Hatuey unites native Cubans against Spanish

[Cuāuhtemōc]

In 1511, Diego Velázquez set out from Hispaniola to conquer the island of Caobana (Cuba). He was preceded, however, by Hatuey, who fled Hispaniola with a party of four hundred in canoes and warned the inhabitants of Caobana about what to expect from the Spaniards.

IOTL he failed to rally the native peoples to his cause and he was captured and executed. What if he had persuaded the native Cubans into joining his cause in expelling the Spanish from the island, killing Diego Velazquez in the process? Cuba was a springboard for later conquistadors like Juan de Grijalva, Hernan Cortes and Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba. If the island's conquest is delayed for another 5-10 years, what are the ramifications?

 

[twovultures]

In Peru, the failure of some of Pizarro's associates to conquer land to the south of Cuzco lead to conflict as they returned and felt cut out of the wealth for the venture. I don't know what sort of deals Velazquez and his men cut before invading Caobana, but could similar problems arise from any survivors returning to Hispaniola?

Depending on how bad it gets, we might see the crown step in sooner to impose more control over the conquistadors as they fight over the plunder.