Second Battle of Acentejo

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Second Battle of Acentejo
Part of the Spanish Conquest of the Canary Islands
Date December 25, 1495 Location Aguere and Acentejo, Tenerife Result Spanish decisive victory
Combatants
Castile and Guanche and European allies	Guanches of Tenerife
Commanders
Alonso Fernández de Lugo	Tinguaro and Bencomo
Strength
700 Castilians, in addition to 800 Guanche allies	around 6,000

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 of Tenerife, known as Guanches. Whereas in the First 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. The laurisilva-covered area called Aguere by the natives included Las Mercedes, parts of present-day San 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 -these included 1,000 foot soldiers, veterans of the conquest of Granada, lent to him by the Duke of Medina Sidonia. Fernández de Lugo also had the support of Ferdinand and Isabella, who had given him ten more months to complete his conquest of the Canaries. During this time of regrouping, he also captured many slaves 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 the University 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 brother Maninidra; Gomerans, Palmeros, and Guanches from the Christianized menceyato or kingdom of Güimar.[1]

The Guanche army divided itself into its typical formation of two regiments, the first commanded by Tinguaro, the second by Bencomo. Ranged against Castilian cavalry and crossbowmen, to which they were unaccustomed, the Guanche forces were decimated. Last-minute reinforcements commanded by Fernando 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-brother Bencomo (Benchomo), mencey (king) of Taoro, 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 an epidemic, 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.[2] 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.

[edit] Sources

• 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.