Alonso Fernández de Lugo

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The native kings of Tenerife surrender to Alonso Fernández de Lugo, July 25, 1496.

Alonso Luis Fernández de Lugo (?-1525) was a Spanish military man, conquistador, city founder, and administrator. He was born in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, in Spain, during the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella. He enlisted in the navy and ended up achieving the rank of Adelantado and Captain General of the African coasts. He conquered the islands of La Palma (1493) and Tenerife (1495), the last of the Canary Islands to be conquered by the Castilian crown. He was also the founder of the towns of San Cristóbal de La Laguna and Santa Cruz de La Palma.

During the conquest of Tenerife, he suffered a severe defeat at the First Battle of Acentejo before achieving victory over the Guanches of that island at the Second Battle of Acentejo. At the First Battle of Acentejo, Fernández de Lugo, though wounded, was able to escape with his life only by exchanging the red cape of an Adelantado for that of a common soldier. It is said, however, that a rock thrown at his head by a Guanche resulted in his losing most of his teeth.[1]

Humiliated and cautious after the First Battle of Acentejo, which had been disastrous for the Spaniards, Fernández de Lugo had 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.

The conquest of La Palma began on September 29, 1492, when Fernández de Lugo landed on the beaches of Tazacorte. On La Palma, Fernández de Lugo defeated Tanausu, who ruled the area known as Acero (Caldera de Taburiente). Tanausu had been ambushed after agreeing to a truce arranged by Fernández de Lugo and Juan de Palma, a Guanche who had converted to Christianity and who was a relative of Tanausu. The conquest of La Palma was completed on May 3, 1493.

[edit] After the Conquest

Fernández de Lugo presenting the captured native kings of Tenerife to Ferdinand and Isabella

After the conquest, Fernández de Lugo served as Adelantado of the Canary Islands and governor of Tenerife and La Palma until his death. Fernández de Lugo was given extensive powers over these islands, since he had been financially responsible for their conquest. On La Palma, he had control over the distribution of land and water. Though he preferred to live on Tenerife, Fernández de Lugo reserved the rich area of Los Sauces on La Palma, north of the island's capital, for himself. His nephew and lieutenant received La Caldera in 1502.

On both islands, he exercised civil and criminal jurisdiction and the right to appoint and dismiss judicial deputies, and also had control over the disposition of slaves and inhabitants' entry and exit from the islands.

He oversaw extension immigration to Tenerife and La Palma during a short period from the late 1490s to the 1520s from mainland Europe, and immigrants included Castilians, Portuguese, Italians, Catalans, Basques, and Flemings. At subsequent judicial enquiries, Fernández de Lugo was accused of favoring Genoese and Portuguese immigrants over Castilians.[2]

On Tenerife, he founded the town of San Cristóbal de La Laguna. La Plaza del Adelantado and Calle Adelantado, in this town, are named after him. A local legend states that upon the death of one of his sons in the town, Fernández de Lugo ordered that the street of La Carrera be made twisted rather than straight so that he would not have to see the site of his son's death from his residence.

On La Palma, he founded the town of Santa Cruz de La Palma on May 3, 1493.

On July 21, 1509 he had transferred his titles and rights of the African coast, acquired in 1499, to his son, Pedro Fernández de Lugo, who later participated in expeditions to the New World.[3]