Gaspar Yanga | |
|---|---|
 Statue of Yanga in Yanga, Veracruz | |
| Born | 14 May 1545 |
| Died | After 1618 San Lorenzo de los Negros, New Spain |
| Nationality | Afro-Mexican, possibly of Bran ancestry |
| Occupation | Revolutionary |
| Known for | Established and achieved self-government for a maroon colony of freed slaves |
| Part of a series on |
| North American slave revolts |
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Gaspar Yanga — often simply Yanga or Nyanga (May 14, 1545 – 1618)[1] was an African who led a maroon colony of enslaved Africans in the highlands near Veracruz, Mexico (then New Spain) during the early period of Spanish colonial rule. He successfully resisted a Spanish attack on the colony in 1609. The maroons continued their raids on Spanish settlements. Finally in 1618, Yanga achieved an agreement with the colonial government for self-rule of the maroon settlement. It was later called San Lorenzo de los Negros, and also San Lorenzo de Cerralvo.[2]
In the late 19th century, Yanga was named as a "national hero of Mexico" and "The first liberator of America" ("El Primer Libertador de América").[3][4] In 1932 the settlement he formed, located in today's state of Veracruz, was renamed as Yanga in his honor.
- ^ Luis Camilla, "Gaspar Yanga", Black Past, accessed 10 December 2014
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
AfricaAmericaswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Gaspar Yanga, el primer libertador de América - México desconocido magazine [1]
- ^ Lucio Acosta, Carlos (1983). "Yanga, primer libertador de América". cdigital.uv.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-12-06.