Enriquillo

Enrique (1498–1535), best known as Enriquillo, was a Taíno cacique who rebelled against Spanish colonists between 1519 and 1533. Enriquillo's rebellion is the best known rebellion of the early Caribbean period. He was born on the shores of Lake Jaragua (today Lake Enriquillo) and was part of the royal family of Jaragua. Enriquillo's aunt Anacaona was Queen of Jaragua, and his father Magiocatex was the crown prince. He is considered a hero in the modern day Dominican Republic for his resistance in favor of the Indigenous peoples. Dominican friar Bartolomé de las Casas, who documented and rallied against Spanish abuse of the native peoples, wrote sympathetically of Enriquillo.

Early life Enriquillo was born on the shores of Lake Jaragua (currently Lake Enriquillo in Dominican Republic), around 1500.

Good relations between Christopher Columbus and the indigenous Taíno of the large island Columbus called Hispaniola did not last more than a few days. The Taínos were forced into terrible conditions as laborers in gold mining operations, badly housed in the mountains, poorly fed, extremely overworked, and forced to live in close quarters with the Spaniards. Additionally, due to taking men away from the villages, the cycle of food production was disrupted, causing widespread malnutrition. One of his mentors was Bartolomé de las Casas. De las Casas was a Spanish Roman Catholic Priest focused on the rights of Native Americans. Enriquillo owned a steed and could read and write Castilian. He was aware of his privileges or rights as a subject of the colony and was still recognized as a chief or nitaíno by the other indigenous people. For this reason, he served as a foreman for the encomendero.

Enriquillo also had a wife, called Mencía, later with the noble title Doña due to Enriquillo's high standing and relations with the Spaniards. She was raped by a Spaniard named Valenzuela. When Enriquillo tried to take the issue to the Spanish courts, nothing could be done, since it was Doña Mencia's word against the Spaniard's word. This, according to some writers, was the tipping point for Enriquillo which led to his revolt in the Bahoruco mountains.

Rebellion

Several revolts followed in the first half of the 16th century; the most famous began in 1519. Enriquillo, one of the few remaining caciques, or indigenous chiefs, started the revolt with a large number of Taínos from the mountain range of Bahoruco. The Tainos were able to continue the rebellion because of their better knowledge of the region. 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, however, 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. It is also well documented that the character of Enriquillo was married to Mencía, the mestiza granddaughter of Anacaona.

His name, Enriquillo, would come after his baptism as a Catholic. The name Enriquillo, "little Enrique," was probably due to his age at the time of the baptism.

Lake Enriquillo The salt water lake Lake 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.

Legacy The highest rank of the Asociación de Scouts Dominicanos was formerly named after him.

A new genus of lizard, Guarocuyus, was described in 2022 from Jaragua National Park, and named in honor of Enriquillo's likely Taíno name, Guarocuya.