Mastiff dogs were used as war weapons. (typau / Adobe Stock ) Becerrillo: The ‘Bull’ That Was Trained To Kill
Becerrillo, a name meaning ‘Little Bull,’ was a brown-eyed, red pelted mastiff owned by Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León but often entrusted to the care of conquistadors Captain Diego Guilarte de Salazar and Sancho de Aragón.
Becerrillo’s origins are uncertain, but it is believed he was born in the Americas in the kennels of Ponce de León. The earliest records of him date to 1511, but by then he was already described as sporting battle scars.
Ponce de León was the conqueror of Puerto Rico . After landing there in 1508, he filled his pockets with gold before convincing Christopher Columbus’s son, Diego, to declare him governor of the island. He then set out with men and dogs to subdue the native population and become rich.
17th century Spanish engraving (colored) of Juan Ponce de León ( Public domain
He trained his prized possession Becerrillo to become a powerful weapon. The dog was taught to distinguish between the Spanish and the natives, to search out and cut down runaway captives, and to kill in battle.
The 16th-century Spanish historian and chronicler, Bartolomé de las Casas, reported that Becerrillo “attacked his enemies with frenzied rage and defended his friends with great courage…,” adding that the indigenous people were “more afraid of ten Spanish soldiers with Becerrillo than a hundred by themselves.”
Becerrillo was so skilled at tracking down, killing and terrorizing the natives, that he was worth 50 soldiers to Ponce in his campaign to subdue the Taíno people of Puerto Rico.
In 1512, Ponce de León’s luck would change. Diego Columbus became envious of the riches that Ponce de León was acquiring in Puerto Rico. Diego convinced the king to name him governor instead, officially usurping Ponce. Not ready to let go of his pursuit of wealth, Ponce secured a grant to conquer an island named Bimini, that rumor had it was full of gold and treasures. He set sail in 1512, leaving Becerrillo under the care of Guilarte de Salazar and Sancho de Aragón .
Salazar was quick to utilize Becerrillo in battle. One night, Becerrillo alerted the conquistadors of a surprise attack being launched by the natives. Salazar launched into action with the dog by his side, and in just 30 minutes, Becerrillo had savaged and killed 33 of the natives, leaving behind a battleground of bodies.
Becerrillo Shows Mercy
While Becerrillo had been trained to kill, one historical account, related in Coren’s Pawprints of History , tells a tale of mercy. The conquistadors were camped outside the settlement of Caparra in Puerto Rico waiting for the arrival of the Spanish governor. Looking for something to amuse themselves, Salazar gave a folded piece of paper to an old woman, telling her to deliver it to the governor. As the woman began on her way, Salazar released Becerrillo commanding him to kill her. As the dog raced towards her, the woman dropped to her knees and was reported to have called out "Please, my Lord Dog. I am on my way to take this letter to Christians. I beg you, my Lord Dog, please do not hurt me."
Becerrillo sniffed the woman and then, disobeying his master’s orders, turned and walked away. When the governor was told what had occurred, he released the old woman and forbade any further terrorizing of the locals, declaring “I will not allow the compassion and clemency of a dog to overshadow those of a real Christian.”
https://www.ancient-origins.net/history-ancient-traditions/becerrillo-0014283
