The Massacre of Caonao
For Las Casas, the most determining event in his conversion was the massacre of Caonao. A Spanish entrada under the command of Panfilo de Narvaez, who would later attain fame being captured by Hernan Cortes, stumbled upon a large bohio, a rounded house with a thatch roof. Around 500 Indians were huddled inside, no doubt frightened by the armed invaders. One conquistador suddenly attacked the group, and others followed in a kind of bloodthirsty frenzy. Las Casas watched as hundreds of unarmed innocents were hacked to death by Spanish swords. In the midst of the slaughter, Las Casas appealed to Narveaz to subdue this madness. However, Narveaz ignored Las Casas, choosing instead to remain on his horse and watch the unfolding spectacle. Las Casas was dumbfounded by this unwarranted slaughter of men, women, and children, and realized that the Indians were being, and would continue to be, victimized for the sake of gold and sugar. He freed the Indians in his own encomienda, and began to openly oppose not only the entrapment and forced servitude of the Indians, but also the mandatory conversions so many Indians had been subjected to.