History
The island was known to the Romans as Planaria, due to its flatness. What the Europeans came to dub Fuerteventura (Strong Adventure) was in fact divided into two tribal kingdoms separated by a low, 6km-long wall: Jandía, on the southern peninsula, as far north as La Pared; and Maxorata, which occupied the rest of the island.
In January 1405 Fuerteventura was the second island to fall to the initial wave of conquerors under Jean de Béthencourt. He established a permanent base, including a chapel, in the mountainous zone of what came to be known as Betancuria, with Santa María de Betancuria evolving as the island’s capital. The choice of location was determined due to the natural water supply, while the terrain gave a measure of natural defence against attacks from Guanches and pirate raids.
New settlements spread slowly across the island and, in the 17th century, Europeans occupied El Cotillo, once the seat of the Guanche Maxorata kingdom. At this time, the Arias and Saavedra families took control of the señorío (the island government deputising for the Spanish crown). By the following century, however, officers of the island militia had established themselves as a rival power base in La Oliva. Los Coroneles (the Colonels) gradually took virtual control of the island’s affairs, enriching themselves at the expense of both the señores and the hard-pressed peasantry.
The militia was disbanded in 1834 and in 1912 the island, along with others in the archipelago, was granted a degree of self-administration with the installation of the cabildo (local authority).
