Chapter 1.1 - The Conquistadors Found Hispaniola Upon the Ruins of Indigenous CommunitiesOn December 6, 1492, while the natives of
Marien(1) were peacefully going about their daily routines, they saw the arrival of three caravels(2) carrying men of an unknown race: it was Christopher Columbus and his companions who, after having discovered
San Salvador and
Cuba, landed in
Haïti, which the admiral designated by the name of
Hispaniola or “Little Spain”.
The Cacique of Marien, Guacanagaric, being of a peaceful nature, received the Spaniards with open arms and even granted Columbus a site to build a fort "La Natividad" with the debris of the
Santa Maria, which had been shipwrecked. The admiral left a contingent there before departing for Spain.
However, as was to be expected, the Spaniards departed Fort La Natividad expecting to act as masters and lords: they had an easy time with the gentle Guacanagaric but when they moved on to
Maguana, in search of gold, they found themselves facing a man of a different caliber: the Cacique Caonabo, of the warrior race of the Caribs.(3) The intrepid Indian chief massacred them all, invaded Marien, and reduced Fort La Natividad
to ashes.
Columbus soon returned to Hispaniola, but this time, with the necessary forces for the conquest and military occupation of the country. The invaders founded
Isabella, on the northern coast and, starting from this base, invaded the interior of the island. Caonabo and
Guarionex, Cacique of Magua, marched against the city but suffered setbacks. Shortly after, thanks to a ruse,
Alonso de Ojeda succeeded in seizing Caonabo, still the most formidable enemy of the colonizers. The unfortunate cacique, chained, perished when the boat that was transporting him to Spain sank. The Natives, under the orders of a brother of Caonabo, Manicatex, attempted to avenge their fallen chief; armed simply with arrows, they confronted the Spanish cavalry and muskets at the battle of La Vega Real in 1495, but the outcome of the struggle could not be in doubt. The natives were cut to pieces, devoured by ferocious dogs, and massacred by the thousands. The great, very Christian admiral had no scruples about reducing the vanquished to slavery. In the name of
“repartimientos”, each of Columbus's companions received allotments of slaves either to work in the gol
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