Enriquillo & Mencía
The Taíno rebellion that won its freedom
The Taíno chief Enriquillo rebelled against the Spanish when an encomendero tried to abuse his wife Mencía; he held out fourteen years in the Bahoruco mountains until he won a treaty of peace and freedom for his people.
01Why it matters
It is one of the few Indigenous victories of the conquest; their story is the first Dominican novel.
02The conflict
Colonial abuse and the war of resistance in the mountains.
03The iconic moment
The 1533 treaty that recognized the freedom of Enriquillo and his people.
04What survived
Manuel de Jesús Galván's novel "Enriquillo"; Lake Enriquillo.
05Frequently asked questions
Who were Enriquillo & Mencía?
The Taíno chief Enriquillo rebelled against the Spanish when an encomendero tried to abuse his wife Mencía; he held out fourteen years in the Bahoruco mountains until he won a treaty of peace and freedom for his people.
Why is the story of Enriquillo & Mencía famous?
It is one of the few Indigenous victories of the conquest; their story is the first Dominican novel.
How does the story of Enriquillo & Mencía end?
The 1533 treaty that recognized the freedom of Enriquillo and his people. Manuel de Jesús Galván's novel "Enriquillo"; Lake Enriquillo.
Is the story of Enriquillo & Mencía real?
Yes, Enriquillo & Mencía is based on real people and events.
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