wikipedia

The Devastations of Osorio (Spanish: Devastaciones de Osorio) , also known as Depopulations of Hispaniola[2], were an event in the history of the Spanish colony of Santo Domingo (now the Dominican Republic and Haiti) in the early 17th century. The devastations took place as the result of the order given by King Philip III of Spain to the governor Antonio de Osorio (hence the name), to depopulate the western and northern regions of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, by force if necessary, in order to end the smuggling that flourished in those areas. Osorio then implemented this order between 1605 and 1606.[3][4][5]