Pelicar (mencey) facts for kids
Pelicar was a brave Guanche king from the island of Tenerife. He was the leader, or mencey, of a region called Menceyato of Icode. Pelicar lived during the time when the Spanish arrived to conquer Tenerife in the late 1400s.
Fighting for Tenerife
In 1494, Pelicar joined forces with Bencomo, another powerful Guanche king from Menceyato de Taoro. Their goal was to stop the Spanish invaders. Pelicar's region, Icode, became part of the war effort.
Some historians, like Viera y Clavijo, thought Pelicar might not have fully trusted Bencomo. They believed Pelicar was careful about Bencomo's plans. Despite this, the Guanches faced many challenges.
After several defeats, important Guanche kings like Bencomo, Tinguaro, and Bentor were lost. In 1496, Pelicar and his people finally surrendered. This event is known as the Paz de Los Realejos, or "Peace of Los Realejos."
A Journey to Spain
After the surrender, Pelicar was taken to Spain. He traveled with six other Guanche kings. They were presented to the Catholic Monarchs, the king and queen of Spain.
However, something unfair happened to Pelicar. The royal butler, Pedro Patiño, was supposed to look after him. Instead, Patiño sold Pelicar into slavery. Luckily, the king and queen soon found out. They ordered Pelicar to be set free right away.
We don't know much about what happened to Pelicar after that. It is thought that he might have lived out his days as a free man in Seville, a city in Spain.
See also
In Spanish: Pelicar para niños
