Anacaona
1474-1504
Anacaona was the wife of
one Taino chief and sister of another on the island of Hispaniola when
Christopher Columbus arrived. Conflict quickly erupted between the
natives and the newcomers. Her husband was killed fighting the Spanish
and his chiefdom passed to Anacoana's brother, who then died childless,
which left the chiefdom in her hands.
Eventually beaten, Anacaona agreed to pay tribute
to the conquerors, but intermittant fighting continued nonetheless.
During a lull in the fighting in 1504, while Spanish and Taino feasted
to celebrate their good
friendship, the Spanish sprang a trap. They massacred all available
villagers, and took Anacaona away and hanged her.
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