| Lanzarote - History
 Facts
Size: 795 m²
Population:
ca. 53.100
Capital: Arrecife
There are several theories
about the origin of the name of Lanzarote: Antonio de Nebrija derives ‘Lanzarote’
of the words ‘lanza’ (lance) and ‘rota’ (broken), because
the conqueror Jean de Bethencourt broke a lance when he landed on the island.
Though this theory sounds very nice it is far from proven and also unlikely since
the Spanish word for broken lance is ‘lanza quebrada’.
Another
theory claims that ‘Lanzarote’ in Latin is a kind of resin or rubber.
There are plenty of bushes called ‘Tabaiba’ on the island, which produce
a sweet and thick sap, which could have given the island its name. Yet another
variation is the following: In the 13th century there lived a trader from Genoa
called Lancilloto Maloxelo. He used to travel to an island, which was called Tytheroygatra
by its natives. He did business with the inhabitants of this island for 15 years
and then named it after himself: Lanzarote. According to first visitors of this area there
were 6 Canary Islands without the 5 smaller islands, which form the Chinijo archipelago.
It is believed that the islands Lanzarote and Fuerteventura were connected then
(these two islands and Lobo are not separately mentioned). There used to be a
big wall in Lanzarote, which split the island in two halves. This permits the
conclusion that there were two kingdoms. The people used to travel to the mountains
for sacrifice rituals with raised hands and spilled cups of milk. A crown was
found of which it is believed to be the crown of the first king who managed to
unite the two realms. The crown is made of goat leather decorated with shells.
On the 7th of September the corsair Calafat attacked the island under the order
of the king of Fez. He had nine galleys with seven flags and 600 marksmen. The
count of Lanzarote could capture one flag and kill 50 pirates but the pirates
destroyed the whole island and took more than 90 prisoners. At the end of 1586
the Algerian corsair Argelino Morato attacked the island with seven galleys 800
soldiers and 400 Turks. After he attacked the Castillo de Guanapay twice he could
be defeated but with the loss of the governor Diego de Cabrera Leme. Morato burned
vast amounts of wheat and barley and also all the files and letters of the officials.
Therefore no documents or manuscripts could be saved.
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Lanzarote 
