While pursuing our latest obsession, the cacicazgo of Xaragua, we came upon a short essay by Hermann Corvington at the Digital Library of the Caribbean. While definitely dated and basically relying on familiar sources (Nau, the Spanish sources), it does seem to reflect how Haitian intellectuals of that particular moment viewed Anacaona and her brother as leaders. Indeed, the short work was apparently written after Corvington saw a play about Anacaona that was published in the 1940s. Corvington, however, tries to, admittedly without much source material, to understand why the strongest cacicazgo on the island essentially submitted to Spanish rule without putting up a fight. He believed Behechio was perhaps, due to age, guilty of a miscalculation. This is especially so since Corvington adopts the stance that Behechio was ready to fight the Spanish when he crossed paths with the Adelantado by the Neyba River. Anacaona, presented as more astute and consistent in her opposition to the Spanish, apparently went along with her brother's will despite the Spanish killing her husband, Caonabo. According to Corvington, Anacaona had probably convinced Behechio to assist or at least stand by while Caonabo killed the Spaniards at Navidad. Then, after the defeat of Caonabo and Guarionex, perhaps Behechio was wary of direct conflict with the Spaniards. At first, paying tribute to them and keeping them out of Xaragua seemed to work, at least temporarily. However, Roldan's predations and the change in policy by Ovando who decided to crush the cacicazgo spelled their doom. Whether or not Anacaona really was scheming or ploting something against the Spaniards before Ovando's massacre is not clear, though Corvington believes any scheme she had involved the Spaniards who loved her daughter. It is clear that Corvington was influenced by Emile Marcelin's historical fiction and other traditions here.
No comments:
Post a Comment