When Cultures Clash Revisiting the 'Spanish-Chamorro Wars'

Francis Hezel, SJ

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The paper revisits early Spanish colonization in the Marianas, particularly addressing the narratives around the 'Spanish-Chamorro Wars.' It reflects on previous research while correcting misconceptions and expanding on the cultural context of the Chamorro people during the late 17th century. The author aims to provide a more accurate understanding by integrating new findings from Spanish archival materials and examining traditional practices in Micronesia.

Figures (15)

Eee Sees

The wreck of the Nuestra Sefiora de la Concepcion off Saipan in 1638. — Eee Sees The wreck of the Nuestra Sefiora de la Concepcion off Saipan in 1638.

ARCHIVO HISTORICO NACIONAL. Drawing by Marcelo Ansaldo, $.J., showing where Fr. San Vitores and his companions disembarked
on the beach at Hatgatiia in 1668. — ARCHIVO HISTORICO NACIONAL. Drawing by Marcelo Ansaldo, $.J., showing where Fr. San Vitores and his companions disembarked on the beach at Hatgatiia in 1668.

SKETCH BY JACQUES ARAGO. Traditional Chamorro village scene.

SKETCH BY ALFONSE PELLION. Chamorro net fishing.

ENGRAVING BY GREGORIO FESMAN. Fr. Diego Luis de San Vitores
by his spirit of poverty along with a naive desire to model the simple dress that
he hoped his catechumens might learn to wear. Around his neck he wore a large
rosary and he carried a long staff with a crucifix attached to the top. The priest, who
was terribly nearsighted and yet refused to wear his glasses because he considered — ENGRAVING BY GREGORIO FESMAN. Fr. Diego Luis de San Vitores by his spirit of poverty along with a naive desire to model the simple dress that he hoped his catechumens might learn to wear. Around his neck he wore a large rosary and he carried a long staff with a crucifix attached to the top. The priest, who was terribly nearsighted and yet refused to wear his glasses because he considered

FROM BOXER CODEX. Chamorro warrior, as sketched around 1590.

supporters of the missionaries and who were only dissimulating while they waited
for an opportunity to exact vengeance for an injury that they or their relatives had
suffered at the hands of the Spanish. — supporters of the missionaries and who were only dissimulating while they waited for an opportunity to exact vengeance for an injury that they or their relatives had suffered at the hands of the Spanish.

SKETCH BY LOUIS AUGUSTE DE SAINSON. Women tending the gardens outside the government center.

Map of Rota drawn by Fr. Alanzo Lopez in 1671.
were “three patricides living there, whom the people of Rota have not been able to
capture despite their best efforts,” wrote one priest.’ When a spear was hurled at
the door of the rectory one evening, the people of the town reacted immediately,
they cleared the brush around the mission and thereafter posted a guard every
evening to watch over the priest. The new village built in the north of the island
was more troubled. The pastor there reported that his church had been burned down
twice during the year. Even so, his letter still overflows with optimism concerning
the strength of Christianity on Rota. “The dead receive Christian burial, and the
sick are brought to the church for the sacraments on the shoulders of relatives,” he

wrote. — Map of Rota drawn by Fr. Alanzo Lopez in 1671. were “three patricides living there, whom the people of Rota have not been able to capture despite their best efforts,” wrote one priest.’ When a spear was hurled at the door of the rectory one evening, the people of the town reacted immediately, they cleared the brush around the mission and thereafter posted a guard every evening to watch over the priest. The new village built in the north of the island was more troubled. The pastor there reported that his church had been burned down twice during the year. Even so, his letter still overflows with optimism concerning the strength of Christianity on Rota. “The dead receive Christian burial, and the sick are brought to the church for the sacraments on the shoulders of relatives,” he wrote.

Popular presentations of this early period of Marianas history often seem to
assume that the goals and values of both parties, Spanish and Chamorro, were
so irreconcilably opposed to one another from the very outset that a clash was
inevitable. The history of the period, in that view, would simply be the unfolding of
the preordained conflict. But history is by definition fluid: the principal actors and
their motives change, and events are bound to reflect the elements of this change
throughout the story. In this piece I have tried to honor that principle by drawing
attention to the dynamics of change that are often ignored: how the motives for
violence may have changed over time, how the Spanish response gradually altered, — Popular presentations of this early period of Marianas history often seem to assume that the goals and values of both parties, Spanish and Chamorro, were so irreconcilably opposed to one another from the very outset that a clash was inevitable. The history of the period, in that view, would simply be the unfolding of the preordained conflict. But history is by definition fluid: the principal actors and their motives change, and events are bound to reflect the elements of this change throughout the story. In this piece I have tried to honor that principle by drawing attention to the dynamics of change that are often ignored: how the motives for violence may have changed over time, how the Spanish response gradually altered,

During his years with Micronesian Seminar, Hezel organized dozens of workshops on a
variety of public issues and gave personal presentations at many conferences organized by
others. He produced over 70 video documentaries for local broadcast, including a seven
hour series on the history of Micronesia. A selftaught historian, Hezel has published twelve
books and more than a hundred articles on Micronesia. His works include two volumes on
the history of Micronesia: The First Taint of Civilization and Strangers in Their Own Land.
He has also written a monograph and a handful of journal articles monographs on the early
Spanish evangelization and colonization of the Marianas. His recent writings include The
New Shape of Old Island Culture, an analysis of cultural change since World War II, and
Making Sense of Micronesia, an attempt to offer a practical guide to the culture of the islands. — During his years with Micronesian Seminar, Hezel organized dozens of workshops on a variety of public issues and gave personal presentations at many conferences organized by others. He produced over 70 video documentaries for local broadcast, including a seven hour series on the history of Micronesia. A selftaught historian, Hezel has published twelve books and more than a hundred articles on Micronesia. His works include two volumes on the history of Micronesia: The First Taint of Civilization and Strangers in Their Own Land. He has also written a monograph and a handful of journal articles monographs on the early Spanish evangelization and colonization of the Marianas. His recent writings include The New Shape of Old Island Culture, an analysis of cultural change since World War II, and Making Sense of Micronesia, an attempt to offer a practical guide to the culture of the islands.