stature and have a darker, reddish brown going into the skin. Because of their skin color was believed to be descended from refugees in shipwrecks black slaves and indigenous people. They speak a Chibchan language and move in their boats on the rivers of the rainforest along the vast Caribbean coast across the border to Honduras.

History

Historically, the most important place was a pirate settlement and subsequent port city on the Caribbean coast, which was named in 1601 after the Dutch privateers Bleeveldt Bluefields. As the largest settlement along the Miskito coast with a good harbor, it served as the capital.

1604 fell from Peru from Spanish conquistadors to the north and east of Nicaragua a. Into the areas of Xicaque and the ancestors of the Miskito Indians The coast was initially part of the Viceroyalty of Peru. The first English settlers settled in 1630 down to the Miskito coast. They were agents of the English Providence Iceland Company, were present at the Robert Rich, 2nd Earl of Warwick Chairman and John Pym treasurer, two small sand banks occupied and cultivated friendly relations with the indigenous population.

Between 1655 and 1850, England claimed a protectorate over the in " Mosquitia " mocked Miskito coast for themselves. The English governor of Jamaica was crowned in 1687 the first Miskito king. However, the British exerted no central government violence. The village communities of the Miskito were self-employed, were not deported by the English and at times other indigenous groups between Yucatan and Panama were the Miskito tribute. From 1740 the British flag was blowing about Bluefields.

The Moravian Church to the German Moravian Church, began in 1847 their mission work in Bluefields. By the end of the 19th century Pietist Brethren had Christianized almost all indigenous and Afro-American Creoles on the Caribbean coast from the Saxon Herrnhut.

In addition to the 1739 split from Peru Viceroyalty of New Granada, whose claims later, the Central American republics took over, brought the United States claim to the coast. Their demands were based not least on the fear of a preferred position, the United Kingdom with respect to the proposed inter- oceanic Nicaragua Canal could take. 1848 awakened the seizure of Greytown, today's San Juan del Norte, by Miskito indigenous with British help, the risk of war.

In the Clayton - Bulwer Treaty of 1850, committed both powers to colonize any part of Central America or to occupy and granted each other the exclusive right to build the Nicaragua - channel. 1859 entered the UK its protectorate to Honduras from. This called among the indigenous population show great dissatisfaction. It was only on January 28, 1860 featured Nicaragua and the United Kingdom, the Miskito coast from Cabo Gracias a Dios to Greytown in the Treaty of Managua formally the sovereignty of Nicaragua and the Miskito secured to internal autonomy. The head of the Misikito accepted the change of circumstances, which limited his authority on local matters, for a yearly appanage of £ 1,000 until 1870. Yet his successor in 1864 refused to recognize this.

The self-determination within the Miskito of Nicaragua's Republic in 1881, reaffirmed in an arbitration award by the Emperor Franz Joseph I.. Trafficking and exploitation of mineral resources should be under the Miskito government. North American companies began in 1882, to be applied to the Miskito coast extensive banana plantations. Until the turn of the century, they were able to gain control of almost the entire trade of the area.

But after 14 years of full autonomy this was their then President, General José Santos Zelaya canceled. With the " decree of reintegration " of the Miskito Coast he let this occupy militarily by the General Cabezas 1894. From the Miskito coast of the Nicaraguan department of Zelaya was. Meanwhile, the autonomy was restored. At the former Miskito Coast today exist the autonomous areas Atlantico Norte Atlantico Sur and.