Agüeybaná II

Agüeybaná II was a central leader of the Taíno people in Borikén. Borikén is the name for the island we now call Puerto Rico. He was born around 1470 and died in 1511. He is often called Agüeybaná "El Bravo," which means "The Brave." As a cacique, he was a military chief with great power. His name, Agüeybaná, translates to "The Great Sun." He lived in a region called Guaynia near a river on the southern part of the island.

Agüeybaná II was the brother of the previous great cacique, Agüeybaná. The older Agüeybaná met the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León in 1508. To build a relationship, they practiced a Taíno ritual called guaytiao. During this ritual, the two leaders became friends and exchanged names. The older Agüeybaná followed his mother's advice to show hospitality. He hoped this friendship would prevent violence between the two groups. However, this peace was very short-lived. When the older Agüeybaná died in 1510, his brother became the most powerful leader on the island. All other caciques were subject to his authority.

Agüeybaná II began to doubt that the Spaniards were actually gods. He and another cacique named Urayoán decided to test this belief. They sent tribe members to lure a Spaniard named Diego Salcedo into a river. The Taínos watched the body to see if Salcedo would resuscitate, or come back to life. When he did not, Agüeybaná II and his people realized the Spaniards were mortal humans. This discovery changed everything for the Taíno people. Agüeybaná II began organizing a revolt against the Spanish presence. He used Areytos, which were traditional war dances or secret meetings, to plan his movements.

The rebellion moved quickly after these secret meetings. A spy named Juan González learned of the plans during an Areito. Despite this warning, Agüeybaná II killed Cristobal de Sotomayor and his men. González escaped to the settlement of Caparra to report the attack to Ponce de León. At the same time, the cacique Guarionex attacked the village of Sotomayor. This village is known today as Aguada. These events led to a series of Spanish offensives against the Taíno people. The conflict eventually led to a major confrontation known as the Battle of Yagüecas in 1511.

The Battle of Yagüecas involved a massive difference in numbers. Between 11,000 and 15,000 Taíno warriors assembled to fight. They faced a much smaller group of only 80 to 100 Spaniards. During the battle, a Spanish soldier used an arquebus, an early type of firearm, to kill a native warrior. Historians believe this warrior was likely Agüeybaná II. They base this on the fact that he wore a golden necklace. In Taíno culture, only a cacique was permitted to wear such a decoration.

After the death of Agüeybaná II, the Taíno resistance changed tactics. The warriors became disorganized and began using guerrilla warfare. This type of irregular fighting lasted for eight years, until 1519. In 1513, a second round of raids occurred while Ponce de León was exploring Florida. An alliance of Taínos and natives from the northeastern Antilles sacked and burned Caparra. By 1520, the Taíno presence on the island had almost disappeared. A government census in 1530 showed only 1,148 Taínos remained in Puerto Rico. Many survivors died from smallpox, an epidemic that arrived in 1519, or from harsh treatment.

Agüeybaná II remains a highly respected figure in Puerto Rican history. His legacy is tied to his loyalty to his people. Many locations on the island honor his memory. For example, the city of Bayamón has a high school named after him. There is also an avenue in the Hato Rey area of San San Juan named Agüeybaná. In Ponce, a park contains a statue of "El Bravo." A poet named Daniel de Rivera even wrote a poem dedicated to his courage. His life is a significant part of the story of Borikén.