Gaspar Yanga
Gaspar Yanga — often simply Yanga or Nyanga (May 14, 1545 – 1618) 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.
Gaspar Yanga | |
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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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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"). In 1932 the settlement he formed, located in today's state of Veracruz, was renamed as Yanga in his honor.