Urayoán
Encyclopedia
Urayoán was a Taíno
"Cacique
" (Chief) famous for ordering the drowning of Diego Salcedo
to determine if the Spanish
were gods
.
He was the cacique of "Yucayeque del Yagüeka or Yagueca", a region that presently spans between Añasco
and Mayagüez
, Puerto Rico
. In 1511, Urayoán and Agüeybaná II (The Brave) conceived a plan to find out if the Spaniards were really Gods. Diego Salcedo (a Spanish soldier) was welcomed by Urayoán into his village and was offered to stay for the night. The following day, by Urayoán's order, Salcedo was drowned while attempting to cross, while on top of a Taíno warrior, the Guaorabo river (presently called Great Añasco River). The body of Salcedo was watched for 3 days after his death. Upon confirmation of the mortality of the Spanish, Agüeybaná II ordered the Taínos to revolt.
Taíno people
The Taínos were pre-Columbian inhabitants of the Bahamas, Greater Antilles, and the northern Lesser Antilles. It is thought that the seafaring Taínos are relatives of the Arawak people of South America...
"Cacique
Cacique
Cacique is a title derived from the Taíno word for the pre-Columbian chiefs or leaders of tribes in the Bahamas, Greater Antilles, and the northern Lesser Antilles...
" (Chief) famous for ordering the drowning of Diego Salcedo
Diego Salcedo (soldier)
Diego Salcedo was a Spanish conquistador who allegedly lived during the colonization of the Americas. According to legend, his death at the hands of Taíno Indians ignited the Taíno rebellion of 1511....
to determine if the Spanish
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
were gods
Deity
A deity is a recognized preternatural or supernatural immortal being, who may be thought of as holy, divine, or sacred, held in high regard, and respected by believers....
.
He was the cacique of "Yucayeque del Yagüeka or Yagueca", a region that presently spans between Añasco
Añasco, Puerto Rico
Añasco , named after one of its settlers, Don Luis de Añasco, is a municipality of Puerto Rico located on the west coast of the island bordering the Mona Passage to the west, north of Mayagüez, and Las Marias; south of Rincón, Aguada, and Moca and west of San Sebastián and Las Marias...
and Mayagüez
Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
Mayagüez is the eighth-largest municipality of Puerto Rico. Originally founded as "Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria" it is also known as "La Sultana del Oeste" , "Ciudad de las Aguas Puras" , or "Ciudad del Mangó"...
, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. In 1511, Urayoán and Agüeybaná II (The Brave) conceived a plan to find out if the Spaniards were really Gods. Diego Salcedo (a Spanish soldier) was welcomed by Urayoán into his village and was offered to stay for the night. The following day, by Urayoán's order, Salcedo was drowned while attempting to cross, while on top of a Taíno warrior, the Guaorabo river (presently called Great Añasco River). The body of Salcedo was watched for 3 days after his death. Upon confirmation of the mortality of the Spanish, Agüeybaná II ordered the Taínos to revolt.
See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- List of Taínos
- Tibes Indigenous Ceremonial CenterTibes Indigenous Ceremonial CenterThe Tibes Indigenous Ceremonial Center in Barrio Portugués, Ponce, Puerto Rico, houses one of the most important archeological discoveries made in the Antilles. The discovery provides an insight as to how the indigenous tribes of the Igneri and Taínos lived and played during and before the arrival...