Laureano Tacuavé Martínez

Who is Laureano Tacuavé Martínez?

Laurent Vacouabé was a young native American from present day Uruguay. Son of Eustaquio Tacuavé and Francisca Martínez, younger brother of María Manuel Tacuavé and Apolinaria Tacuavé. It is uncertain if he was Charrúa of Guaraní and Spaniard descents or if he was Guaraní of Spanish-Charrúan descents.

After the European conquest and colonization, the Charrúa population declined at the hands of local authorities, being practically exterminated in a massacre led by Bernabé Rivera on 11 April 1831.

Four surviving Charrúa were captured at Salsipuedes. These were Tacuabé; his partner María Micaela Guyunusa, daughter of María Rosa, born on 1806; Senaca o Senaqué, a 52-57 year old medicine man and warrior; and Vaimaca-Piru, a 54 year old warrior and a general of Artigas. All four were taken to Paris, France by François Curel on November 11, 1833, where they were exhibited to the public as a circus attraction. Tacuabé had also a musical instrument.

Guyunusa and Vaimaca gave birth to a daughter few months after they were taken. Vaimaca, Senaque and Guyunusa died during the first year in France. Eventually they all died in France, including the baby.