Maroons between escape and political reconciliation. The african challenge to viceregal supremacy in New Spain, 1608-1609

This chapter revisits the rebellion of the Maroons led by Yanga during the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, residing in a ‘palenque’ nestled in the mountains of Veracruz. Comprised of former enslaved individuals who had successfully escaped, the ‘Yanguicos’ established an autonomous settlement independent of Spanish colonial rule in New Spain, posing a significant challenge to colonial authority. Their resistance manifested through attacks on estates and ambushes targeting caravans transporting vital supplies and precious metals along the Camino Real to Spain. In response to the threat posed by the Maroons, Luis de Velasco, the Viceroy of New Spain, faced the imperative of reconciling the Maroons to ensure stability and safety in the region under his command. This chapter scrutinizes the strategies employed by Spanish authorities to reassert control over the Maroons, spanning from military initiatives to diplomatic negotiations enabled by Jesuit fathers, culminating in a negotiated settlement. This new compromise came with a steep price, as the Spanish compelled former Maroons to assist in hunting down runaway slaves. Furthermore, the chapter draws parallels between the conflict of the ‘Yanguicos’ and similar events involving the ‘Mulatos de Esmeraldas’ in Ecuador, aiming to discern commonalities and disparities in the approaches adopted by Maroon groups and colonial administrations across Spanish America. Through this comparative analysis, the chapter sheds light on the diverse strategies and responses employed amidst the complex dynamics of Maroon resistance and colonial governance in the Americas.