Hatuey

Hatuey
The monument of Hatuey, in Baracoa city, Cuba -- the place he besieged the most while fighting the Spanish forces.
Died	c. February 2, 1512
Occupation	Taíno Cacique (chief)
Known for	"Cuba's First National Hero."

Hatuey (/ˈɑːˈtweɪ/), also Hatüey (/ˈɑːtˈuːˈeɪ/) (died February 2, 1512), was a Taíno Cacique (chief) from the island of Quisqueya (now Hispaniola), who lived in the early sixteenth century. He has attained legendary status for leading a group of natives in a fight against the invading Spaniards, and thus becoming one the first fighters against colonialism in the New World. He is celebrated as "Cuba's First National Hero".

In 1511, Diego Velázquez set out from Hispaniola to conquer the island of Cuba (Taino name, recorded by Columbus). He was preceded, however, by Hatuey, who fled Hispaniola with a party of four hundred in canoes and warned some of the Native people of eastern Cuba about what to expect from the Spaniards.

Bartolomé de Las Casas later attributed the following speech to Hatuey. He showed the Taíno of Caobana a basket of gold and jewels, saying:

The Taino chiefs in Cuba did not respond to Hatuey's message, and few joined him to fight. Hatuey resorted to guerrilla tactics against the Spaniards, and was able to confine them for a time. He and his fighters were able to kill at least eight Spanish soldiers. Eventually, using mastiffs and torturing Indians for information, the Spaniards succeeded in capturing him. On February 2, 1512, he was tied to a stake and burned alive at Yara, near present-day City of Bayamo (See Jose Barreiro, "A Note on Taino," in View From the Shore, Cornell Akwe:son Press, 1990.)