Conquest of the Canary Islands facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Conquest of the Canary Islands
Location of the Canary Islands

The conquest of the Canary Islands by the Crown of Castile happened between 1402 and 1496. It was the first time Europeans tried to settle and take control of land in Africa. This conquest had two main parts: the Conquista señorial (Noblemen's Conquest) and the Conquista realenga (Royal Conquest). The first was led by noble families, and the second by the Spanish Crown itself, especially under the Catholic Monarchs.

Why Europeans Came to the Canaries

The Canary Islands had been connected to the Mediterranean world a long time ago. But these connections weakened after the Western Roman Empire fell. Still, the islands were not completely cut off. During the Middle Ages, Arabic writings mentioned some Atlantic islands that might have been the Canaries. However, this knowledge did not end the isolation of the native people.

After the late 1200s, more Europeans started visiting the islands. This happened for several reasons:

• Growing Trade: European countries like Genoa, Aragon, Castile, and Portugal were expanding their trade. They were already trading along the coast of Morocco.
• New Navigation Tools: Better tools like the compass, astrolabe, and new ship designs like the caravel made long sea voyages easier. Maps also improved. A map from 1339 by Angelino Dulcert was the first to show some of the Canary Islands. This might be when Europeans truly "rediscovered" them. In 1341, an expedition visited all the islands for the first time.
• Power and Religion: Monarchs in Southern Europe wanted to expand their lands. For Spanish kingdoms, this was part of their "reconquista" (reconquest) against the Moors in Southern Spain. Taking new lands helped kings become more powerful. It also had a religious goal, like a crusade, to spread Christianity.

Early European Visits

In the 1300s, many groups wanted control of the Canaries. These included people from Genoa, Majorca, Portugal, and Castile. Later, Castile and Portugal became the main rivals.

Genoese Explorers

The first known European visit to the Canary Islands since ancient times was by Genoese captain Lanceloto Malocello. This was probably between 1318 and 1325. Malocello landed on Lanzarote island and stayed for nearly 20 years. He might have tried to rule the native people but was eventually forced out.

In 1339, a map by Angelino Dulcert from Majorca showed Lanzarote (named Insula de Lanzarotus Marocelus) and Fuerteventura. This was the first European map to show the real Canary Islands.

In 1341, a Portuguese expedition with Florentine and Genoese captains explored the islands for five months. They mapped 13 islands and learned about the native people, the 'Guanches'. They even brought four natives back to Lisbon. This trip later helped Portugal claim the islands.

The Cerda Claim

After the 1341 expedition, Europeans became very interested in the Canaries. The descriptions of the native Guanches made merchants think of new places to capture slaves.

In 1344, a French noble named Luis de la Cerda suggested to Pope Clement VI that the islands should be conquered and the natives converted to Christianity. The Pope agreed. In November 1344, he gave the Canary Islands to Luis de la Cerda forever, calling him "Prince of Fortuna". The Pope even said the conquest would be like a crusade.

Both the Portuguese and Castilian kings protested, saying the islands were theirs. But they still recognized Cerda's title. However, the Iberian kings did not help Cerda organize his trip. So, no expedition happened before Luis de la Cerda died in 1348.

Majorcan and Aragonese Interest

With Cerda gone, other groups continued their efforts. There were a few expeditions by Majorcans (who were now part of Aragon) to the area. These trips were mostly for trade, often to capture natives as slaves for European markets. But there was also peaceful trade for valuable dyes like orchil and dragon's blood.

The Catholic Church still wanted to convert the natives. In 1351, Pope Clement VI supported an expedition to bring Franciscan missionaries to the islands. It is said that these missionaries set up a center in Telde (on Gran Canaria) but were later killed by the natives in 1354.

By 1375, the Catalan Atlas map showed the Canary Islands almost completely and accurately. This showed how much Europeans were learning about the islands.

Portuguese and Castilian Privateers

In the 1370s, Portugal and Castile were fighting. Private ships from both sides often stopped at the Canary Islands for shelter or to raid for slaves.

In 1370, the King of Portugal gave the islands of Lanzarote and La Gomera to an adventurer. He tried to take control but failed after his death in 1385.

Castile's interest grew after 1390. In 1393, an expedition from Cadiz raided Lanzarote. They captured about 170 native people, including the local Guanche king and queen. They also took valuable goods like skins and wax. When they returned to Castile, they told King Henry III of Castile that the islands were easy to conquer and very profitable. This made other adventurers eager to go.

The Conquest Begins

The conquest of the Canary Islands lasted from 1402 to 1496. It was hard because the native Guanches fought back strongly on some islands. It was also politically difficult due to conflicts between the nobles, who wanted more power, and the Crown, which wanted to strengthen its own control.

Historians divide the conquest into two main periods:

• The Noblemen's Conquest (Conquista señorial): This part was carried out by noble families for their own benefit. The Crown gave them permission to conquer the islands, and in return, the nobles promised loyalty to the Crown.

* The first phase was the Bethencourt or Norman Conquest (1402-1405). It was led by Jean de Bethencourt and Gadifer de la Salle. They conquered Lanzarote, El Hierro, and Fuerteventura. * The second phase was the Castilian Noblemen's Conquest. Castilian nobles took control of the islands, sometimes by buying land or through marriage. This phase included the islands already conquered and also La Gomera. It lasted until 1450. The Peraza family became very powerful during this time.

• The Royal Conquest (Conquista realenga): This part was led directly by the Kingdom of Castile under the Catholic Monarchs. They funded and organized the conquest of the remaining islands: Gran Canaria, La Palma, and Tenerife. This conquest ended in 1496, bringing the Canary Islands fully under the control of the Kingdom of Castile. The Royal Conquest took place between 1478 and 1496.

The Bethencourt Conquest

The first part of the conquest was led by the Norman nobles Jean de Bethencourt and Gadifer de la Salle. They wanted to make money. Bethencourt owned textile factories, and the Canaries had plants like orchil that were good for making dyes.

Jean de Bethencourt got support from King Henry III of Castile. His uncle helped him get the king's permission to conquer the islands. Bethencourt promised to be a vassal (loyal subject) of the Castilian King. The story of this conquest was written down in a book called the Canarien.

Taking Lanzarote

The Norman expedition left France and arrived in Lanzarote in the summer of 1402. The native people and their chief, Guadarfia, could not stop the invaders and surrendered. The Normans built a fortress in the south of the island. They also started a bishopric there. From Lanzarote, they tried to attack Fuerteventura.

Taking Fuerteventura

This campaign lasted from 1402 to 1405. It took a long time not because of strong native resistance, but because the two leaders, Bethencourt and Gadifer, had disagreements. They also faced hunger and a lack of supplies. Jean de Bethencourt went to Castile to get more help. King Enrique III gave him the support he needed and confirmed Bethencourt's sole right to conquer the island. This left Gadifer out.

While Bethencourt was away, Gadifer faced two rebellions. One was from some of his own men who started capturing slaves again. The other was from the Lanzarote Guanches, who resisted this practice. It took until 1404 to calm the island. The conquest of Fuerteventura started again later that year. The two commanders worked separately, each building their own forts. The island was fully conquered in 1405 when the native kings surrendered. Gadifer then left the islands and returned to France.

After this victory, Bethencourt, now the sole owner of the islands, went back to Normandy. He wanted to find more settlers and resources to continue conquering the other islands.

Taking El Hierro

The conquest of El Hierro happened in 1405. There was little resistance from the small native population. Most of them were sold as slaves. The island was then settled by Normans and Castilians.

Bethencourt stayed on the islands until 1412. Then he returned to Normandy for good, leaving his nephew, Maciot de Bethencourt, in charge.

The Castilian Noblemen's Conquest

The Bethencourt era ended in 1418. Maciot sold his lands and the rights to conquer the remaining islands to Enrique Pérez de Guzmán. From this point, the King of Castile became more involved.

Between 1418 and 1445, control of the islands changed hands many times. Eventually, the conquered islands and the right to future conquests went to Hernán Peraza The Elder and his children, Guillén Peraza and Inés Peraza. After Guillén Peraza died in an attack on La Palma, Inés and her husband became the sole rulers. They controlled the islands until 1477. Then, they gave La Gomera to their son and sold the rights to conquer La Palma, Gran Canaria, and Tenerife to the King of Castile.

La Gomera was not conquered by battle. It became part of the Peraza-Herrera lands through an agreement with some native groups who accepted Castilian rule. However, there were several native uprisings because the rulers treated the Gomeros badly. The last uprising in 1488 led to the death of the island's ruler, Hernán Peraza The Younger. His widow, Beatriz de Bobadilla y Ossorio, took over and asked for help from Pedro de Vera, who had conquered Gran Canaria. The rebellion was crushed, and many rebels were sold into slavery.

The Royal Conquest

The second period of the Spanish conquest was different in several ways:

• The Catholic Monarchs (Ferdinand and Isabella) directly commanded the invading forces.
• The Crown and wealthy individuals paid for the conquest.
• The islands involved – Gran Canaria, La Palma, and Tenerife – had larger native populations and offered more economic rewards.
• The Guanches on these three islands, especially Gran Canaria and Tenerife, fought back strongly for a long time.

Taking Gran Canaria (1478–1483)

The conquest of Gran Canaria happened in three stages:

a) First Stage (June – December 1478): The first Spanish forces landed on June 24, 1478. They were led by Juan Rejón. They built a fort called Real de La Palmas, which is now Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. A few days later, the Castilians won their first battle, gaining control of the northeast part of the island.

b) Guanche Resistance and Spanish Problems (late 1478 – 1481): During this time, the native people resisted in the mountains. The Spanish also had problems with a lack of men and supplies, and their leaders fought among themselves. Juan Rejón was removed from command. Another leader was executed. Finally, Pedro de Vera became the new governor, ending the internal conflicts by 1481.

c) Ending Resistance and Conquering the Island (1481–83): Pedro de Vera, now in charge, continued the conquest into the island's interior. He received many more soldiers from La Gomera. The brave Guanche leader Doramas was killed in battle. The capture of Tenesor Semidán, the king of Gáldar, was a key moment. Tenesor Semidán was sent to Castile, where he was baptized and became Fernando Guanarteme. He then became a loyal ally of the Castilians. Some people see him as a traitor, while others believe he was a clever leader who saved many lives. On April 29, 1483, Guayarmina Semidán, considered the queen of Gran Canaria, surrendered. On the same day, Chief Bentejuí and his advisor jumped off a cliff, shouting "Atis Tirma" (for my land).

Taking La Palma (1492–93)

Alonso Fernández de Lugo, who helped conquer Gran Canaria, was given the rights to conquer La Palma and Tenerife by the Catholic Monarchs. He would get a share of the captives and money if he finished the conquest within a year.

Lugo partnered with merchants to pay for the expedition. They shared the costs and benefits.

The campaign was relatively easy. It started on September 29, 1492, when the Castilians landed in Tazacorte. Alonso Fernández de Lugo made agreements with the Guanche chiefs, promising them equal rights with the Castilians. This helped him gain their support. Most resistance was small, except in the area of Aceró (Caldera de Taburiente). The chief, Tanausú, was able to hold out because the area was easy to defend.

Fearing he would lose his bonus, Fernández de Lugo tricked Tanausú into a meeting. The Castilians ambushed and captured Tanausú when he left the Caldera. He was sent to Castile as a prisoner but died of starvation on the journey. The conquest officially ended on May 3, 1493. After this, some of the native people were sold as slaves, but most became part of the new society.

Taking Tenerife (1494–96)

Tenerife was the last island to be conquered and the hardest. Although the main conquest happened between 1494 and 1496, attempts to take the island started as early as 1464. So, it took 32 years for the island to be fully conquered.

In 1464, the Lord of the Canary Islands, Diego Garcia de Herrera, symbolically took possession of Tenerife. He signed a peace treaty with the native kings (menceyes). This allowed a tower to be built where Guanches and Europeans traded. But the Guanches tore it down around 1472.

In 1492, an expedition organized by the governor of Gran Canaria ended badly for the Europeans. They were defeated by the Guanches of Anaga.

In December 1493, Alonso Fernández de Lugo got the Catholic Monarchs to confirm his right to conquer Tenerife. He gave up his bonus from La Palma to become governor of Tenerife.

Lugo paid for the conquest by selling his sugar plantations and partnering with Italian merchants.

At the time of the conquest, Tenerife was divided into nine kingdoms called Menceyatos. These kingdoms were split into two groups:

• The "peace party" (bando de paz) in the south and east. These people had contact with Castilians before, often through missionaries.
• The "war party" (bando de guerra) in the north. These kingdoms strongly resisted the invasion.

The Spanish forces sailed from Gran Canaria in April 1494. They landed near what is now Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The force had about 2,000 foot soldiers and 200 cavalry. These were Castilians and soldiers from other Canary Islands. After building a fort, they moved inland. They tried to negotiate with Bencomo, the most important king in the "war party". They offered peace if he accepted Christianity and submitted to the Catholic Monarchs. Bencomo refused, making a fight unavoidable.

The first big battle was the First Battle of Acentejo. It happened in a ravine in what is now La Matanza de Acentejo. The Spanish force of over 2,000 men advanced into the north. The Guanches ambushed them, and the Spanish suffered a huge defeat, losing 80% of their soldiers. Alonso Fernández de Lugo barely escaped to Gran Canaria. There, he gathered a new, better-trained army with more money from Genoese merchants and Castilian nobles. After the battle, the Guanches destroyed the Spanish fort.

Alonso Fernández de Lugo received much more help and supplies. He returned to Tenerife with a stronger army. After rebuilding the fort, he advanced towards the plains of Aguere (San Cristóbal de La Laguna). In November, he defeated Bencomo in the Battle of Aguere. Bencomo made a mistake by fighting the Castilians in open ground. The use of cavalry and help from Fernando Guanarteme (the former king of Gáldar) were key to the Castilian victory. The Guanches lost 1,700 men, including Bencomo. It is also said that an epidemic, called the "great drowsiness," weakened the native population before the battle.

In December 1495, after a long period of small fights and weariness from war, the Castilians advanced again. A large Guanche force waited for them in a ravine near La Victoria de Acentejo, close to the site of the first battle. The Castilian victory in the Second Battle of Acentejo broke the native resistance. This battle marked the conquest of Tenerife and the end of the conquest of the Canary Islands.

The conquest of Tenerife officially ended on July 25, 1496, in the Orotava Valley. A peace treaty was signed between the Taoro mencey and Alonso Fernández de Lugo. To celebrate the end of fighting, the first Christian church, Parroquia Matriz del Apóstol Santiago, was built there, honoring the patron saint of Spain.

Images for kids

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  Portolan of Angelino Dulcert (1339) showing Lanzarote island

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  Canary islands in Pizzigani brothers chart (1367)

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  Catalan Atlas (1375)

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  Reconstruction of a Guanche council

See also

• Kingdom of the Canary Islands
• Battle of Aguere
• First Battle of Acentejo
• Second Battle of Acentejo