Fernando Guanarteme

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name = Tenesor Semidán other names = Fernando Guanarteme
Fernando de Gáldar o Agáldar
Birthplace = c. 1447 Place of birth = Gran Canaria Deathdate = 1496 Place of death = Tenerife ethnic group = Aborigen grancanario occupation = Guanarteme, conqueror


Fernando Guanarteme (born Tenesor Semidán) was a Guanche aboriginal leader of the island of Gran Canaria, being king or Guanarteme of the territory of Gáldar (Gran Canaria) during the European conquest at the end of the 15th century. He was kidnapped by the Spaniards and lately baptized as Fernando Guanarteme. He took his christian name in honor of Ferdinand II of Aragon. Fernando and Isabel served as godparents to his baptism, which was celebrated with great splendor on May 30, 1481 in the city of Calatayud and his surname in honor of his position as king (Guanarteme) of Gáldar.

After he was baptized, he returned to Gran Canaria. Ferdinand II of Aragon granted him land, but he couldn't enjoy it because he was forced by the evil Alonso Fernández de Lugo to fight in Tenerife with the spaniards to conquer and fight against the Guanches of Tenerife. He aided Castilians during the Battle of Aguere (1494), on the island of Tenerife.He lately died there, in Tenerife, far away from his family and land. He was originally from Gran Canaria.

He was married with an aboriginal woman called Abenchara. They were the fathers of Guayarmina (Margarita Fernández Guanarteme) who married Miguel de Trejo y Carvajal, a Spanish settler, and Catalina Fernández Guanarteme, who was married with 3 different husbands (Pedro de Vega, Adán de Acedo and Blas Rodríguez)

By participating in the conquest of the Canary Islands, Fernando Guanarteme is a historical figure who enjoys a popular animosity in the Canary Islands passing later tradition as a traitor par excellence of their land and culture, even tough he was forced by the Spaniards to do so.

In 2008, the municipality of Gáldar appointed Tenesor Semidán "Hijo Predilecto" of the municipality posthumously

Sources