Hernan Peraza the Elder facts for kids

Hernán Peraza Martel (born around 1390 in Seville, died 1452 in San Sebastián de La Gomera) was an important Spanish nobleman and explorer. He became the ruler, or territorial lord, of the Canary Islands in the 1400s.

He also founded the towns of San Sebastián de La Gomera and Valverde.

About Hernán Peraza

Early Life and Family

Hernán Peraza was likely born in Seville, Spain, around the late 1300s. His father, Gonzalo Pérez Martel, was a powerful lord and official in Seville. His mother was Leonor Ruiz Peraza.

By 1410, Hernán Peraza was involved in the olive oil trade. He also held important positions in Seville, like being in charge of the Castle of Matrera.

In the 1430s, he started working in the Canary Islands. He helped Guillén de las Casas and his father-in-law, Juan, who owned rights to some of the islands.

Becoming Lord of the Canary Islands

Hernán Peraza had some rights to the Canary Islands through his father. King Enrique III of Castile had given his family permission to conquer the islands in 1391.

When Hernán married Inés de las Casas, he received the island of Fuerteventura. This was a gift from his father-in-law, Juan de las Casas.

In 1445, Peraza made a deal with Guillén de las Casas. He traded his land in Spain for Guillén's rights to the other islands. This included Tenerife, La Gomera, La Palma, Gran Canaria, El Hierro, and Lanzarote. This deal meant that Hernán Peraza now controlled most of the Canary Islands.

Moving to the Islands

In 1447, Hernán Peraza moved to the Canary Islands with his son, Guillén. They arrived with three ships and were welcomed in Fuerteventura.

While Hernán organized the new government, he also sent ships to other islands. These trips were to find people to enslave and goods to take. This helped pay for the conquest.

One ship, led by a relative and carrying his son Guillén, went to La Palma. The local people fought back and defeated the explorers. Sadly, Guillén died during this fight.

Guillén's death was a very important and sad event for the Canary Islands. It made nobles in Spain very upset. It also made Hernán Peraza treat the native people more harshly. Guillén's death even inspired a famous sad poem called Endechas a la muerte de Guillén Peraza.

After this, Hernán Peraza tried to land in Gran Canaria. But many local people were waiting on the beaches, so his army could not land.

Taking Control of El Hierro

The island of El Hierro had been taken over before, but the local people, called the Bimbaches, had returned to their old ways.

In November 1448, Peraza arrived on El Hierro with his army. He wanted to take control again. With help from an island princess who had been captured earlier, Peraza convinced the Bimbache king, Osinisa, to accept his rule.

Once the island was under his control, Peraza founded the town of Valverde. He left his relative, Luis González Martel de Tapia, as governor. Luis married a daughter of the former Bimbache king.

Taking Control of La Gomera

In January 1450, Peraza reached La Gomera. The local king there agreed to his rule. However, some parts of the island, like Hermigua and Agana, had been allied with Portugal. They rebelled against Peraza.

Because of this, Peraza decided to build a tower in Ipalan, where the best port was. This tower is now known as La Torre del Conde, or "The Tower of the Count."

Peraza also had to defend against several attacks from the Portuguese in 1450 and 1452.

Visiting Tenerife

Peraza continued to explore other islands without fully conquering them. During one trip to Tenerife, he captured a young Guanche boy who was fishing.

Peraza took the boy as a servant and named him Antón. Years later, Antón returned to Tenerife. He taught the Guanche people about the Virgin of Candelaria.

Personal Life

Hernán Peraza married Inés de las Casas by 1424. Her family was very important and helped him gain control of the islands.

Their son, Guillén Peraza, died in a battle on La Palma. Because of this, the right to rule the Canary Islands passed to their daughter, Inés Peraza.

Hernán Peraza died in San Sebastián de La Gomera in 1452.

See also

In Spanish: Hernán Peraza el Viejo para niños

• Peraza Family
• Conquest of the Canary Islands
• History of the Canary Islands

Images for kids

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  This is "Torre del Conde," a tower built by Hernán Peraza in 1450.