Hatuey

Taíno chief who became Cuba's first national hero by resisting Spanish conquest.

Because he organized Indigenous resistance to Spanish invaders, Hatuey is known as "Cuba's first national hero".^[1]

Last updated 2026-09-30 from the source article.

Quick Facts

Born: Late 15th century
Birthplace: Hispaniola
Died: February 2, 1512
Place of death: Baracoa, Cuba

Life and work

Hatuey escaped in canoes with about four hundred people to warn the Cubans about the Spaniards.^[2] As later recorded by Spanish priest Bartolomé de las Casas, Hatuey showed the Cubans a basket full of gold and jewels.^[2] Through a traitor, Velásquez was able to surround and capture Hatuey.^[2] Diego Velásquez departed from Hispaniola in 1511 with the goal of conquering Cuba.^[2]

Few Taíno chiefs in Cuba heeded Hatuey's warning, and only a small number allied with him.^[3] At least eight Spanish soldiers were killed by Hatuey and his forces.^[3]

What the cited sources add

A 2011 Miami New Times article reports that Hatuey Beer returned to bars in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties that summer.^[4] The original Hatuey was first produced in Santiago de Cuba around 1927.^[4] The new Hatuey is micro-brewed by Thomas Creek Brewery in Greenville, South Carolina.^[4] A 2014 Brewbound release states that Hatuey beer was Cuba's first premium beer, originally brewed in Santiago de Cuba in 1927.^[5]

By the late 1950's, Hatuey was the number one premium beer in Cuba and dominated the Cuban beer market.^[5] The Sierra account describes Hatuey as the first martyr in the struggle for Cuban independence.^[2]

References

Wikipedia, "Hatuey" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Running Fox (January 1998). "The Story of Cacique Hatuey, Cuba's First National Hero". La Voz del Pueblo Taíno [The Voice of the Taíno People]. United Confedera (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
J. A. Sierra (August 2006). "The Legend of Hatuey". The History of Cuba. Retrieved September 9, 2006.. facts only, no text reused. historyofcuba.com
Wikipedia, "Hatuey" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Barreiro, Jose (1990). "A Note on Taino". In Akwe, Cornell. View From the Shore. Pon Press. (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
Klein, Lee (December 6, 2011). "Hatuey Beer Returns as a Microbrew". Miami New Times... facts only, no text reused. miaminewtimes.com
"Bacardi Launches National Distribution of Hatuey", Brewbound, 2014-11-21. facts only, no text reused. brewbound.com

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Hatuey (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.