When Columbus arrived at the Caribbean in 1492, Chief Behecchio ruled Xaraguá, one of “Española’s” five principal chiefdoms. Located in the island’s southwest portion, Xaraguá was then admired for its large population and abundant crops and the civility of its daily life, and some historians believe Behecchio then to have been the island’s most powerful cacique. He likely ruled from two hometowns, one inland near the modern Lake Trou Caïman, Haiti, the other at the coast at the modern Bay of Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Anacaona was one of Behecchio’s younger sisters, and the next sequel will depict how he shared power with her. As traditional for supreme caciques, he married wives from villages throughout Xaraguá to solidify his command of the chiefdom, reportedly more than thirty. Guanahattabenecheuá was prominent among them.
Historians have long known that Behecchio died—and Anacaona succeeded him to rule Xaraguá—sometime between 1498 and 1502. A partially preserved record of the investigation of Columbus by his successor, Francisco de Bobadilla, was discovered and published in Spain in 2006; it’s clear from the testimony recorded in the investigation that Behecchio survived in 1500. My speculation is that he died—and Anacaona succeeded—in 1501.
I’ve yet to find a historic sketch of the great chief. In lieu thereof, posted below is Pierre-François-Xavier de Charlevoix’s map of Española (1731) showing Xaraguá as Behecchio’s chiefdom.
