Island Chronology of Fuerteventura

A timeline reading of the milestones that shaped its historical and cultural formation.

La cronologia majorera permite seguir conquista, organizacion senorial, ruralidad, emigracion y turismo.

Key points

Mundo majo y primeros contactos europeos

Antes de la conquista, los majos vivian en un regimen pastoral sin Estado organizado, con primeros contactos con navegantes europeos y norte africanos desde el siglo XIV.

Conquista señorial (1402-1405)

Bethencourt conquisto Lanzarote en 1402 y Fuerteventura en 1405, estableciendo un señorio hereditario que duro hasta el siglo XV cuando paso a la Corona.

Rebelion majo de Ajuy (1447)

Los majos se sublevaron en Ajuy contra el señor de la isla, evidenciando tensiones entre la poblacion indigena y los colonizadores europeos instalados desde la conquista.

Betancuria como centro colonial (siglos XV-XVIII)

Betancuria concentro el poder eclesiastico y civil durante mas de tres siglos, hasta que el puerto de Puerto del Rosario fue ganando importancia comercial y administrativa.

Destierro de Unamuno (1924)

El destierro de Miguel de Unamuno a Fuerteventura por oponerse a la dictadura de Primo de Rivera fue un episodio de resonancia nacional con impacto en la memoria insular.

Turismo y transformacion (desde 1970)

El desarrollo turistico del litoral norte y sur de la isla transformo la economia majorera en pocas decadas, generando tension entre conservacion, territorio e identidad.

Milestones of Fuerteventura

Arrival of the first Berber settlers from North Africa and development of pre-Hispanic culture across the islands.c. 1000–500 BCArrival of the first Berber settlers from North Africa and development of pre-Hispanic culture across the islands.Niccoloso da Recco's expedition explores the Canary Islands.julio de 1341Niccoloso da Recco's expedition explores the Canary Islands.Jean de Béthencourt founds Betancuria.1404Jean de Béthencourt founds Betancuria.The Norman conquest of Fuerteventura is completed.25 de enero de 1405The Norman conquest of Fuerteventura is completed.John II authorises Alfonso de las Casas to conquer four Canary Islands.29 de agosto de 1420John II authorises Alfonso de las Casas to conquer four Canary Islands.Martin V establishes the bishopric of Fuerteventura.1424Martin V establishes the bishopric of Fuerteventura.The Treaty of Alcáçovas recognises Castilian rights over the Canary Islands.4 de septiembre de 1479The Treaty of Alcáçovas recognises Castilian rights over the Canary Islands.Wine exports from Tenerife and La Palma begin to appear in the documentary record.c. 1520Wine exports from Tenerife and La Palma begin to appear in the documentary record.Droughts, famines, plagues and depopulation strike Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.1628–1671Droughts, famines, plagues and depopulation strike Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.The wine trade shapes commercial relations between the Canary Islands and England.1650–1800The wine trade shapes commercial relations between the Canary Islands and England.The Virgin of Candelaria is moved to La Laguna during a locust plague.16 de noviembre – 29 de diciembre de 1659The Virgin of Candelaria is moved to La Laguna during a locust plague.The Free Trade Regulations include Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Spanish-American trading system.12 de octubre de 1778The Free Trade Regulations include Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Spanish-American trading system.The Constitution of Cádiz is promulgated with Canarian representation in the Cortes.1812-03-19The Constitution of Cádiz is promulgated with Canarian representation in the Cortes.The Canary Islands become a single province with its capital in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.1822-01-27The Canary Islands become a single province with its capital in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.A royal decree declares seven free ports in the Canary Islands.11 de julio de 1852A royal decree declares seven free ports in the Canary Islands.The Canary Islands experience one of their periods of highest modern emigration.1882–1890The Canary Islands experience one of their periods of highest modern emigration.The Island Councils Act establishes self-government for each island.1912-07-11The Island Councils Act establishes self-government for each island.The Canary archipelago is divided into two provinces.21 de septiembre de 1927The Canary archipelago is divided into two provinces.The 1936 military uprising spreads from the Canary Islands.18 de julio de 1936The 1936 military uprising spreads from the Canary Islands.Venezuela becomes the principal destination of a new wave of mass emigration from the Canary Islands.1948–1958Venezuela becomes the principal destination of a new wave of mass emigration from the Canary Islands.The Canary Islands Statute of Autonomy enters into force.16 de agosto de 1982The Canary Islands Statute of Autonomy enters into force.The Canary Islands enter the EEC structural-funds system.1 de enero de 1986The Canary Islands enter the EEC structural-funds system.18 de enero de 1994The ocean liner American Star runs aground at Garcey beach, Fuerteventura, during a storm.The Treaty of Amsterdam enshrines the European framework for the outermost regions.1997-10-02The Treaty of Amsterdam enshrines the European framework for the outermost regions.The euro becomes the currency of Spain and therefore of the Canary Islands.1 de enero de 1999The euro becomes the currency of Spain and therefore of the Canary Islands.The cayuco crisis raises irregular arrivals in the Canary Islands to 31,678 people.2006The cayuco crisis raises irregular arrivals in the Canary Islands to 31,678 people.The Canary Islands receive 15.1 million tourists.2019The Canary Islands receive 15.1 million tourists.The COVID-19 pandemic causes an economic and social crisis in the Canary Islands.14 de marzo de 2020The COVID-19 pandemic causes an economic and social crisis in the Canary Islands.

Related sections

History

Fuerteventura condenses centuries of island history: the Majo world, Bethencourt's seigneurial conquest, Maghrebi pirate raids, 18th-century subsistence crises, the barrilla and cochineal trade cycles, and its recent transformation into an Atlantic tourist destination.

Linked Figures

Majo kings, conquering lords and cultural figures link the island to the wider processes of the archipelago.

Heritage

Betancuria, Tindaya, chapels, windmills, salt pans and rural architecture tell the story of a scattered yet powerful historical memory.

Related content

Conquista de Fuerteventura

Hito de la linea del tiempo sobre la conquista senorial.

Batalla de Ajuy

Episodio de resistencia majorera.

La conquista normanda

Contexto historico de la conquista de las islas orientales.