Bencomo
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bencomo (Spanish pronunciation: [beŋˈkomo]; c. 1438 – 1495) was the penultimate mencey or king of Taoro, a Guanche menceyato on the island of Tenerife. He fought in the First Battle of Acentejo, a victory for the Guanches against the invading Castilians, after having refused the terms of Alonso Fernández de Lugo. He may have perished on the heights of San Roque during the Battle of Aguere alongside his brother Tinguaro.[1]
He had several children, including Adjona, Dácil, Bentor, Ruiman, Rosalva, Chachiñama, and Tiñate. Bentor succeeded him as mencey until his suicide in February 1495.[2]
According to José de Viera y Clavijo, Bencomo was the son of Imobach, grandson of Betzenuhya, and great-grandson of Tinerfe the Great.[3] He had a brother, Tinguaro, who fought alongside him during the Castilian conquest.
He married Caseloria, and together they had three children: Bentor, Dácil (later baptized as Mencía Bencomo), and María Bencomo. His grandchildren included Ruymán, Rosalva, and Collarampa (children of Bentor); Dácil or Dácila (who married the conquistador Fernán García Izquierdo and was baptized as Catalina Izquierdo); and Juan, María, and Elvira Bencomo (children of Dácil Bencomo), as well as Catalina González (daughter of María Bencomo).[4]
According to the historian Tomás Arias Marín de Cubas, Bencomo was "almost or over seventy years old" at the time of his death, which would place his birth around the year 1423.[5]
According to Antonio de Viana, Acaimo and Beneharo — the menceyes of Tacoronte and Anaga — had been at war with Bencomo, the mencey of Taoro, for over thirty years. The conflict stemmed from Bencomo's marriage to Hañagua, whom the menceyes of Tacoronte and Anaga had also sought to marry. They made peace shortly before the arrival of the Castilian conquest force led by Alonso Fernández de Lugo in 1494.[6]
