Unravel the Fascinating Tapestry of Tenerife’s History: From Ancient Secrets to Modern Marvels! Explore the Enchanting Past of this Island Paradise
When the Spanish conquerors arrived in Tenerife, the island was divided into nine small kingdoms or menceyatos, each under the command of a monarch or mencey, who was advised by an assembly of elders.
The Guanches, the pre-Hispanic inhabitants of Tenerife, dressed in rough skins and everything indicates that they did not know the art of navigation. However, they buried their dead with great care, mummifying them with very effective techniques in some cases, and they had a special taste for ornaments. They worked with clay, although they did not know how to use a lathe, and their spears (añepas) ended in sharp natural points of volcanic stone.
Tenerife was the last island to be conquered, already for the Catholic Monarchs. The battle was bloody and the Spaniards, under the command of Alonso Fernández de Lugo, suffered some spectacular defeats, such as that at La Matanza in 1494. A year later, Fernández de Lugo returned with a new army and the fortunes of the battlefield changed. Some menceyes allied themselves with the invaders.
Others, like Bentor, preferred suicide to surrender.
The conquest of Tenerife and the Canary Islands ended in 1496 with the victory of Bencomo, Mencey de Taoro, in what is now the Valle de La Orotava.
When the Spanish conquerors arrived in Tenerife, the island was divided into nine small kingdoms or menceyatos, each under the command of a monarch or mencey, who was advised by an assembly of elders.
The Guanches, the pre-Hispanic inhabitants of Tenerife, dressed in rough skins and everything indicates that they did not know the art of navigation. However, they buried their dead with great care, mummifying them with very effective techniques in some cases, and they had a special taste for ornaments. They worked with clay, although they did not know how to use a lathe, and their spears (añepas) ended in sharp natural points of volcanic stone.
Tenerife was the last island to be conquered, already for the Catholic Monarchs. The battle was bloody and the Spaniards, under the command of Alonso Fernández de Lugo, suffered some spectacular defeats, such as that at La Matanza in 1494. A year later, Fernández de Lugo returned with a new army and the fortunes of the battlefield changed. Some menceyes allied themselves with the invaders.
Others, like Bentor, preferred suicide to surrender.
The conquest of Tenerife and the Canary Islands ended in 1496 with the victory over Bencomo, mencey de Taoro, in what is now the Valle de La Orotava.
When the Spanish conquerors arrived in Tenerife, the island was divided into nine small kingdoms or menceyatos, each under the command of a monarch or mencey, who was advised by an assembly of elders.
The Guanches, pre-Hispanic inhabitants of Tenerife, dressed roughly in skins, and everything indicates that they did not know the art of navigation. However, they buried their dead with great care, mummifying them with very effective techniques in some cases, and they had a special taste for ornaments. They worked with clay, although they did not know how to use a lathe, and their spears (añepas) ended in sharp natural points of volcanic stone.
Tenerife was the last island to be conquered, already for the Catholic Monarchs. The battle was bloody and the Spaniards, led by Alonso Fernández de Lugo, suffered some spectacular defeats, such as that of La Matanza in 1494. A year later, Fernández de Lugo returned with a new army and the fortunes of the battlefield changed. Some menceyes allied themselves with the invaders.
Others, like Bentor, preferred suicide to surrender.
The conquest of Tenerife and the Canary Islands ended in 1496 with the victory of Bencomo, Mencey de Taoro, in what is now the Valle de La Orotava.
When the Spanish conquerors arrived in Tenerife, the island was divided into nine small kingdoms or menceyatos, each under the command of a monarch or mencey, who was advised by an assembly of elders.
The Guanches, the pre-Hispanic inhabitants of Tenerife, dressed in rough skins and everything indicates that they did not know the art of navigation. However, they buried their dead with great care, mummifying them with very effective techniques in some cases, and they had a special taste for ornaments. They worked with clay, although they did not know how to use a lathe, and their spears (añepas) ended in sharp natural points of volcanic stone.
Tenerife was the last island to be conquered, already for the Catholic Monarchs. The battle was bloody and the Spaniards, led by Alonso Fernández de Lugo, suffered some spectacular defeats, such as that of La Matanza in 1494. A year later, Fernández de Lugo returned with a new army and the fortunes of the battlefield changed. Some menceyes allied themselves with the invaders.
Others, like Bentor, preferred suicide to surrender.
The conquest of Tenerife and the Canary Islands ended in 1496 with the victory of Bencomo, Mencey de Taoro, in what is now the Valle de La Orotava.