Gonzalo Guerrero – The Renegade Who Joined The Maya Against His Own People

Ellen Lloyd – AncientPages.com – When Gonzalo Guerrero was a small boy, he dreamed about visiting foreign lands and meeting exotic people. He had heard about Christopher Columbus’ exciting journeys to distant and he also wanted to become famous and experience adventures. His dreams did come true, but perhaps not quite as he imagined them.

Left: A movie was made about the incredible life of Gonzalo Guerrero – Image source – Right: Statue by Raúl Ayala Arellano in Akumal, Quintana Roo commemorating Gonzalo Guerrero – Credit: Public Domain

How could Guerrero have known that he would one day join and fight with an Indian civilization against his own people? Whether we call it fate or destiny, the fact remains that the Spanish soldier Gonzalo Guerrero  (1470 – 1536) became one of the most hated men among the Conquistadors.  He was a traitor and the Spaniards wanted nothing less than seeing him dead.

So, how could a Spaniard switch side and fight with the Maya against his own people?

A Young Gonzalo Guerrero Dreams About Adventures

When Guerrero was a young man, he understood his only option to see new lands was to get on board a Spanish ship and so, one day he decided to follow Columbus.

How he reached Haiti is not entirely clear. However, when Columbus’ son Diego arrived in Haiti in 1509, Guerrero was already there.

Guerrero has sailed together with Gerónimo de Aguilar, a monk from Andalusia. Except for being both from Spain, the two men had nothing in common. Aguilar came to the New World to spread knowledge of Christianity and convert natives. Guerrero, on the other hand, was only interested in adventures and fame.

In life, we don’t always choose our companions, and Guerrero and Aguilar shared events that forced them to depend on each other.

In the year 1510, the adventurer Vasco Núnez de Balboa asked Guerrero and Aguilar to join him on a famous and exciting expedition. They agreed, but instead of becoming colonists, they ended up as slaves.

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