Island Chronology of La Graciosa

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

La cronologia graciosera recorre usos tradicionales, poblamiento estable, proteccion ambiental y reconocimiento como octava isla habitada.

Key points

Usos estacionales de pesca (s. XV-XIX)

La Graciosa fue usada principalmente como base temporal de pesca por habitantes de Lanzarote; el poblamiento estable fue lento y solo se consolido a lo largo del siglo XX.

Consolidacion del poblamiento (s. XX)

Caleta de Sebo se convirtio en el unico nucleo habitado permanente durante el siglo XX; la pesca artesanal y los servicios basicos fueron los primeros elementos de vida sedentaria.

Proteccion del Chinijo (1994)

La declaracion del Archipielago Chinijo como Reserva Natural Integral y Parque Natural establecio el marco de proteccion ambiental que sigue vigente y define las posibilidades de uso de la isla.

Reconocimiento como octava isla (2018)

La Ley de Territorio de Canarias de 2018 reconocio a La Graciosa como la octava isla habitada; el acto fue principalmente simbolico pero refuerza la identidad y la visibilidad institucional de la comunidad.

Milestones of La Graciosa

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.Sertorius hears sailors describe two Atlantic Islands of the Blest.1st century BCSertorius hears sailors describe two Atlantic Islands of the Blest.During the reign of Juba II, an expedition surveys six Fortunate Isles and leaves its report.25 BC–AD 23During the reign of Juba II, an expedition surveys six Fortunate Isles and leaves its report.Pomponius Mela describes the Fortunatae off the African coast.mid-1st century ADPomponius Mela describes the Fortunatae off the African coast.Pliny the Elder dedicates the Natural History to Titus, transmitting accounts of the Fortunate Isles.AD 77Pliny the Elder dedicates the Natural History to Titus, transmitting accounts of the Fortunate Isles.Claudius Ptolemy takes the Fortunate Isles as the origin of longitude.2nd century ADClaudius Ptolemy takes the Fortunate Isles as the origin of longitude.Niccoloso da Recco's expedition explores the Canary Islands.July 1341Niccoloso da Recco's expedition explores the Canary Islands.John II authorises Alfonso de las Casas to conquer four Canary Islands.29 August 1420John II authorises Alfonso de las Casas to conquer four Canary Islands.The Treaty of Alcáçovas recognises Castilian rights over the Canary Islands.4 September 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 November – 29 December 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 October 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 July 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 September 1927The Canary archipelago is divided into two provinces.The 1936 military uprising spreads from the Canary Islands.18 July 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 August 1982The Canary Islands Statute of Autonomy enters into force.The Canary Islands enter the EEC structural-funds system.1 January 1986The Canary Islands enter the EEC structural-funds system.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 January 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 Statute of Autonomy expressly includes La Graciosa among the Canary Islands.6 November 2018The Statute of Autonomy expressly includes La Graciosa among the Canary Islands.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 March 2020The COVID-19 pandemic causes an economic and social crisis in the Canary Islands.

Related sections

History

The history of La Graciosa spans from the Norman arrival of 1402 and centuries of piracy around El Río to the fishing foundation of Caleta de Sebo around 1880, the protection of the Chinijo Archipelago and its recognition as the eighth inhabited island in 2018.

Linked Figures

This section covers community memory, seafaring families and figures linked to the island's recognition.

Heritage

Caleta de Sebo, sand tracks, seafaring culture and a protected landscape make up an everyday and environmental heritage.

Related content

La Graciosa como octava isla

Hito de reconocimiento institucional.

Lanzarote

Isla con la que La Graciosa mantiene una relacion historica y administrativa estrecha.

Islas Afortunadas

Contexto cultural sobre el imaginario insular canario.