MMW 13 Chapter Notes - Chapter Reading: Eleanor Of Viseu
31 May 2018
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Historical Background
Palenques were settlements of escaped slaves in Spanish controlled territories. They
had soldiers that would raid Spanish settlements and steal cattle and slaves and sometimes kill
the Spaniards that lived there. One of the settlements called Limon was raided by the Spaniards
and many of the prominent soldiers were killed after they told their stories. Their testimonies told
a lot about palenque life. They had a queen called Leonor Criolla who was very militant and was
said to be influenced by some militant slaves that were new to the community. Many of the
palenques were made into legal settlements of free blacks that were recognized by the
Spaniards and were no longer attacked. In Limon, a form of African slavery was practiced on
some of the slaves that they captured from the Spanish.
Interpreting the Narratives
Even though there were a lot of things that kept the African testimonies from being taken
in their truest, purest form, they were still able to get their voices across and tell true narratives
about what happened to them.
Testimony of the Trials and Punishments Carried out by Field Marshal Francisco de
Murga, Governor and Captain General of Cartagena, against the Rebel Black Maroons of
the Palenques of Limon, Polin, and Zanaguare
Statement of African-born Francisco Angola, Sixty Years Old, Long Time Palenque Resident
Francisco Angola was brought to Cartagena as a young boy and an older man who was
also from the region took him with him when he made his escape. They walked into the
forest until they found Limon and there they stayed until his companion died and
Francisco was captured by the Spaniards. He worked the land with the other blacks
living in the town.
Statement of Sebastian Anchico, Twenty-Two-Year-Old Bozal, Servant (or Slave) in the
Palenque for the Past Two Years
Sebastian was taken by some Maroons from Limon and taken to their palenque. He was
not the only one and was taken with others as well. He and the others escaped and hid
in the forest because they were scared to go back to the Spaniards. The people from
Limon found them and brought them to the village and made them work as slaves. The
people from Limon had a conflict with the people from Polin because in Polin they had
women while in Limon they did not. When someone questioned them on why they would
attack their own people (Maroons), they were tied up and beaten and forced to work.
Statement of Juan de la Mar, Black Criollo, Two Year Resident of Limon, Identified by Some
Residents as a Leader
Juan de la Mar was identified as a leader of the Palenque.
Juan de la Mar Tells How He Arrived in Limon
Juan de la Mar was short on some corn that his master needed to pay a port tax and ran
away out of fear. He made a friend and stayed with him for a while until the Maroons
from Limon came and got them (as was the plan). His friend who helped him escape
ended up telling people where he went and what he had done (that he ran away).
Juan de La Mar Names the Limon Residents and Tells How They Came to the Palenque
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