Anacaona (c. 1474 – c. 1504) was a Taíno cacica, zemi interpreter, composer, and poet born in Yaguana, Jaragua, Hispaniola (present-day Léogâne, Haiti). After the death of her brother Bohechío in 1500, she became the ruler of Jaragua. In the centuries since her death, she has been re-imagined and memorialized in various forms of poetry, music, and literature from Haiti, the Dominican Republic and the wider Caribbean.
Prior to becoming cacica, Anacaona was married to a Caonabo, a cacique from the Lucayos (now The Bahamas) who conquered the cacicazgo of Maguana in 1470. However, she spent most of her time in Jaragua with Bohechío. With Christopher Columbus's arrival in Hispaniola in 1492, the Spanish began enslaving Taínos, resulting in conflict. Caonabo, who fought against the Spanish, was ultimately captured and banished in 1496. After Christopher left, his brother Bartholomew took over the administration of Hispaniola in 1496.
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