Urayoán was a
Taíno
The Taíno are the Indigenous peoples of the Caribbean, Indigenous peoples of the Greater Antilles and surrounding islands. At the time of European contact in the late 15th century, they were the principal inhabitants of most of what is now The ...
"
Cacique
A cacique, sometimes spelled as cazique (; ; feminine form: ), was a tribal chieftain of the Taíno people, who were the Indigenous inhabitants of the Bahamas, the Greater Antilles, and the northern Lesser Antilles at the time of European cont ...
" (Chief) famous for ordering the drowning of
Diego Salcedo to determine whether the
Spanish were
gods
A deity or god is a supernatural being considered to be sacred and worthy of worship due to having authority over some aspect of the universe and/or life. The ''Oxford Dictionary of English'' defines ''deity'' as a God (male deity), god or god ...
.
He was the cacique of "Yucayeque del Yagüeka or Yagüeca", which today lies in the region between
Añasco and
Mayagüez,
Puerto Rico
; abbreviated PR), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is a Government of Puerto Rico, self-governing Caribbean Geography of Puerto Rico, archipelago and island organized as an Territories of the United States, unincorporated territo ...
. His territory was marked by the natural boundaries of two rivers: Guaorabo to the north and Yagüez to the south. In 1511, Urayoán and
Agüeybaná II (The Brave) conceived a plan to find out whether 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
Río Grande de Añasco). The body of Salcedo was watched for three days after his death. Upon confirmation of the mortality of the Spanish, Agüeybaná II ordered the Taínos to revolt.
See also
*
List of Puerto Ricans
This is a list of notable people from Puerto Rico which includes people who were born in Puerto Rico (Borinquen) and people who are of full or partial Puerto Rican people, Puerto Rican descent. Puerto Rican citizens are included, as the governm ...
*
Agüeybaná
*
Agüeybaná II
*
List of Taínos
*
Arasibo
Aracibo (born c. 1480s) was a Taíno ''Cacique'' in Puerto Rico who governed the area which is now named after him (now spelled Arecibo).
Pre-Columbian era
Aracibo governed a tribe whose village was located by the shore of the river "Abacoa" (n ...
*
Hayuya
*
Jumacao
*
Orocobix
*
Tibes Indigenous Ceremonial Center
References
External links
History of Puerto Rico
Year of birth missing
Year of death missing
Taíno leaders
16th-century monarchs in North America
16th-century indigenous leaders of the Americas
16th century in Puerto Rico
Taíno people from Puerto Rico
{{NorthAm-native-bio-stub