First Battle of Acentejo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids First Battle of Acentejo
Part of the Spanish Conquest of the Canary Islands
Date 31 May 1494 Location La Matanza de Acentejo, Tenerife Result Guanche victory
Belligerents
Castile and Guanche and European allies	Guanches of Tenerife
Commanders and leaders
Alonso Fernández de Lugo	Bencomo and Tinguaro
Strength
around 1,120	around 300 under Tinguaro and 3,000 with Bencomo
Casualties and losses
around 900–1,000	unknown

The First Battle of Acentejo was an important fight on the island of Tenerife. It happened on May 31, 1494. This battle was part of the Spanish effort to take over the Canary Islands.

In this battle, the native people of Tenerife, called the Guanches, fought against an army of Spaniards and other Europeans. The Guanches won this battle, which was a big surprise for the Spanish forces.

Who Fought in the Battle?

The Spanish army was led by Alonso Fernández de Lugo. He was known as an Adelantado, which means he was a military governor. He had sold his own property to pay for this mission to conquer Tenerife.

Some Guanche groups were already friendly with the Spanish. These groups were called bandos de paz (peace groups). They included people from areas like Guimar, Abona, Adeje, and later Anaga.

Alonso Fernández de Lugo landed in Tenerife in April 1494. He built a strong camp near what is now Santa Cruz de Tenerife. He tried to make peace with other Guanche groups, like the one from Taoro.

The Guanches Prepare for Battle

The leader of Taoro was named Bencomo. He refused to make peace with the Spanish. Instead, Bencomo decided to form his own alliance. He brought together Guanche groups from Tacoronte, Tegueste, Daute, and Icod. These groups were ready to fight the Spanish.

The Battle Begins

Alonso Fernández de Lugo and his army moved into the island. They went through the area where San Cristóbal de La Laguna is today. They reached a place called Acentejo.

The Spanish made a big mistake. They walked right into a deep valley, or ravine. This valley is now called Barranco de San Antonio. The Guanches knew this land very well.

Guanche Tactics and Weapons

Even though the Spanish had better weapons like cannons and guns, the Guanches had an advantage. The Spanish soldiers wore armor and carried shields. But the Guanches attacked them from the sides of the valley. They threw stones and spears made of hardened wood, called banotes.

The thick trees and rough ground made it hard for the Spanish to use their horses. The Guanches were very fast and knew the land perfectly. This helped them win the upper hand.

The Guanche army had about 3,300 men. They were led by Bencomo and his half-brother, Tinguaro. Tinguaro was the chief of the Acentejo area.

The Ambush

Tinguaro led 300 men to ambush the first part of the Spanish army. While they were fighting, Bencomo arrived with 3,000 more men. He attacked the back of the spread-out European forces. The Spanish army was caught by surprise and surrounded.

The Outcome of the Battle

This battle was a huge defeat for the Spanish. It's believed that about 900 to 1,000 Spanish soldiers died. This was almost all of their army of 1,120 men.

Alonso Fernández de Lugo was hurt, but he managed to escape. He switched his special red cape with a common soldier's clothes to avoid being recognized. He and about 200 surviving soldiers had to leave Tenerife. They sailed back to Gran Canaria.

After the Defeat

Even after this big loss, Alonso Fernández de Lugo did not give up. He later returned to Tenerife with more soldiers. He fought and defeated the Guanches in two other major battles. These were the Battle of Aguere and the Second Battle of Acentejo. There were also smaller fights, like the Battle of Las Peñuelas.

Today, a town stands where this battle took place. It is called La Matanza de Acentejo, which means "The Slaughter of Acentejo." There is a large painting there that remembers the Guanches' victory.

This battle was the biggest defeat for Spain in its efforts to expand across the Atlantic Ocean. It showed how strong and clever the native people of Tenerife were.

See also

In Spanish: Primera batalla de Acentejo para niños