Orocobix

Orocobix was the principal regional Taíno Cacique (chief) of the central mountain region of Puerto Rico called Jatibonicu in the 16th century. The Jatibonicu territorial region covered the present day municipalities of Aibonito, Orocovis, Barranquitas, Morovis and Corozal. The Taíno language name Orocobix or O-roco-bis literally means: 'Remembrance of the First Great Mountain.'

The seat of power of Orocobix's kingdom and caney (longhouse) was located in the town of Aibonito. Orocobix was the first cousin of Cacique Agüeybaná (The Great Sun). His wife was named "La Cacica" Yayo, she was the mother of Cacica Catalina. Cacique Orocobix and Cacica Yayo were both later enslaved in the year 1514 and worked in the Royal Mines of the King of Spain, in Utuado. Orocobix also had a younger brother, named Cacique Oromico, who was the chief of the tribal region of Horomico, that today bears the same name of the town of Hormigueros.

Surveyors in 1952 claimed that Palo Hincado, a barrio in Barranquitas may have been the home of Orocobix.^[1]

^ Rouse, I. (1952). Porto Rican Prehistory: Excavations in the Interior, South and East: Chronological Implications. Scientific survey of Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The Academy. Retrieved 11 April 2020. Palo Hincado may have been the residence of chief Orocobix, the historic ruler of the district of Jatibonico. It corresponds well to the position usually given for his village (FIGURE 2:11).

[Rouse_1952_p.-1] Rouse, I. (1952). Porto Rican Prehistory: Excavations in the Interior, South and East: Chronological Implications. Scientific survey of Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The Academy. Retrieved 11 April 2020. Palo Hincado may have been the residence of chief Orocobix, the historic ruler of the district of Jatibonico. It corresponds well to the position usually given for his village (FIGURE 2:11).

[1]