52 pages • 1-hour read
Chronicle of the Narvaez Expedition
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Index of Terms
“Christians”
Cabeza de Vaca divides the people in the Americas into two categories: “Christian” and “Indian.” “Christian” is used to denote Europeans, or enslaved people attached to a European. It is possible that Estevanico, the Moor who survives along with Cabeza de Vaca, Dorantes, and Castillo, is not a converted Christian and still maintains his Islamic beliefs; however, he is always included under the denotation “Christian.”
“Indians”
Even though Cabeza de Vaca learns the names of many peoples, for many reasons he simply refers to any Indigenous peoples as “Indians,” a term derived from the earlier European belief that the Americas were part of the Orient (i.e., the Indies).
Governor
Cabeza de Vaca uses the title adelantado, a colonial governor in the Spanish Empire. The term literally means “advanced” and was granted exclusively by the monarch. The adelantado was granted control of a specific region and was expected to conquer and govern the area. The term dates to the Middle Ages.
Magistrate
The original word used by Cabeza de Vaca was alcalde, which can also translate to “mayor.” Not only was a magistrate under the command of a viceroy, but in the earliest years of conquest an adelantado could appoint alcaldes in their areas.
Cacique
Cacique is the Spanish derivation of a Taino word for chieftain, which was used for any tribal ruler the Spanish encountered. The Taino were the first people Columbus encountered when he landed on the island of Hispaniola, modern-day Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
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