The joy of the town

 We are in La Victoria de Acentejo. It is one of those little small communities which blends seamlessly into the ones about it.  About 9000 people dwell here - and why not.


When the Spaniards decided to get a bit more forceful in there in the 1490s they decided to send the troops in and fought not one, but two battles in Acentejo. The first, on 31st May 1494, about 1120 Spaniards took on about 3300 locals. 



The military governor, Alonso Fenandez de Lugo had financed his conquest of Tenerife by selling his lands.  Marching against the Guanche his confidence that the muskets, cannon and armour would overwhelm the naked Guanche with their hardened wooden spears. This was not the case. The Spanish were ambushed, overwhelmed and about 80% of them were killed.

Alonso Fernandez de Lugo was not to be thwarted. Rebuilding his forces he set out with 1200 Spanish foot and 70 knights.  These included veterans of the Granada campaign He had also allied with some of the locals and had 600 Guanche troops.  This time the Castillians took the locals by surprise and at Aguere they took on 6-11,000 Guanches and routed them, killing 2000 for 30-60 lost.



Back to Acentejo.  The remaining Guanche faced the Spanish on 25th December. 700 Spanish and 800 allies took on 6000 Guanches and beat them. While not the end of the campaign, it did much to secure Spanish mastery of Tenerife.



Christmas is coming. Maybe we need a dress for the festive time.  Ana & Co https://www.anaycomoda.com/ It is open 10am to 1.30 and 5 till 8 weekdays.  Saturday is 10 to 2 and closed Sunday.   A month ago Maria wrote ‘These employees and their owners are the joy of the town. The elegance in the shop windows and interiors is the gateway to a modern town, inviting locals and foreigners alike to visit.’




If uniforms are your thing Cantillana Canarias  https://www.cantillanacanarias.es/ can help.  The clients are less wordy in their praise but Albino wrote ‘Good service, friendly treatment, good prices’




Equipped we will head on to the north.













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