Columbus had sailed to the Americans, colonizing and establishing Spanish rule over the natives that had inhabited the Americas for centuries prior. Millions of Natives died due to disease, warfare and conflict with the Spanish leading to the Spanish bringing millions of enslaved Africans to the Americas and Caribbean.
Oliver Cromwell takes over the British Isles and officially rules as the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England. Cromwell hopes to take over Spanish colonies and engages in warfare with the Spanish over Jamaica.
The British fight against the Spanish over present-day Jamaica which eventually leads to hundreds of thousands of slaves escaping deeper into the island, developing the first maroon communities that resisted slavery. These communities flourish and fight against British encroachment after the Spanish officially give up control over Jamaica in 1670 through the Treaty of Madrid.
The escaped Africans split into two major groups: the Windward Maroons in eastern Jamaica (Blue Mountains, John Crow Mountains) and the Leeward Maroons in western Jamaica (Cockpit Country). Windward Maroons were led by Nanny and the Leeward Maroons were believed to have been led by her brother Cudjoe. This was primarily due to their geographic differences and the rough terrain that separated both communities from one another.
Nanny is believed to have taken over as the first commander and ruler of the Windward Maroons in the early 1700's. She established Nanny Town, a stronghold deep in the Blue Mountains. The Windward Maroons used guerrilla warfare, ambushing British forces and raiding plantations for supplies.
The Leeward Maroons sign a peace treaty with the British agreeing to end the warfare between the two. The agreement also required the Maroons help recapture escaped slaves.
The Windward Maroons sign an agreement with the British agreeing to end the warfare between the two. The agreement was separate from the one signed by the Leeward Maroons, however it also entailed that the Windward Maroons help recapture escaped slaves. The agreement granted land to Nanny and the Windward Maroons to settle on and recognized them as their own body.