Without a doubt, the first inhabitants of Aruba were the Caiquetio Indians, part of the Arawak tribe who migrated from the mainland and settled on the island. Archaeological excavations have shown that the Caiquetios have lived on Aruba for around 16,000 years, with major settlements in what we now know as Tanki Flip & Malmok (Noord), Santa Cruz, Canashito and Savaneta.

However, as I mentioned in the introduction, my main focus is on Aruba’s history starting in 1499, when everything changed with the arrival of Europeans. The world was transformed after Columbus’ discovery of the Americas, and Aruba was no exception.

Aruba’s first European visitor was a Spaniard named Alonso de Ojeda (1466 Cuenca, Spain – 1515 Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic). Ojeda, a participant in Columbus’ second voyage, later embarked on a separate mission sponsored by Bishop Juan Rodríguez de Fonseca. During this expedition, he explored the coastlines of modern-day Venezuela and Colombia, and in September 1499, he landed on Aruba. Despite this discovery, Ojeda found no gold and labeled Aruba, along with Curaçao and Bonaire, as “Isla Inútil”—Spanish for “worthless island.”

Alonso de Ojeda was an interesting character. He embodied, the good, the bad and the ugly of early European exploration in the Americas. But for the continuing history discussed on this site, after the discovery, his relevance diminished. The question I have is: “what happened to Aruba after 1499?”

Aruba automatically became part of the Spanish Empire and was included in the region known as Nueva Andalucía, governed by Ojeda. However, by 1513, the indigenous Caiquetios were enslaved and deported to Hispaniola (modern-day Dominican Republic) to work in copper mines, under the orders of Diego de Salazar. Around 2,000 Caiquetios from Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao were taken, leaving Aruba devoid of human inhabitants for nearly six years. Imagine how that must have been.

In 1519, the surviving Caiquetios were allowed to return to Aruba, thanks to Juan Martínez de Ampiés, a Spanish official who recognized the intelligence of the Caiquetios, referring to them as “Guatiaos”. He successfully advocated for their protection from slavery in exchange for their conversion to Christianity. Juan Ampiés, or possibly his son (there’s some historical debate), played a key role in the re-population of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao, and later founded the city of Santa Ana de Coro in Venezuela in 1527 with the help of Cacique Manaure. This city played a key role in the re-population of the Islands, especially Aruba.

Unfortunately, Juan Ampiés eventually lost control of the region due to financial difficulties and disputes. King Charles I of Spain (Charles V of Germany) granted control of Venezuela’s coastal area to the Welser family—German bankers who had financed the Spanish Crown. Juan Ampiés died a poor man in 1533, and although the islands remained under Spanish control, they were largely forgotten, allowing the local Caiquetio population to live with a degree of autonomy.

Juan Ampiés’ influence was significant in shaping the post-1499 history of Aruba. He ensured that the island was re-populated with both the original Caiquetios and new arrivals from the mainland, while also introducing European agricultural practices such as the breeding of goats, pigs, and horses, as well as the cultivation of fruit trees.

Key Takeaways About Aruba’s Roots:

1. Caiquetio heritage: Aruba’s indigenous roots trace back more than 16,000 years to the Caiquetios.
2. Spanish colonization: Aruba was colonized by Spain and annexed into Nueva Andalucía.
3. Enslavement and deportation: In 1513, the Caiquetio population was deported to the Dominican Republic, but later freed and allowed to return.
4. Cultural exchange: After their return, the Caiquetios were encouraged to convert to Christianity and integrate European agricultural practices, forming the foundation of Aruba’s Catholic heritage.
5. Mix of populations: By 1499, Aruba’s population had become a mix of original Caiquetio inhabitants, mainland indigenous people (from Santa Ana de Coro), and Spaniards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of my primary conclusions from this chapter, based on extensive research, is that from 1499 onward, Aruba’s population became a blend of Caiquetio natives, indigenous people from the mainland, and Spanish settlers. This also explains the strong Catholic presence in Aruba today. Given the relatively short distance between Aruba and Venezuela (126 km), this cultural exchange makes perfect sense.

In the next chapter, I’ll explore the period from 1533 to around 1600, investigating the events and contributions that further shaped Aruba’s roots.

To confirm the above, check out a.o:

A Short History of the Netherlands Antilles and Surinam; By Cornelis C. Goslinga

Note: The Kingdom of the Netherlands did not yet exist during this period. The Dutch provinces of Holland, Friesland, Zeeland, and Utrecht were involved in the Eighty Years’ War against Spain.