Hineti
Spanish ally
Originating from the Sinajana area, Ignacio Hineti is known as a Spanish sympathizer responsible for thwarting a surprise Chamorro uprising in Hagåtña in 1684. He was known only as “Hineti,” until he was baptized and given the name “Ignacio.”
His allegiance to the Christians has been attributed to his probable manachang or lower caste status, having been born at an inland, hilly location. Only the high caste Chamorri matua lived near the coast. Christianity afforded the lower class a new status in society that they otherwise would have had to have been born into. Like their leader, Hineti’s soldiers were no doubt lower class manachang as well.
An attack on the governor’s palacio or palace was organized by Chamorro warrior Antonio Yura, and consisted of forty to sixty Chamorros. Don Joseph de Quiroga, a Spanish military commander, was leading an assault on Chamorros in the neighboring island of Saipan at the time, which left the Spanish army on Guam at less than full strength. As the Chamorros moved through the Hagåtña mission, they killed some of the Spanish including the Superior Father Emmanuel de Solorzano and wounded Spanish Governor Damian de Esplana.
At that point Yura’s forces made a fatal mistake. Instead of capitalizing on their position and finishing off the unprotected priests and government officials, Yura’s warriors retreated. Hineti’s soliders managed to drive off the attackers before too much damage was done and fortify their defenses.
As the Charmorros attempted an another attack weeks later on the Hagåtña mission, Hineti led the ground forces under the cover of Spanish muskets. Hineti and his troops were initially charged with the protection of the school, church and missionaries homes. Convinced that he could kill the remaining fighters, Hineti pleaded for Spanish troops to follow him into battle. But Hineti was called back to the fort by Governor Esplana where his soldiers received cover from the musket’s fire. Noticing that the Chamorros threw themselves to the ground when they expected gunfire, he timed his attacks from the fort accordingly.
Warriors with Yura who survived the four month battle fled to Rota.
For further reading
Hezel, Francis. “From Conversion to Conquest: The Early Spanish Mission in the Marianas.” Journal of Pacific History 17 (1982): 3-4; 115-37. Also available online at MicSem (accessed April 2, 2008).
Le Gobien, Charles. Histories des Isles Marianes. Paris: 1700. A manuscript translated into English is available at the University of Guam Richard F. Taitano Micronesian Area Research Center.
Political Status Education Coordinating Commission. Hale-ta – I Manfåyi: Who’s Who in Chamorro History. Vol. 1. Hagåtña: Political Status Education Coordinating Commission, 1995.
Rogers, Robert. Destiny’s Landfall: A History of Guam. Honolulu: University of Hawai`i Press, 1995.