Alonso Fernández de Lugo

Alonso Fernández de Lugo
Alonso Fernández de Lugo founds the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Painting by Manuel González Méndez in the Parliament of the Canary Islands.
Born	c. 1456 Sanlúcar de Barrameda
Died	May 20, 1525 (aged 69) San Cristóbal de La Laguna
Other name	Alonso de Lugo
Occupations	Conquistador, alcaide, governor, captain general
Years active	1478–1525
Known for	Conquests of Gran Canaria, La Palma and Tenerife
Title	Adelantado of the Canary Islands
Successor	Pedro Fernández de Lugo
Spouse(s)	Violante de Valdés ​ ​ (m. 1475⁠–⁠1490)​ Beatriz de Bobadilla ​ ​ (m. 1498⁠–⁠1504)​ Juana de Masiéres ​ ​ (m. 1514⁠–⁠1525)​
Children	Pedro, Fernando, Beatriz, Luisa and Constanza
Parent(s)	Pedro Fernández de Lugo Inés de las Casas

Alonso Fernández de Lugo (Sanlúcar de Barrameda, c. 1456 – San Cristóbal de La Laguna, May 20, 1525) was a Castilian hidalgo and conqueror responsible for the definitive incorporation of the Canary Islands into the Crown of Castile in the 15th century.

He took part in the conquest of Gran Canaria and led those of La Palma and Tenerife, of which he would later be governor. He was also appointed by the Catholic Monarchs Captain General of Barbary "from Cape Aguer to Cape Bojador" and Adelantado of the Canary Islands.

Origins and family

The second son of Pedro Fernández de Lugo, a merchant of Galician descent, and of Inés de las Casas, Alonso de Lugo was born in Sanlúcar de Barrameda around the year 1456. Little is known of his early years.

Around 1475 he married his first wife, Violante de Valdés y de Gallinato, with whom he had his children Fernando, Pedro and Beatriz. This marriage ended in 1490 with Violante's death.

In 1498 he married for the second time, to Doña Beatriz de Bobadilla, widow of the Lord of La Gomera Hernán Peraza. Lugo was also widowed by Doña Beatriz, their union leaving no offspring.

Finally, Lugo married for the third time in 1514, to Juana de Massiéres, a lady of the court of Germaine of Foix, with whom he had two daughters: Luisa and Constanza.

Biography

Participation in the conquest of Gran Canaria

In May 1478 Alonso de Lugo embarked on the royal expedition for the conquest of the Island of Gran Canaria, commanded by Captain Juan Rejón, the Bishop of Rubicón Don Juan de Frías, and the Dean Juan Bermúdez.

Lugo was present at the founding of the camp (real) of Las Palmas, the seed of the future city, and likewise took part in the battle of Guiniguada against the aborigines that took place shortly afterwards. In 1479 the Catholic Monarchs sent Pedro del Algaba to the island as governor to drive forward the conquest, which had been stalled by the clashes between Rejón and Bermúdez. Lugo was Algaba's brother-in-law by marriage, so he supported his cause and took part in the events that led to Rejón's imprisonment and his dispatch to the Peninsula. However, Rejón escaped and returned to the island in 1480, where he stormed the camp and took Algaba and his supporters prisoner. The governor was executed shortly afterwards, while Lugo, who had tried to prevent the death of his brother-in-law, was banished to the island of El Hierro.

With Pedro de Vera appointed the new governor of Gran Canaria in 1480, Lugo was once again incorporated into the operations for the conquest of the island once Rejón had been banished. In September 1481 Vera sent Lugo to the northwest of Gran Canaria to lead the Castilian presence in the Kingdom of Gáldar. In Agaete Lugo built a tower, of which he was appointed alcaide, and in which he endured battles, sieges and famines.

In 1482 reinforcements arrived at Agaete commanded by Hernán Peraza the Younger, who, together with Lugo, managed to capture the guanarteme of Gáldar Tenesor Semidán, an event that led to the completion of the conquest in April 1483.

Pedro de Vera rewarded Lugo for his services with the lands and waters of Agaete, which he put into production and where he built a sugar mill, in which he lived with his family between 1483 and 1491. From this place he made incursions to the island of Tenerife, where he carried out raids on the Guanches.

Conquest of La Palma

Church of Santo Domingo, Santa Cruz de La Palma. Built on the foundation of the hermitage of San Miguel, founded by Fernández de Lugo.

Alonso de Lugo set out for the court in 1491 to arrange with the Catholic Monarchs the conquest of the Island of San Miguel de La Palma. The monarchs granted it to him in June 1492, on the condition that he complete it within one year and that the Captain bear the costs of the enterprise in exchange for benefiting from the Crown's fifths "of the captives and livestock and goods" of the island. To fit out the expedition Lugo partnered with Juanoto Berardi and Francisco de Riberol, Italian businessmen settled in Seville.

On September 29, 1492, Alonso de Lugo landed at Tazacorte with nine hundred soldiers, Castilians and Canarians. On his arrival in La Palma he reaffirmed the peace with four of the island's twelve bands, which had previously made pacts with the investigating judge of Gran Canaria Francisco Maldonado and with the Bishop of the Canaries. The resistance of the rest of the island was slight, with the exception of the band of Aceró led by Tanausú. Finally, after several fruitless attempts to penetrate the Caldera de Taburiente, where the Palmeros had entrenched themselves, on May 3, 1493, Lugo succeeded in capturing Tanausú, with which the conquest of the island was considered concluded.

Conquest of Tenerife

Preparations

Having completed the incorporation of La Palma into the Crown of Castile, Lugo set out once again for the Court to arrange the terms for the conquest of Tenerife. The Monarchs granted him the rights in December 1493. Grateful for the privileges granted, he renounced the seven hundred thousand maravedís that the monarchs owed him for the conquest of La Palma, which provoked complaints from his partners in the La Palma enterprise, Berardi and Riberol.

During his stay at the Court, Lugo denounced before the Monarchs the slaving raid that several Sevillian shipowners had carried out in Anaga, a band of peace, which jeopardized the conquering strategy he was planning. The Monarchs ordered that the enslaved Guanches be freed and handed over to Lugo so that he could return them to the island and resume the peace. On the other hand, he also informed them of alleged disloyalties on the part of the Palmero bands of peace, in order to justify selling them as slaves.

To finance the expedition of conquest, Lugo sold his estates in Sanlúcar de Barrameda and Seville, and made an agreement with several Genoese merchants.

First entry

At the beginning of May 1494, the conquering army landed at Añazo, where Lugo founded the camp (real) of Santa Cruz as a base of operations and reaffirmed the peace that Pedro de Vera had made with the bands of Güímar, Adeje, Abona and Anaga.

Shortly afterwards Lugo met at La Laguna with the mencey of Taoro Bencomo, leader of the bands of war—Taoro, Tacoronte, Tegueste, Daute and Icod—a meeting from which they emerged as enemies. Both sides withdrew, and then Lugo advanced into the interior of the island to begin the conquest. In the ravine of Acentejo they were surrounded by the Guanches, and the well-known slaughter of Acentejo took place, with the Castilian army practically destroyed. Lugo himself was wounded when he was struck in the jaw by a stone, and he escaped the fighting thanks to the help of his nephew Pedro Benítez de Lugo el Tuerto ("the One-Eyed").

Having gathered the survivors at the camp of Añazo, Lugo ordered the withdrawal to Gran Canaria.

Second entry

Once in Las Palmas, Lugo sought the help of the Duke of Medina Sidonia, who sent to the island a body of veteran soldiers from the Granada War, as well as that of Inés Peraza and Beatriz de Bobadilla, ladies of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, and of La Gomera and El Hierro respectively. In addition, in order to finance himself once again, the conquering captain had to sell all his goods and possessions, among them his estate of Agaete, and again make an agreement with the same shipowners as in the previous entry. With the help organized, Lugo set out for the court to ask the Monarchs for an extension of the deadline for completing the conquest, which he obtained.

While awaiting the arrival of the Duke's troops, Lugo returned to Tenerife at the beginning of 1495. During this operation he reinforced the tower of Añazo, reaffirmed once more the peace with the friendly kings and built a new tower in the area of Gracia.

The peninsular troops arrived in October at the port of Las Palmas, where they were received personally by Lugo; they landed at Añazo at the beginning of November. Shortly after their arrival they pushed into the island and met the Guanche forces on the plains near the camp of Gracia. Thus began what is known as the Battle of La Laguna on November 14, in which the Guanches were defeated and their principal chieftains Bencomo and Tinguaro were killed.

End of the conquest

Surrender of the menceyes. Painting by Carlos de Acosta.

In mid-December the campaign resumed, with Lugo and his hosts pushing toward the kingdom of Taoro. Near the ravine of Acentejo they again confronted the Guanches in the so-called victory of Acentejo, and this time it was the natives who were defeated. This victory practically ended Guanche resistance. In the following months punitive campaigns and raids were carried out, until Lugo discharged a large part of the troops on February 15, 1496.

In March, Lugo set out for the Peninsula to sell the captured slaves and thereby pay part of his debts, and returned promptly to Tenerife. In May the menceyes of the bands of war presented themselves at the camp of Realejo de Taoro to submit to the conquerors, with which the conquest of the island was considered concluded. Lugo then embarked once again for the court to present the defeated menceyes before the Monarchs and to receive his rewards. During this time, claims were brought against the conquering captain by those who had lent him help and services during the conquest.

Governorships of La Palma and Tenerife

Alonso Fernández de Lugo was appointed by the Catholic Monarchs governor of San Miguel de La Palma on June 8, 1492, and of Tenerife on December 28, 1493, in addition to receiving the right to distribute lands and goods on both islands.

Expedition to Barbary

In 1501, by order of the monarchs, Alonso de Lugo landed on the African coast and founded a fortress. The Berbers launched attacks against the Castilians that caused the death of two of the Adelantado's nephews, Pedro Benítez de Lugo el Tuerto and Francisco. According to Bartolomé de las Casas, Alonso Fernández de Lugo was able to escape only thanks to the sacrifice of the captain general of the expedition, Francisco de Peñalosa, and of twenty other knights.

Personality

Commemorative plaque in the Cathedral of La Laguna, where the remains of Alonso de Lugo rest.

Although the first historians extolled the personality of Alonso Fernández de Lugo, modern historiography is more severe in judging his conduct, above all in assessing his disloyal attitude toward the aborigines of the bands of peace, that is, those who had agreed their surrender with the conquerors.

The historian Antonio Rumeu de Armas described Lugo as follows:

Alonso de Lugo is neither better nor worse than other conquerors of the land. He has the virtues of some and the defects of others, and vice versa. His portrait could be this: brave to the point of recklessness; that is, more valiant than a good captain, a better soldier than strategist—this explains some of his failures—; ambitious, and as such, restless and given to wandering; rebellious at times, submissive and obedient at others, depending on the circumstances. In short, skillful, crafty, self-interested, with few scruples, arbitrary, despotic, a great protector of those of his lineage and extremely devoted to the saints... He is the model of the conquerors of all ages, with all the virtues and vices inherent to the office...

Death and remains

Alonso de Lugo died on May 20, 1525, in his house in San Cristóbal de La Laguna. Some authors believe that he was poisoned by his sons so that they could inherit the title of Adelantado.

He was initially buried in the Royal Sanctuary of the Most Holy Christ of La Laguna. However, on July 28, 1810, a great fire broke out that completely destroyed the building, of which only the bell gable was left standing. The burned remains of Alonso Fernández de Lugo and of all those buried in that place were left exposed, in a state of total abandonment.

The remains were exhumed in 1860 and remained deposited for twenty years in the Sanctuary of the Christ, until in 1880 the town council requested their transfer to the Cathedral of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, where they are found today.

See also

• Conquest of the Canary Islands

Bibliography used

• Aznar Vallejo, Eduardo (1983). La integración de las Islas Canarias en la Corona de Castilla, 1478-1526: Aspectos administrativos, sociales y económicos (in español). Universidad de La Laguna. ISBN 978-8460032434.
• Bonnet Reverón, Buenaventura (1933). "Alonso Fernández de Lugo y sus conquistas en África". Revista de Historia (in español) (37). San Cristóbal de La Laguna: Facultad de Filosofía y Letras de la Universidad de La Laguna: 138–149. ISSN 0213-9464.
• Cebrián Latasa, José Antonio (2003). Ensayo para un diccionario de conquistadores de Canarias (in español). Canarias: Consejería de Educación, Cultura y Deportes. ISBN 84-241 -5235-2.
• Espinosa, Alonso de (1952) [1594]. Historia de Nuestra Señora de Candelaria (in español). Santa Cruz de Tenerife: Goya Ediciones.
• Lobo Cabrera, Manuel; Torres Santana, Elisa (1981). "Doña Juana de Massieres y el pleito con el segundo Adelantado de Canarias". Anuario de Estudios Atlánticos (in español) (27): 71–112. ISSN 0570-4065.
• Morales Padrón, Francisco (1978). Canarias: crónicas de su conquista (in español). Las Palmas de Gran Canaria: Ayuntamiento de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. El Museo Canario. ISBN 84-500-2951-1.
• Rodríguez Moure, José (1939). "Los Adelantados de Canarias". Revista de Historia (in español) (46): 180–186. ISSN 0213-9464.
• Rosa Olivera, Leopoldo de la; Serra Ràfols, Elías (1949). El Adelantado D. Alonso de Lugo y su residencia por Lope de Sosa (in español). San Cristóbal de La Laguna: Instituto de Estudios Canarios.
• Rumeu de Armas, Antonio (1952). Alonso de Lugo en la Corte de los Reyes Católicos: (1496-1497) (PDF) (in español). Madrid: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas.
• ——— (1975). La Conquista de Tenerife (1494-1496) (in español). Santa Cruz de Tenerife: Cabildo Insular de Tenerife. ISBN 84-500-7108-9.
• ——— (1985). "Los amoríos de Doña Beatriz de Bobadilla". Anuario de Estudios Atlánticos (in español) (31). ISSN 0570-4065.
• Sánchez Saus, Rafael (2009). "Redes de parentesco y clientelas andaluzas en la exploración y conquista de Canarias". En la España Medieval (in español) (32). ISSN 0214-3038.
• Viera y Clavijo, José de (1950–1952) [1772]. Elías Serra Ràfols (ed.). Noticias de la historia general de las Islas Canarias (in español). Santa Cruz de Tenerife: Goya Ediciones.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date format (link)