Waldo Acebo Meireles
"... the job of men is not to be quiet in these parts and all the world, and more on these Indians, because like all more than come here are young men and Gentiles desires and many of them brave and needy, not content to stop at what is conquered. " Fernandez de Oviedo
"It was something even more complex than the struggle for one, two or three of the G to highlight the Anglo historians (Gold, Glory, and the Gospel - Gold, Glory and Gospel)
drives every conquering his own strong individuality, reflected in dreams, courage, fall, crime, and religious crisis and personal " Levi Marrero.
· The scene:
Cuba's first name was Juana, in honor of the queen of Spain. But, as the Queen was virtually imprisoned, the name was soon going out of fashion, so they changed it to Fernandina, in honor of King. This name did not last, though still used in the early 1520. The island regained its native name: Cuba, shortly after the indigenous population practically disappeared.
gold was found in several streams in the central mountains of Cuba. For several years the colonists who settled in Trinidad and Sancti Spiritus, villas newly founded, received substantial benefits. The native population, forced to work to exhaustion and without leaders, followed the fate of the English: ruthlessly decimated.
Cuba was an immense forest of cedar, mahogany and other valuable trees, suffice to say that the wood of the Escorial out of these now extinct forests, and in the yard of Havana built the largest and most valuable English ships in the fleet.
However, for the struggling colonists of wealth and pushes of future greatness all that were not intended, let alone glimpsed.
· Characters:
Diego Velazquez, came from a family of a certain pedigree in Cuellar, Castilla, and it is likely that the decade of 1480 to participate in campaigns against the last Muslim stronghold in Granada.
In 1493 accompanied Columbus on his second voyage, was then 28 years. It sits on the English and grows into one of the richest colonists.
part in the terrible slaughter of Indians Xaraguá and maintains a close relationship with the Viceroy. When you decide it's time to conquer Cuba and destroy one of the chiefs Dominicans who escaped to the island, the legendary Hatuey, he is selected and appointed adelantado and governor of the island to conquer. In 1510 he left for Cuba.
The work of conquest was mild, the Indians offered no resistance and start Velázquez great use of all the cunning and the experience gained in the English, the defeat of Hatuey, the circumnavigation of the island, the whole control territory, the foundation of the first seven villas and care you put into avoiding future famines such as those that devastated the English were his achievements, perhaps the most important.
Velásquez was a tall, above the average of the time, fair-haired and lanky young man but with the passing of the years it became a solid body rather, Bartolomé de las Homes whom we can not impute bias on the character said
"He was cheerful and human condition and enjoyed great esteem by the playfulness and simplicity with which he treats his inferiors, without prejudice of their dignity or the respect due to him and sat hierarchy ... none before him, even if very gentleman ... when they needed or when angry, trembling all before him, but his anger was short-lived and after the first impulse, she forgave him However, as a vindictive man but he used kindness "
Despite her role in killing and burning Xaraguá Hatuey, Velazquez was far from the most brutal conqueror. In fact, in the subsequent impeachment trial of Velazquez, Basque Quejo John Bond, master of a ship, said Velazquez was a good Christian and a good servant of their Majesties, and that was good to the Indians.
While seeking prosperity for Cuba, refused to distribute to the Indians in parcels as those of the English, until it was forced. And when he had to, limit its size to two hundred Indians.
spoke only of pleasure. Their conversations seemed undisciplined youth jokes. He liked the banquets. He was proud of his family (although he had no children) and could behave with dignity when circumstances required it.
Velázquez moved at home in the tropics. He got used to local food: green turtle, cassava bread, parrots and iguanas. In several parts of the island, owned or had shares in a dozen estates, some of them together with the known Genoese merchants Sevilla Juan Francisco de Grimaldo and Gaspar Centurion.
Through letters, he maintained good relations with the authorities in Spain. These, in turn, saw it as a counterweight to Diego Columbus, viceroy, who used to annoy and Velazquez was unfair, although be grateful.
Velasquez's wife, her cousin Mary of Cuellar, had died in Baracoa in 1512, shortly after the wedding. It was said that from that time the governor aspired to marry one of the nieces the powerful bishop of Burgos, Juan Rodríguez de Fonseca, whose family seat in Coca, is only thirty kilometers from Cuellar. It was indeed a joke games, with which Velázquez entertained his friends in his makeshift palace, discussing what he would do if he returned to Castile, and everyone knew would not return. (However, both nieces of the bishop, and Mayor Mary were already married.)
These talks in Santiago, where Velázquez presented his residence, were in fact gatherings. The English used to smoke snuff, probably were the first Europeans who took the famous Cuban product (the settlers themselves began to cultivate around 1520) participated in such gatherings without a doubt the governor's cousin, Antonio Velázquez Borrego, who returned to Spain in 1516 as solicitor general, that is representative of the colony, others cousins \u200b\u200band nephews of the large clan Velázquez: Juan, another Diego, Antonio and Bernardino another, all born in Cuéllar and full of memories of when this city was so close to the court of Spain. Nepotism was a slight defect of Velásquez.
also attended by the governor's father, Christopher de Cuéllar, treasurer of Cuba, who was known by to deliver the Cuban gold belonged to the king, but fun with interesting stories about the times he was butler of the late Don Juan (which is said had died of his excesses making love in the first months of their marriage.) Cuéllar, who had come to India in 1502 as chief accountant of Ovando (formerly also an occasional member of the circle of infant), used to say that the king's service would give two or three bumps in hell when the time comes.
Maybe tell why the court had shown such friendship to Columbus, both before and after his first voyage. Also present were Secretary of Velazquez, Andres de Duero, a small man, the part of Valladolid which was about Cuellar, and his accountant, Amador de Lares, a shrewd but illiterate húrgales.
The secretary used to keep silence, the counter used to display talkative and clever talking to your fellow members of the years spent in Italy as steward of the Great Captain Gonzalo Hernandez de Cordoba. Another member of the tropical court was Manuel Velazquez Rojas, also of Cuéllar, married to Magdalena, niece of the governor and brother of Gabriel de Rojas who later became famous in Peru (the Red lived almost next to the family Velázquez de Cuéllar).
The Fool of the governor, Francisco Cervantes, (which we refer again) used to drop provocative phrases and quotes from romances with a puzzling occurrence. It is likely that the shelling Velázquez own memories of the time it was from Granada to Seville to accompany Columbus on his second voyage. No doubt sometimes spoke of how it was working with the admiral, as called himself Columbus himself. No doubt sometimes joined to socialize the clerk of Santiago and former secretary of Velazquez, a settler obsequious, sly and unpredictable that it had enriched with gold Duaba River: Hernan Cortes, born in Medellín, Extremadura.
Cortes had entered the New World through the gate used at the time: The English and there was some flow. When we started preparing for the conquest of Cuba soon joined the company, that it was an expedition of adventures in which the participants peculiar defrayed expenses.
Your participation in the conquest of Cuba has left no written traces, but presumably it was not therefore of little prominence, and that if so had not achieved the benefits achieved.
Velázquez appointed him his secretary and is more than probable that the relations of conquest sent by the King of Spain were written by Cortes had studied and was a man of culture medium for more than the time. While we can say that Velázquez but clumsy, if it was a bit slow in making decisions, which are reflected in future situations.
· Drama:
Although Velázquez's ability in handling the problems of the colony its refusal to hand over the Indians in parcels, for reasons that could be both humanitarian and non-legalistic, because the property lacked that right away to trouble and multiple pitfalls. Of these the most important attempts were commoner rebellion led by Francisco de Morales and the conspiracy headed by its Secretary Hernan Cortes set out to lead to the Audiencia of Santo Domingo a complaint of the colonists against Velasquez.
's anger exploded throwing Cortés governor to jail, a place that he visited more than once, usually by their skirts issues, breach of marriage vows and other niceties of the mood, and in Spain those peccadilloes had generated several trials.
In general we can not say that relations Velazquez Cortes were especially good.
News of all kinds arrived in Cuba on other islands to the west and Velázquez rich ears gave them organizing, or helping to prepare, expeditions of Francisco Hernández de Córdoba 1517; and Juan de Grijalva in 1518.
Returning from Grijalva, Velazquez actively devoted to preparing the conquest of Mexico. Renewed their requests to the Court, persuaded the November 7, 1518 a royal decree was issued in Zaragoza, ratified by another of December 12 of that year, by which the people of Cuba were authorized to build ships at its expense , discover new lands and proceed to conquer, no more bookings that refrain from invading the jurisdiction of the king of Portugal, graciously granted by papal bull of Alexander VI, and keep the actual instructions on giving good treatment of Indians.
legally authorized to carry out their plans, the governor of Cuba, organized an issue much stronger than before, designed to take firm conquest of New Spain, as would be called later. Eleven ships, seven English explorers, among them thirty crossbowmen and twelve musketeers, fourteen guns, sixteen horses, and many hunting dogs, and used to destroy the Indians of the English and Cuba. Furthermore, the expedition was supported by a thousand Indians, and included several carpenters, blacksmiths and other artisans, and of course, fifty sailors and pilots' experience. The expedition included about eight or ten English women.
The supplies were provided all of Cuba, thousands of loaves of cassava bread, salted meat, bacon, and other foods of indigenous or European origin, as well as the horses used.
To the surprise of many Velazquez appointed Cortes as Captain of the forces of conquest, his decision was influenced by the fact that the offer was spurned by some of his relatives and other characters most prestigious military experience and proven ferocity, such as the Basque Porcallo Figueroa encomendero richer and certainly more ruthless and probably the most fertile, pregnant pigs, all the trustees.
Cortés undertook the mission with unexpected power which began to produce jealousy, suspicion, envy and comments alarming tone. Bernal Diaz del Castillo an anecdote involving the aforementioned Francisco Cervantes and:
"... on a Sunday, going to Mass on Diego Velázquez, as was governor accompanying the noblest íbanle neighbors who were in the villa, and led to Hernando Courteous to your right side for her honor. I was in front of Diego Velázquez a rogue who said Cervantes, the Fool, gesturing and jests, and said, "the gala, the gala of my love Diego. O Diego O Diego! What have chosen captain, which is in Medellin, Extremadura, captain of good fortune, but I fear, Diego, you are not the armed moose, because all you are judged by very male in his stuff! "And he said other follies, which all were inclined to evil, and because I was saying in that way gave him pescozazos the Andres de Duero, who was there next to Diego Velázquez, and said "shut up, crazy drunk, do not be over scoundrel, who have well understood that such mischief, so color 3 thanks, do not leave you. "And yet the madman was saying, even pescozazos they gave:" Long live the show of my master Diego of his adventurous captain, and next to that my master Diego that do not "see mourn the evil collection that now you've done, I want to go with him to the rich lands!" certainly gave himself gave the Velazquez, relatives Governor, some pieces of gold that say that those scurrilous mischief, under color of thanks ... "
Next and date of departure Velázquez began to enter suspect the true intentions of Cortes and fear a betrayal. Determined to help, decided to replace in command, but it was Cortes later jumped into the water on the night of February 18, 1519 in search of the town of Trinidad where he would complete his men and supplies procurement. Velasquez tried to stop him and then said town of San Cristobal de La Habana (at that time in the south coast) but everything turned out ineffective, cunning, ability to negotiate and the gift of conviction Cortes always won the game .
More reinforcements Cortes received Carenas port, where a few years later would settle in Havana and the western end zone known as Guaniguanico.
mocked and betrayed by Cortes, Velázquez did not resign himself to tolerate the defiance of this or the loss of the flows that had invested in the company. A fourth issue, even stronger than the preceding was organized without delay, with the dual purpose of submitting to continue the conquest Cortes. Panfilo de Narvaez
was entrusted the command of it, sailing due to Vera Cruz on March 18, 1520, with 18 ships, cannons, horses and more than a thousand English. The new issue only served to reinforce Cortes. Narvaez was surprised at Zempoala, captured and re-embarked for Cuba, while its enlisted men under the banner of Cortes.
Velazquez was a man who resigned himself is easily to see destroyed his plans of aggrandizement by a subordinate unfair not to let his fortune is sacrificed in favor of his opponent, he devoted himself in virtue of this, to prepare with the resources we subtracted a fifth expedition which he commanded in person intended to take, but Charles V, who occupied the throne in Spain since 1517 is interposed between the bitter rivals . Hernán Cortés had supporters in Cuba in English, and the Court, augmented by triumphs, fame and wealth that quickly reached in Mexico. From the first time Cortes had also sent envoys to Emperor Charles V who sent many of the treasures collected from Montezuma.
The Audiencia of Santo Domingo had tried in vain to mediate between Velázquez and Cortés, Velázquez were not successful because he refused to meet the demands of the judge conciliatory Ayllon sent to Cuba for the purpose mentioned. The emperor to intervene ended the matter. Appointed Cortés governor and captain general of New Spain and Velázquez ordered to refrain from developing new expeditions against his former subordinate.
Unhappy with a resolution that deemed totally unfair disponian Velázquez to move to Spain to claim against it when he died suddenly, the night of 11 to 12 June 1524.
Velásquez Eventually not only gave more than one third of the costs of the expedition of Cortes, almost all of the cost of Panfilo de Narvaez, which ultimately grossed forces Cortes, but, ironically, with all its legal challenge to the Court of viceroyalty of Santo Domingo, and the courts accelerated the inevitable process that Hernan Cortes was appointed Head and governor of the conquered territories.
· Implications for Cuba
Onset were devastating: loss of a high percentage of population may reach 80 or more%, which facilitated the resurgence of indigenous uprisings and its destructive consequences.
Disgust and instability of those who remained on an island which was already known that no enclosed great golden wealth.
Impaired the emerging urban development began with the founding of the first three villas.
To sum up, stalled what little had been achieved in the years after the conquest.
However accelerated the process of moving from the town of San Cristobal de La Habana to its present location to the north, the port that the discoverers called Carenas, this was motivated by the discovery of the Gulf Stream fact linked to the conquest of Mexico, and along with that understanding more or less explicitly, that was the port to the north and not south which would play a greater role in the future.
Eventually the trade between Cuba and Mexico became an unexpected resource for English trustees who failed to remove large quantities of gold from the rivers of the island and passed out by other sources of wealth, cattle ranching for the production of leather for the Mexican market, as well as cured meats, bacon and cassava bread were a comfort now, possibly snuff learned to savor the English in Cuba was another product from start to trade.
(notes to the map)
Cortez Road
(1519-1521)
The expedition led by Hernan Cortes set out from Santiago de Cuba (1) and stopped in Trinidad (2) where he received large reinforcements. D and there continued to San Cristobal still on the south coast as Carenas obtained new supplies in the future San Cristobal de La Habana (4). After a brief stay in Guaniguanico (5) and with input from the northern (6) came from Cozumel, and after playing in Tabasco, there was the foundation of the town of Vera Cruz (8), legalistic formula allowed win the leadership in a typical "revolution commoner." From there, in a mixed actions in which the boldness, courage and the hitherto fortunate neighbors and residents of Cuba would become the conquerors of New Spain, to complete the final subject of Tenochtitlan in 1521.
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