- Second Battle of Acentejo
Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Second Battle of Acentejo
caption=
partof=the Spanish Conquest of the Canary Islands
date=December 25 ,1495
place=Aguere and Acentejo, Tenerife
result=Decisive Spanish victory
combatant1=Castile and Guanche and European allies
combatant2=Guanches of Tenerife
commander1=Alonso Fernández de Lugo
commander2=Tinguaro andBencomo
strength1=700 Castilians, in addition to 800 Guanche allies
strength2=around 6,000
casualties1=
casualties2=The Second Battle of Acentejo was a battle that took place on
December 25 ,1495 , between the invading Spanish forces and the natives of the island ofTenerife , known asGuanches . Whereas in theFirst Battle of Acentejo the Guanches had been favored by their knowledge of the mountainous terrain, in this second engagement, the native forces found themselves at a disadvantage on the plain of Aguere. Thelaurisilva -covered area called Aguere by the natives included Las Mercedes, parts of present-daySan Cristóbal de La Laguna , Ortigal, and other bordering regions.Humiliated and cautious after the First Battle of Acentejo, which had been disastrous for the Spaniards, the
Adelantado (military governor)Alonso Fernández de Lugo advanced gradually across the island, building and rebuilding forts. The expedition, which Lugo had funded with the sale of all of his properties, had landed at Añazo, where he built two towers on the spot where he had constructed his first fort before his prior defeat. He had more experienced troops under his command, including 1,000 foot soldiers, lent to him by theDuke of Medina Sidonia , who were veterans of the conquest ofGranada . Fernández de Lugo also had the support ofFerdinand and Isabella , who had given him ten more months to complete his conquest of the Canaries. During this time of regrouping, he also captured manyslave s in the area.Fernández de Lugo also constructed the new fort of Gracia near present-day
San Cristóbal de La Laguna . This incited combat with the Guanches who were not allied with the Castilians. The battle would take place on the site now occupied by theUniversity of La Laguna .Fernández de Lugo's forces included natives from the other Canary Islands, including the Christianized Guanche prince of
Gran Canaria ,Fernando Guanarteme ; Fernando's brotherManinidra ; Gomerans, Palmeros, and Guanches from the Christianized "menceyato" or kingdom ofGüimar . [http://www.canalboinc.org/modules/news/print.php?storyid=33]The Guanche army divided itself into its typical formation of two regiments, the first commanded by
Tinguaro , the second byBencomo . Ranged against Castilian cavalry and crossbowmen, to which they were unaccustomed, the Guanche forces were decimated. Last-minute reinforcements commanded byFernando Guanarteme also contributed to a Castilian victory.Both
Tinguaro , the military chief responsible for the victory at the First Battle of Acentejo, and his half-brotherBencomo (Benchomo), "mencey" (king) ofTaoro , were killed. Bencomo died on the heights of San Roque. Remaining Guanche forces withdrew to more favorable terrain. Guanche casualties are said to have been so high that it caused anepidemic , which is also said to have forced Fernández de Lugo to move towards Acentejo. This was the end of the first phase of the battle, which is sometimes called the Battle of Aguere or of La Laguna.Advancing along the northern shores of the island, the Spaniards pursued the remaining Guanche forces and faced them once again at Valley of
Taoro , near Acentejo, the site of the first battle, called by the Spaniards La Matanza ("The Slaughter").Fernández de Lugo divided his forces into two, with the Castilians bearing fire-arms taking the advantage. [http://www.frenteblanquiazul.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=fanzine&file=11] After three hours of fighting, the Guanches were defeated. Those who were not made prisoners of the Spaniards fled to the mountains.
With shouts of "Victory! Victory!" the Spanish forces celebrated their triumph, and Alonso Fernández de Lugo erected a hermitage in honor of Our Lady of Victory on the site of the battle. A town grew up around it, called
La Victoria de Acentejo .An old
Canary Island pine , a witness to the battle, still stands in La Victoria de Acentejo. In its shadow the first mass was celebrated on the day of the battle. From its branches a bell was later hung, since the hermitage that Fernández de Lugo built in the same spot lacked a bell tower.The "mencey"
Bentor is said to have thrown himself from the heights of Tigaiga after learning of the outcome of the battle.The Second Battle of Acentejo was certainly not the last battle on Tenerife between the Spaniards and the Guanches, but was certainly the most decisive, resulting in the ultimate incorporation of the island into the kingdom of Castile and the final subjugation of the aborigines.
ources
* José Juan Acosta; Félix Rodríguez Lorenzo; Carmelo L. Quintero Padrón, "Conquista y Colonización" (Santa Cruz de Tenerife: Centro de la Cultura Popular Canaria, 1988), p. 51-2.
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