Agüeybaná (died 1510) was the principal and most powerful cacique[4][a] (chief) of the Taíno people in Borikén, modern-day Puerto Rico, when the Spanish first arrived on the island on November 19, 1493.
Agüeybana, which has been interpreted by 19th and 20th century authors as meaning "The Great Sun", was the hereditary title shared by the family that ruled the theocratic monarchy of Borikén, governing the hierarchy over the rest of the regional chiefs or caciques.
After this had been accomplished, Agüeybaná accompanied the conquistador to the island of La Española (what today comprises the nations of the Dominican Republic and Haiti), where he was well received by the Governor Nicolás de Ovando.
[12] Taínos in Puerto Rico either abandoned the island, were forced to labor as slaves; others were killed off by Spaniard artillery- in what was thought to be, until recently, a complete extinction.
Puerto Rico has named many public buildings and streets after him: Many songs and poems, by poets such as Juan Antonio Corretjer, among others, have been written about Agüeybaná.