Although our research does not provide a lot of details of daily life or important events on Aruba early in 1500 all the way through the 1800’s, we do know who the Europeans were that were present as rulers and administrators. This might provide some insight into how things evolved on Aruba over the years. I will keep updating the list with names and corrections as I go along with my research.
- Juan de Ampiés – Nationality: Spanish; Ruled from approx. 1520 – 1533. He was awarded the island as an “encomienda”. Most noteworthy: he was responsible for the deportation of the original Caquetío inhabitants in the early 1500’s, while later becoming their protector. He was based in Curaçao, Santo Domingo and Coro. Importantly, because Aruba became an encomienda for Ampiés, it never became part of the Venezuelan province — it kept a special status within the Spanish colonies. (source: De Geschiedenis van Aruba tot 1816, Adi Martis, ISBN: 978-94-6022-482-9)
- Maria de Ampiés (daughter of Juan de Ampiés) & Lazaro Bejarano (her husband) – Nationality: Spanish; ruled from 1533 – approx. 1574. They lived mostly in Spain and in Santo Domingo. They did live for 3 years on Curaçao and built a “hacienda” called Santa Barbara — to this day, that area on Curaçao still carries that name. During their period of rule, Aruba was entrusted to Francisco de Rutica (probably Spanish).
- More rulers to be added as research continues.
Continue reading Aruba’s history:
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