1405

In 1405, the island of Fuerteventura was conquered by Jean de Béthencourt, a Norman nobleman serving the Crown of Castile. This event marked a significant milestone in European expansion into the Atlantic. Béthencourt, who had begun the conquest of the Canary Islands in 1402, consolidated his rule over Fuerteventura after subduing the native Mahos. The conquest was facilitated by the Europeans' military and technological superiority, as well as internal divisions among the island's inhabitants. The incorporation of Fuerteventura into Castilian rule had profound consequences, including the introduction of new agricultural practices and social restructuring. Furthermore, it set a precedent for the subsequent colonization of other islands in the archipelago. This event not only expanded Castilian control in the region but also laid the groundwork for expansion into the New World.