The Chiefdom of Jaragua was under Cacique Boechio. After BoechÃo's alleged death of old age, his sister, Anacaona, emerged as successor and intermediate between the natives of Jaragua and the Spanish. She was reputed to have been an efficient administrator, a beautiful woman and highly respected. At that time the Spanish had an alliance with the Chiefdom of Marien through GuacanagarÃx. Guacanagarix told the Spanish that the tribe of Xaragua was planning a rebellion. Although Anacaona had always paid her tribute she was then considered a threat by the governor. According to Las Casas in 1503 Ovando advised Anacaona that he would visit the town of Xaragua with his men to celebrate their good relations. During the celebration Ojeda and his men turned on the natives. Anacaona and her fellow native noblemen were arrested and accused of conspiracy and of trying to start a rebellion. This act of cruelty by the Europeans has gone down as the Jaragua Massacre. Imprisoned, Anacaona answered with these verses:
It is not honourable to kill; nor can honour propitiate tragedy. Let us open a bridge of love, so that across it even our enemies may walk and leave for posterity their footprints.Ovando had gone to Jaragua with 300 men plus many local natives of the tribe of Marien. Ovando allegedly enticed the Caciques that were present into a batey (large hut) to witness a tournament by Spaniards. He then gave a prearranged signal and the Spaniards seized and bound the caciques, while others fell on the Indians milling outside." Many of the Indians were thus killed, including 80 caciques burned alive, and Anacaona hanged.
As a result, King Ferdinand V deposed and recalled Ovando back to Spain in 1509, pursuant to a deathbed promise he made to his wife Queen Isabella I, King Ferdinand II of Arago that Ovando answer for his treatment of the native people. Diego Columbus was appointed his successor as governor, but the Spanish Crown permitted Ovando to retain possession of the property he brought back from the Americas.
