Alonso Fernández de Lugo

Alonso Fernández de Lugo (; died 1525) was a Spanish conquistador, city founder, and administrator. He conquered the islands of La Palma (1492–1493) and Tenerife (1494–1496) for the Castilian Crown; they were the last of the Canary Islands to be conquered by Europeans. He was also the founder of the towns of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Santa Cruz de La Palma. One biographer has written that his personality was a “terrible mixture of cruelty and ambition or greed, on one part, and on the other a great capacity and sense for imposing order and government on conquered lands,” a trait found in the conquistadors of the New World.

Early life Fernández de Lugo was born in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, in Spain, during the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella, though his family was of Galician origin; his relatives, as his surname indicates, originated in the city of Lugo and other Galician locales.

By October he had gathered together a second, larger army, and received assistance from the Duke of Medina Sidonia and other nobles. Humiliated and cautious after the First Battle of Acentejo, which had been disastrous for the Spaniards, Fernández de Lugo had advanced gradually across the island, building and rebuilding forts. The expedition, which Lugo had funded with the sale of all of his properties, had landed at Añazo, where he built two towers on the spot where he had constructed his first fort before his prior defeat. Additionally, neighboring territorial lord Inés Peraza also participated directly in the conquest of Tenerife, assisting Fernández de Lugo's royal order with extensive aid and supplies, which Fernández de Lugo had requested to further reassure success in the campaign. (Afterwards, Peraza held his children of Lugo Fernando and Pedro as hostages for the repayment of the substantial debt that amounted to 600,000 maravedí. He was named Adelantado on 12 January 1503, a title confirmed again by Charles I of Spain, in Barcelona, on 17 August 1519. Fernández de Lugo was given extensive powers over these islands, since he had been financially responsible for their conquest. On La Palma, he had control over the distribution of land and water. Though he preferred to live on Tenerife, Fernández de Lugo reserved the rich area of Los Sauces on La Palma, north of the island's capital, for himself. His nephew and lieutenant received La Caldera in 1502.

His rule as adelantado was characterized by extreme despotism and harsh rule, and he treated the defeated Guanches like spoils of war.

On Tenerife, he founded the town of San Cristóbal de La Laguna. The Plaza del Adelantado and Calle Adelantado in this town are named after him. A local legend states that upon the death of one of his sons in the town, Fernández de Lugo ordered that the street of La Carrera be made twisted rather than straight so that he would not have to see the site of his son's death from his residence.

On La Palma, he founded the town of Santa Cruz de La Palma (at first called Villa del Apurión) on 3 May 1493.

He is buried in the Cathedral of La Laguna.

Alonso Fernández de Lugo appeared on a 1961 postal stamp for the Spanish Sahara.

List of Adelantados of The Canary Islands

D. Alonso Fernández de Lugo D. Pedro Fernández de Lugo D. Alonso Luís Fernández de Lugo D. Alonso Luís Fernández de Lugo (also known as the Lindo) Dña. Porcia Magdalena Fernández de Lugo y Marín D. Antonio Alonso Luís de Leiva Fernández de Lugo Dña. Francisca de Fuentes Guzmán y Lugo D. Juan Alonso Claros de Guzmán y Lugo D. José Fernández de Lugo y Fuentes D. José Francisco Alonso Luís Fernández de Córdoba Mendoza y Lugo D. Manuel Alonso Fernández de Córdoba Mendoza y Lugo Dña. Manuela Fernández de Córdoba Pimentel y Lugo Dña. María de los Ángeles del Rosario Fernández de Córdoba y Lugo Fernando Rafael de Cabrera Pérez. Marqués de Villaseca Juan Bautista de Cabrera y Bermoy Lugo y Pérez de Saavedra. Marqués de Villaseca D. Fernando de Cabrera y Fernández de Córdoba Lugo y Bermoy