Caonabo was the powerful and warlike cacique of Maguana. He is most famous for orchestrating the destruction of the Spanish fort of La Navidad, killing the 39 men Columbus had left behind. A fierce opponent of Spanish colonization, he was eventually captured through the cunning of Alonso de Ojeda, who tricked him into accepting shackles disguised as ornaments. Caonabo died in transit to Spain.
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