ABSTRACT
In 1690, a French force of 900 men entered the northern Spanish region of Hispaniola and headed to the town of Santiago de los Caballeros, in the north of the island. When the Spanish lookout stationed at the edge of town informed the commander of Hispaniola’s northern forces, Antonio Pichardo de Vinuesa, of the appearance of the advancing troops, he mustered the city’s ghting force, called for reinforcements from nearby Spanish towns, and readied the defenses. Once they reached the outskirts of town, the French soldiers sent a message to the Spanish troops: no harm would befall the townfolk of Santiago as long as they swore loyalty to the king of France. If they refused, they would suffer a merciless attack. Pichardo gathered all the captains in a military council, who agreed to allow the enemy to enter the town and surround it, which would let the French wreak havoc and destroy a great number of houses. As part of the scheme, two captains volunteered to ambush the enemy.
