Chiefdoms of Hispaniola | |||||||||
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| Common languages | Taíno | ||||||||
| Government | cacicazgo | ||||||||
| Cacique | |||||||||
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| Today part of | Dominican Republic,Haiti | ||||||||
Thechiefdoms of Hispaniola (cacicazgo in Spanish) were the primary political units employed by theTaíno inhabitants ofHispaniola (Taíno:Haití, Babeque, Bohío;Ciguayo: Quisqueya)[1][2][3][4][5] in the early historical era. At the time ofEuropean contact in 1492, the island was divided into fivechiefdoms orcacicazgos, each headed by acacique orparamount chief. Below him were lesser caciques presiding over villages or districts andnitaínos, an elite class in Taíno society. Hispaniola was also home to theCiguayo andMacorixnative peoples at the time of the European's arrival.
The Taíno of Hispaniola were anArawak people related to the inhabitants of the other islands in theGreater Antilles. At the time of European colonization, they were at war with a rival indigenous group, theIsland Caribs. In 1508, there were about 60,000 Taínos in the island of Hispaniola; by 1531 infectious disease epidemics and exploitation had resulted in a dramatic decline in population.
The boundaries of each cacicazgo were precise. The first inhabitants of the island used geographic elements as references, such as major rivers, high mountains, notable valleys and plains. This enabled them to define each territory.[6] Each was divided intocacique nitaínos, subdivisions headed by the caciquehelpers. The entries below relate the territory of each former cacique to the modern-day provinces of theDominican Republic and the departments ofHaiti.
Thecacicazgo of Marién included the entire northwestern part of Quisqueya, bordered to the north by the Atlantic Ocean, the south by the cacicazgo of Jaragua, east by the cacicazgos of Maguá and Maguana, and west by theWindward Passage.
It was ruled by the caciqueGuacanagaríx,[7]: 13–15 [8] with its capital located in El Guarico, near the present-day city ofCap-Haïtien. It was divided into 14 nitaínos. This cacicazgo was the first to acceptChristopher Columbus and to convert to Christianity.
The cacicazgo of Marién fought against the cacicazgoMairena, which was aided byCaonabo of the cacicazgo of Maguana for control of the mythical 'Mother' goddess Iermao. The 'Mother' Iermao was the goddess of the cacicazgo of Marién, which means "body stone".
Thecacicazgo of Maguá was located on the northeastern part of Hispaniola, bordered to the north and east by the Atlantic Ocean, the south by the cacicazgos of Maguana and Higüey, and west by the cacicazgos of Marién and Maguana. This chiefdom's territories are all in present-day Dominican Republic.
It was ruled by the caciqueGuarionex[7]: 30, 33–35, 39–40 [8] and was centered near the present location ofSanto Cerro inLa Vega. It was divided into 21 nitaínos. This cacicazgo was one of the richest of the island.
The territory was also inhabited by an ethnically distinct group of natives called theCiguayo, who were concentrated on theSamaná Peninsula. This group, who spoke theCiguayo language, was absorbed into the cacicazgo of Maguá. This was noted by chronicler Bartolomé de las Casas, who wrote that in 1502 the language was on the decline and by 1527 extinct.
Maguá means "the Stone". The chiefdom's mother-goddess wasGuacara or the 'Stone Mother'.
Thecacicazgo of Maguana was located in the center of the island, bounded on the north by the cacicazgos of Marién and Maguá, south by the Caribbean, east by the cacicazgos of Maguá and Higüey, and west by the cacicazgos of Marién and Jaragua. This cacicazgos territories were all located in present-day Dominican Republic.
It was ruled by the caciqueCaonabo, husband ofAnacaona.[8] Its center was established atCorral de los Indios located in the present day town ofJuan de Herrera inSan Juan province. It was divided into 21 nitaínos.
This was the principal cacicazgo of the island and was represented as "The Rock". The termMaguana means "the first stone" or "the only stone". The principal mother goddess of the chiefdom was Apito, which means "Mother of Stone".[9]
The cacique Caonabo was the first to resist the Spanish occupation. The fort that Christopher Columbus established on the north coast of the island,La Navidad, was destroyed by Caonabo. Caonabo also attempted to sack Fortaleza de Santo Tomás, but was captured by Spanish forces led by commander Alonso de Ojeda. Instead of being condemned to death the cacique was sent to Spain to be paraded in front of the Royal Court but died on his voyage.
Thecacicazgo ofJaragua spanned the entire south-west of the island of Hispaniola. It was bordered on the north by the cacicazgo of Marién, south by the Caribbean Sea, east by the cacicazgo of Maguana, and west by theJamaica Channel. It was ruled by the caciqueBohechío (cacique) [es] (Beehechio)[7] and was the largest of the cacicazgos. Its center was located in a place called Guava, present-dayLéogâne in Haiti. It was divided into 26 nitaínos.
Bohechío was the brother ofAnacaona, who was married to the cacique of Maguana; Caonabo.[7]: 35 [8] As such, Jaragua and Maguana had a strong alliance and would partner to ward off and attack rival cacicazgos.
The mother goddess of the cacicazgo wasZuimaco.
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Thecacicazgo of Higüey spanned the entire southeast of Hispaniola, bordered to the north by the cacicazgo of Maguá and theBay Samana, south by the Caribbean, east by theCanal de la Mona, and west by the cacicazgo of Maguana. It was ruled by the caciqueCayacoa [es] and was divided into 21 nitaínos. The capital of the cacicazgo was located in present-dayHigüey.
Floyd statesCotubanama was the cacique of Higüey, who was captured byJuan de Esquivel and hanged inSanto Domingo.[7]: 56–58
The mother goddess of Higüey was Atabeira, which means "Mother of the original stone".
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