Menceyato of Güímar

Tenerife prior to the Castilian conquest.

A statue of the Mencey Añaterve. Candelaria, Tenerife.

Güímar was one of nine menceyatos guanches (native kingdom) that was divided island of Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain) at the time of the arrival of the Castilian conquerors. Occupied an area significantly greater than the actual municipality of Güímar, including part of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, El Rosario, Candelaria, Arafo and Fasnia, himself and perhaps a small part of the town of Arico.

In Güímar saw the appearance of the image of the Virgin of Candelaria (patroness of the Canary Islands). Hence, this city played an important role in the evangelization of the whole archipelago. It is believed that the first Mencey of Güímar could have been Acaymo, later succeeded by his son Añaterve. The latter who would reign in time of the conquest of Tenerife by Alonso Fernandez de Lugo.

References

• Menceyatos de Tenerife