Bentor
Who was Bentor?
King of taoro
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Bentor (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Bentor (c. 1463 – February 1495) was the last king of Taoro, one of nine independent kingdoms on Tenerife in the Canary Islands. He was born into Guanche nobility as the eldest grandson of Bencomo, the second-to-last ruler of Taoro. Bentor became king during a very challenging time in Canarian history. His reign lasted about four months, from November 1494 to February 1495, during the Spanish conquest of Tenerife led by Alonso Fernández de Lugo.
The kingdom of Taoro was located in the northern and central parts of Tenerife and was one of the most powerful kingdoms on the island. Bentor's mother was probably named Hañagua, though historical records are unclear. He had a sister named Dácil and four brothers: Ruiman, Rosalva, Chachiñama, and Tiñate. His family was the last generation of Guanche royalty to rule independently before the Spanish took over and changed the islands' social and political structure.
Bentor took the throne after his father died in November 1494, as Spanish forces moved across Tenerife. The conquest had started in earnest, threatening the traditional Guanche way of life. While some other kings decided to negotiate or surrender to the Spanish, Bentor continued to resist. His kingdom was one of the last to hold out against the Spanish.
Facing the inevitable defeat and loss of Guanche culture, Bentor took his own life in February 1495. He reportedly jumped from a cliff in what is now Los Realejos, choosing death over surrender or capture by the Spanish. His death marked the end of Taoro and the end of independent Guanche rule on Tenerife. With Bentor's death, the Spanish conquest of the island was essentially complete, ending centuries of indigenous rule and starting the colonial period that would turn the Canary Islands into Spanish territory.
Before Fame
Bentor grew up when the Canary Islands were having more contact with European countries, especially Spain. As part of the Guanche royal family of Taoro, he would have been taught in the traditional ways of his people, learning the customs, laws, and leadership practices that had guided the menceyatos for generations. The late 15th century was a turning point for the Canary Islands, as Spanish interest in the area grew after earlier attempts to conquer it.
His short time as a ruler was influenced by the ongoing Spanish conquest of the Canary Islands, which started with the eastern islands and gradually moved west toward Tenerife. Bentor's grandfather, Bencomo, had initially resisted Spanish advances, and this background likely shaped Bentor's approach to leadership. During his youth, Tenerife's politics increasingly focused on how to deal with Spanish expansion, with different menceyatos opting for strategies ranging from cooperation to outright resistance.
Key Achievements
- Served as the last independent ruler of the kingdom of Taoro
- Maintained Guanche resistance against Spanish conquest forces during his brief reign
- Represented the final generation of indigenous Canarian royalty
- Led one of the last holdout kingdoms during the Spanish conquest of Tenerife
- Chose death over surrender, becoming a symbol of indigenous resistance
Did You Know?
- 01.His name appears in historical sources with several variations including Ventor, Bentore, Benytomo, and Bentorey
- 02.Some historical sources identify him as the direct son rather than grandson of Bencomo, reflecting uncertainty in genealogical records
- 03.He ruled for only approximately four months, making his one of the shortest reigns among Canarian menceys
- 04.The cliff from which he reportedly jumped to his death is located in Los Realejos, which became his final resting place
- 05.His sister Dácil became a notable figure in Canarian history and legend in her own right