Agüeybaná (died 1510) was the principal and most powerful cacique[4][a] (chief) of the Taíno people in "Borikén" (Puerto Rico) when the Spanish first arrived on the island on November 19, 1493.
Agüeybana, which has been interpreted by 19th and 20th century authors as meaning "The Great Sun", was the hereditary title shared by the family that ruled the theocratic monarchy of Borikén, governing the hierarchy over the rest of the regional chiefs or caciques. Like other nobiliary recognitions within Taíno culture, it was passed down through the maternal bloodline.[1] The Spanish settlers Hispanicized the title to be the equivalent of the European concept of kings, with contemporary writers such as Juan de Castellanos[5] and Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo y Valdés[6] employing the title of Rey Agüeybana (English: "King Agüeybana") when referring to the second monarch to lead the Taíno during the 1510s.[7] By the 1800s, the terms "king" and "cacique" were used exchangeably by both local and Spanish authors,[8][9] but a resurgence in the interest concerning Taíno history during the 20th century led to the popularization of native words and the latter term gained more lexical prominence.
Arrival of the conquistadorsedit
Agüeybaná received the Spanish conquistadorJuan Ponce de León upon his arrival in 1508. According to an old Taíno tradition, Agüeybaná practiced the "guatiao," a Taíno ritual in which he and Juan Ponce de León became friends and exchanged names. Ponce de León then baptized the cacique's mother into Christianity and renamed her Inés.[10]
The cacique joined Ponce de León in the exploration of the island. After this had been accomplished, Agüeybaná accompanied the conquistador to the island of La Española (what today comprises the nations of the Dominican Republic and Haiti), where he was well received by the Governor Nicolás de Ovando.[11] Agüeybaná's actions helped to maintain the peace between the Taíno and the Spaniards, a peace which was to be short-lived.[10]
The hospitality and friendly treatment that the Spaniards received from Agüeybaná made it easy for the Spaniards to betray and conquer the island.[10] After a short period of peace, the Taínos were forced to work in the island's gold mines and in the construction of forts as slaves. Many Taínos died as a result of the cruel treatment which they received.[10]
Death and aftermathedit
Upon Agüeybaná's death in 1510, his brother[1][2][3]Güeybaná (better known as Agüeybaná II) became the most powerful Cacique in the island. Agüeybaná II was troubled by the treatment of his people by the Spanish and attacked them in battle. The Taíno were ultimately defeated at the Battle of Yagüecas.[12]
Taínos in Puerto Rico either abandoned the island, were forced to labor as slaves; others were killed off by Spaniard artillery- in what was thought to be, until recently, a complete extinction.[13]
Recent genetic studies published between 2018 and 2019 revealed that Taino blood ancestry is still present in the genome of Puerto Ricans. The analyses revealed a narrative more indicative of assimilation and migrations to nearby islands rather than extinction.[14] Although many succumbed to the smallpox epidemic that attacked the islanders in 1519,[10][15] others survived the genetic bottleneck to produce progeny.
Legacyedit
Agüeybaná is admired in Puerto Rico for his dedication to his people and attempting to keep the peace. Puerto Rico has named many public buildings and streets after him:
The City of Bayamón has named a high school after him.
An avenue in the Hato Rey area of San Juan is named after Agüeybaná.
Puerto Rico once had an equivalent to the Grammy Award which was awarded annually and was called the "Agüeybaná de Oro" (The Golden Agüeybaná), in honor of the great cacique.[16]
Many songs and poems, by poets such as Juan Antonio Corretjer, among others, have been written about Agüeybaná.
^"...Mas sobre todos estos caciques se distingue la figura de Agüeybaná I, Señor de las tierras de Guanica...Los demás jefes indígenas le rinden homenaje de sumisión y acuden presurosos a su llamada. Esta autoridad de Agüeybaná I pasa a su pariente Agüeybaná II tras su muerte..."
Referencesedit
^ abcLa Rebelion del Cacique Agüeybaná II. 2012-02-06 at the Wayback Machine En Marcha: Organo del Comite Central del Partido Comunista Maxista Leninista de Ecuador. Seccion: Testimonio y Dialéctica. 8 May 2006. Page 1. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
^ abLand Tenure Development in Puerto Rico. 2006-09-13 at the Wayback Machine Cathy Bryan. Department of Spatial Information Science and Engineering. University of Maine. Orono, Maine. ca. 2000. Old Town, Maine: James W. Sewall Company. Page 5. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
^ abPuerto Rico y su historia investigaciones críticas. F. Vives Mora. 1894. p. 64.
^Francisco Lluch Mora. Orígenes y Fundación de Ponce. San Juan, PR: Editorial Plaza Mayor. Segunda Edición. 2006. p. 84. (Citing: Arturo Morales Carrión. Historia del pueblo de Puerto Rico: desde sus orígenes hasta el siglo XVIII. s.d. [sine die; sin fecha], p. 18.)
^Elegias de Varones illustres de Indias. Juan de Castellanos. Page 125. Accessed 15 November 2018.
^Historia general y natural de las Indias. Jose Amador de los Rios, Gonzalo Fernandez de Oviedo y Valdes. Page 467. Accessed 15 November 2018.
^Historia general y natural de las Indias. Jose Amador de los Rios, Gonzalo Fernandez de Oviedo y Valdes. Page 467. Accessed 15 November 2018.
^Historia general y natural de las Indias. Jose Amador de los Rios, Gonzalo Fernandez de Oviedo y Valdes. Page 467. Accessed 15 November 2018.
^Biblioteca historica de Puerto-Rico: Que contiene varios documentos de los Siglos XV, XVI, XVII, y XVIII. Alejandro Tapia y Rivera. Puerto Rico: Imprenta de Marques. 1854. Accessed 15 November 2018.
agüeybaná, agüeybaná, died, 1510, principal, most, powerful, cacique, chief, taíno, people, borikén, puerto, rico, when, spanish, first, arrived, island, november, 1493, agüeybanácacique, borikénreignc, 1508, 1510successoribornpuerto, rico, borikén, died1510pu. Agueybana died 1510 was the principal and most powerful cacique 4 a chief of the Taino people in Boriken Puerto Rico when the Spanish first arrived on the island on November 19 1493 AgueybanaCacique of BorikenReignc 1508 1510SuccessorAgueybana IIBornPuerto Rico Boriken Died1510Puerto Rico Boriken Military careerNickname s The Great Sun AllegianceTaino peopleYears of serviceLate 1400s and early 1500sRankCaciqueCommands heldTainos of Boriken RelationsBrother of Gueybana better known as Agueybana II 1 2 3 Contents 1 Etymology 2 Arrival of the conquistadors 3 Death and aftermath 4 Legacy 5 See also 6 Notes 7 References 8 External linksEtymology editAgueybana which has been interpreted by 19th and 20th century authors as meaning The Great Sun was the hereditary title shared by the family that ruled the theocratic monarchy of Boriken governing the hierarchy over the rest of the regional chiefs or caciques Like other nobiliary recognitions within Taino culture it was passed down through the maternal bloodline 1 The Spanish settlers Hispanicized the title to be the equivalent of the European concept of kings with contemporary writers such as Juan de Castellanos 5 and Gonzalo Fernandez de Oviedo y Valdes 6 employing the title of Rey Agueybana English King Agueybana when referring to the second monarch to lead the Taino during the 1510s 7 By the 1800s the terms king and cacique were used exchangeably by both local and Spanish authors 8 9 but a resurgence in the interest concerning Taino history during the 20th century led to the popularization of native words and the latter term gained more lexical prominence Arrival of the conquistadors editAgueybana received the Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon upon his arrival in 1508 According to an old Taino tradition Agueybana practiced the guatiao a Taino ritual in which he and Juan Ponce de Leon became friends and exchanged names Ponce de Leon then baptized the cacique s mother into Christianity and renamed her Ines 10 The cacique joined Ponce de Leon in the exploration of the island After this had been accomplished Agueybana accompanied the conquistador to the island of La Espanola what today comprises the nations of the Dominican Republic and Haiti where he was well received by the Governor Nicolas de Ovando 11 Agueybana s actions helped to maintain the peace between the Taino and the Spaniards a peace which was to be short lived 10 The hospitality and friendly treatment that the Spaniards received from Agueybana made it easy for the Spaniards to betray and conquer the island 10 After a short period of peace the Tainos were forced to work in the island s gold mines and in the construction of forts as slaves Many Tainos died as a result of the cruel treatment which they received 10 Death and aftermath editUpon Agueybana s death in 1510 his brother 1 2 3 Gueybana better known as Agueybana II became the most powerful Cacique in the island Agueybana II was troubled by the treatment of his people by the Spanish and attacked them in battle The Taino were ultimately defeated at the Battle of Yaguecas 12 Tainos in Puerto Rico either abandoned the island were forced to labor as slaves others were killed off by Spaniard artillery in what was thought to be until recently a complete extinction 13 Recent genetic studies published between 2018 and 2019 revealed that Taino blood ancestry is still present in the genome of Puerto Ricans The analyses revealed a narrative more indicative of assimilation and migrations to nearby islands rather than extinction 14 Although many succumbed to the smallpox epidemic that attacked the islanders in 1519 10 15 others survived the genetic bottleneck to produce progeny Legacy editAgueybana is admired in Puerto Rico for his dedication to his people and attempting to keep the peace Puerto Rico has named many public buildings and streets after him The City of Bayamon has named a high school after him There is a street in Caguas that honors him An avenue in the Hato Rey area of San Juan is named after Agueybana Puerto Rico once had an equivalent to the Grammy Award which was awarded annually and was called the Agueybana de Oro The Golden Agueybana in honor of the great cacique 16 Many songs and poems by poets such as Juan Antonio Corretjer among others have been written about Agueybana See also edit nbsp Puerto Rico portalList of Puerto Ricans Agueybana II List of Tainos Arasibo Hayuya Jumacao Orocobix Tibes Indigenous Ceremonial CenterNotes edit Mas sobre todos estos caciques se distingue la figura de Agueybana I Senor de las tierras de Guanica Los demas jefes indigenas le rinden homenaje de sumision y acuden presurosos a su llamada Esta autoridad de Agueybana I pasa a su pariente Agueybana II tras su muerte References edit a b c La Rebelion del Cacique Agueybana II Archived 2012 02 06 at the Wayback Machine En Marcha Organo del Comite Central del Partido Comunista Maxista Leninista de Ecuador Seccion Testimonio y Dialectica 8 May 2006 Page 1 Retrieved 14 July 2011 a b Land Tenure Development in Puerto Rico Archived 2006 09 13 at the Wayback Machine Cathy Bryan Department of Spatial Information Science and Engineering University of Maine Orono Maine ca 2000 Old Town Maine James W Sewall Company Page 5 Retrieved 14 July 2012 a b Puerto Rico y su historia investigaciones criticas F Vives Mora 1894 p 64 Francisco Lluch Mora Origenes y Fundacion de Ponce San Juan PR Editorial Plaza Mayor Segunda Edicion 2006 p 84 Citing Arturo Morales Carrion Historia del pueblo de Puerto Rico desde sus origenes hasta el siglo XVIII s d sine die sin fecha p 18 Elegias de Varones illustres de Indias Juan de Castellanos Page 125 Accessed 15 November 2018 Historia general y natural de las Indias Jose Amador de los Rios Gonzalo Fernandez de Oviedo y Valdes Page 467 Accessed 15 November 2018 Historia general y natural de las Indias Jose Amador de los Rios Gonzalo Fernandez de Oviedo y Valdes Page 467 Accessed 15 November 2018 Historia general y natural de las Indias Jose Amador de los Rios Gonzalo Fernandez de Oviedo y Valdes Page 467 Accessed 15 November 2018 Biblioteca historica de Puerto Rico Que contiene varios documentos de los Siglos XV XVI XVII y XVIII Alejandro Tapia y Rivera Puerto Rico Imprenta de Marques 1854 Accessed 15 November 2018 a b c d e Land Tenure Development in Puerto Rico Archived 2006 09 13 at the Wayback Machine Agueybana A Historical Overview of Colonial Puerto Rico The Importance of San Juan as a Military Outpost Archived from the original on 2009 05 31 Retrieved 2009 03 12 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint bot original URL status unknown link How Ancient DNA Can Help Recast Colonial History The Atlantic 18 September 2019 Genocide program Puerto Rico Yale Archived from the original on 20 November 2009 Retrieved 2009 10 17 Puerto Rico s First People Archived December 31 2007 at the Wayback Machine Reference to the Agueybana de Oro Archived from the original on 2012 07 17 Retrieved 2009 07 29 External links editHistory of Puerto Rico Agueynaba Appletons Cyclopaedia of American Biography 1900 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Agueybana I amp oldid 1179415084, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
