Editing Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar (section)

==Conquest of Cuba==
When [[Diego Columbus]] became governor in 1509, he was instructed by [[Ferdinand II of Aragon |King Ferdinand]] to explore, conquer, and colonize the neighboring island of Cuba in hopes of obtaining new sources of gold and Native labor. Miguel de Pasamonte, the king's treasurer in the Caribbean, was influential in seeing that Columbus selected Velázquez to lead the expedition. Velázquez was to finance the project himself and though Columbus assured him that the Crown would reimburse him later, no money was ever forthcoming. He assembled a small fleet of four ships and three hundred men among whom were several relatives, debt-ridden encomenderos, and a few who would later become notable, including [[Hernán Cortés]] and [[Pedro de Alvarado]].<ref>Martinez-Fernandez, 2018</ref><ref>Wright, 1916</ref>

Velázquez sailed for Cuba in January 1511 and landed at a small harbor in the native province of Mayci. The Spaniards were opposed by a Taíno force led by [[Hatuey]], formerly a chief from Hispaniola who fled to Cuba and helped the local Natives organize resistance to the incursion. The Taínos were outmatched by the Spanish weaponry and after two months of intermittent fighting, they were defeated.<ref>Benton, B. T., Berger, E. C., Brown, K., Chuchiak, J. F., Francis, J. M., Mann, K. D., Whittington, S. L. (2017). Conquest in Latin America. In J. M. Francis, & T. M. Leonard (Eds.), ''Latin American history and culture: Encyclopedia of pre-colonial Latin America: (prehistory to 1550s)''. Facts On File. </ref> According to [[Bartolomé de las Casas]], who did not arrive on the island until later, Hatuey was captured and burned alive at the stake.<ref>Floyd, 1973, p. 114</ref><ref>Florstedt, 1942</ref>

The first Spanish settlement, [[Baracoa]], was established on the northeast corner of the island by August 1511. It consisted of a fort surrounded by thatched huts and served as the initial base of operations for the Spanish occupation of Cuba. Later that year, Velázquez was joined by [[Pánfilo de Narváez]] who brought thirty Spanish archers and Native auxiliaries from Jamaica. Velázquez was glad for the reinforcements and made Narvaez second in command. More than a year was spent consolidating control of the present-day Oriente province.<ref>Floyd, 1973, p. 114</ref>

In early 1513 Velázquez married Maria de Cuéllar in the new town of Baracoa. She was the daughter of the royal treasurer, Cristóbal de Cuéllar, and a former lady-in-waiting for Maria de Toledo, the wife of Diego Columbus. Maria died less than a week after their wedding.<ref>Wright, 1916, p. 25,41</ref>

After a slow start, the conquest of Cuba accelerated dramatically in 1513 when Velázquez organized three expeditions to proceed west, explore the island, and establish a Spanish presence. Narvaez led a force through the interior of the country while Velázquez and a lieutenant proceeded along the south and north coasts respectively. Near the south coast, Narvaez soon met with a force of 2,500 Taínos led by their chief, Caguax. The Spanish struck first before they could be attacked by the Natives defending their land, defeating Caguex, and killing some one hundred Taínos. This was the last significant resistance faced by the Spanish and after that, they proceeded relatively unchallenged in their colonization and search for gold.<ref>Floyd, 1973, p. 117-118</ref>

In October 1513, Velázquez received letters from the king that expanded his powers in Cuba. Velázquez was authorized to assign Indians to encomiendas and establish additional towns as warranted by his discoveries. In particular, he was encouraged to create settlements on the southern coast that would support trade with the growing Spanish presence in Panama. By 1514, the island was largely pacified and significant gold deposits were discovered at several sites on the island, setting off a brief gold rush that lasted until about 1520.<ref>Floyd, 1973, p. 119</ref> At its peak, officials complained that the search for Cuban gold was depleting manpower in Hispaniola.<ref>Sauer, 1966, p. 186</ref>

In addition to Baracoa, Velázquez used his authority to establish six more Cuban towns by 1515. Most of the new settlements were sited on the coast near gold deposits and significant populations of Indian laborers. Bayamo was founded in 1513, followed in 1514 by Trinidad, Sancti Spiritus, and [[Havana]]. Havana, destined to become the premier city of Cuba, was originally founded on the south coast. Camagüey was established in 1515. Velázquez added [[Santiago de Cuba]] in July 1515 and made it his residence and the new capital of the island.<ref>Sauer, 1966, p. 186-187</ref>

Velázquez used the assignment of encomiendas to reward relatives and associates and thus ensure an island aristocracy that was loyal to him. By 1522 significant encomiendas were held by his relatives [[Juan de Grijalva]] and Manuel de Rojas; his close associates Panfilo de Narvaez, Bachiller de Alonso Parada, and [[Vasco Porcallo de Figueroa]]; and fourteen others. In total, these encomenderos controlled almost 3,000 Indian laborers.<ref>Martinez-Fernandez, 2018</ref>

The new colonizers did not wish to be under the personal authority of Diego Columbus, so Velázquez convoked a general ''[[Cabildo (council)|cabildo]]'' (a [[local government]] council) which was duly authorized to deal directly with Spain, and therefore removed Velázquez and the colonizers from under the authority of Columbus, their nominal superior. It was a precedent that would come back to haunt him with the Mexican adventures.