In advance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, I post photos of busts of Chiefs Caonabó, Anacaona, and Enriquillo, portions of statues in the Dominican Republic (San Juan de la Maguana for Caonabó and Anacaona, south of Lake Enriquillo for Enriquillo).
As my published books depict, Caonabó was the first Native chieftain in the Americas known to organize war against the Spanish invasion, and Anacaona was his prominent wife.
The next sequel—relating events from 1498 to 1502—will depict Anacaona’s ascension to rule Xaraguá upon her brother Behecchio’s death and her struggle to maintain that rule in coexistence with Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand’s subjugation of much of the rest of “Española.” Enriquillo, born into Anacaona’s extended caciqual family during this period, would rise in his manhood to lead Taínos on Española in rebellion.
