Vicereine Maria Alvarez de Toledo contributes to the war efforts at El Bahoruco

The CUNY Dominican Studies Institute (CUNY DSI) has the most extensive collection of manuscripts related to colonial La Española from the 16th and 17th centuries in the US. This document illustrates how María Álvarez de Toledo, the first Vicereine of the Indies, wife of Admiral Diego Columbus, and a member of a noble family in Spain, contributed to suppressing the rebellion at El Bahoruco. Also known as the Enriquillo Rebellion (named after the Taino leader of the uprising), the war, which started in 1519, marked a turning point in the history of La Española. It was the first time the indigenous inhabitants of the island questioned Spanish rule. The rebellions had a significant impact on the colony's economy. Over time, the uprisings threatened the local government, which was responsible for organizing the territory's defense. To support the war effort, the Castilian Crown requested that the elites in Santo Domingo contribute by covering the wages and expenses of a soldier on campaign. The document also shows precisely how the wealthy in La Española’s capital contributed to the war.

This historical story emerged from research conducted as part of CUNY DSI’s AI in the Archives project, led by Dr. Sergio Serrano and Dr. Abraham Liddell.

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