Dácil
Encyclopedia
Princess Dácil was a Guanche
princess of Tenerife
(Canary Island), best known for her marriage to a conqueror of the island.
, Canary Island), during the early in the second half of the fifteenth century. She was the daughter of the king (or Mencey) Adjona and Caseloria and granddaughter of Bencomo
. She had five brothers: Benytomo (or Bentor), Ruiman, Rosalva, Chachiñama and Tiñate. Dacil was admired throughout the island for its beauty and its future was mapped out for her for her commitment to Duriman el Montañes (Duriman the mountains). However, with the arrival of the Spanish, the Captain Fernando García del Castillo, captain of the Spanish Cavalry
, fell in love with her. The Castilian
officer
was taken prisoner and placed under the care of the beautiful princess so that she could heal his wounds, suffered in Battle of Aguere
. According to several historians, Del Castillo was a diplomats that provided some services between the two sides (Guanches and Spanish people) by far as he was honored with some estimates by the King of Taoro. Both fell in love right now. However, Rumors that they had talked alone, a practice strictly forbidden by Guanche
law, spread quickly. The Guanche Duriman El Montanez, spurned in love, accused her of being alone with a man, who, was, addition, a Castilian, and, therefore, the enemy of his homeland. He asked to Bencomo, the arrest to the princess. To comply with the law, he was forced to imprison him, well that she was imprisoned for many months. Then she was released well witnesses were able to convince to Bencomo that lovers never met just because, in fact they was accompanied. She married to the Conquistador
in the Iglesia de la Concepción (Church of the Conception) of Los Realejos
. Then, she was baptized as Mencías del Castillo. Not known the place nor the date on which she died.
Guanches
Guanches is the name given to the aboriginal Berber inhabitants of the Canary Islands. It is believed that they migrated to the archipelago sometime between 1000 BCE and 100 BCE or perhaps earlier...
princess of Tenerife
Tenerife
Tenerife is the largest and most populous island of the seven Canary Islands, it is also the most populated island of Spain, with a land area of 2,034.38 km² and 906,854 inhabitants, 43% of the total population of the Canary Islands. About five million tourists visit Tenerife each year, the...
(Canary Island), best known for her marriage to a conqueror of the island.
Biography
Dácil or Dácila was born in the ancient Menceyato (or kingdom) of Taoro (TenerifeTenerife
Tenerife is the largest and most populous island of the seven Canary Islands, it is also the most populated island of Spain, with a land area of 2,034.38 km² and 906,854 inhabitants, 43% of the total population of the Canary Islands. About five million tourists visit Tenerife each year, the...
, Canary Island), during the early in the second half of the fifteenth century. She was the daughter of the king (or Mencey) Adjona and Caseloria and granddaughter of Bencomo
Bencomo
Bencomo was 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, but may have perished on the heights of San Roque...
. She had five brothers: Benytomo (or Bentor), Ruiman, Rosalva, Chachiñama and Tiñate. Dacil was admired throughout the island for its beauty and its future was mapped out for her for her commitment to Duriman el Montañes (Duriman the mountains). However, with the arrival of the Spanish, the Captain Fernando García del Castillo, captain of the Spanish Cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
, fell in love with her. The Castilian
Castilian people
The Castilian people are the inhabitants of those regions in Spain where most people identify themselves as Castilian. They include Castile-La Mancha, Madrid, and the major part of Castile and León. However, not all regions of the medieval Kingdom of Castile think of themselves as Castilian...
officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
was taken prisoner and placed under the care of the beautiful princess so that she could heal his wounds, suffered in Battle of Aguere
Battle of Aguere
The Battle of Aguere, or Battle of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, was fought between forces of the Crown of Castile, led by the Adelantado Alonso Fernández de Lugo, and the natives of Tenerife, called Guanches. The battle took place November 14–15, 1494.Fernández de Lugo had suffered defeat by...
. According to several historians, Del Castillo was a diplomats that provided some services between the two sides (Guanches and Spanish people) by far as he was honored with some estimates by the King of Taoro. Both fell in love right now. However, Rumors that they had talked alone, a practice strictly forbidden by Guanche
Guanches
Guanches is the name given to the aboriginal Berber inhabitants of the Canary Islands. It is believed that they migrated to the archipelago sometime between 1000 BCE and 100 BCE or perhaps earlier...
law, spread quickly. The Guanche Duriman El Montanez, spurned in love, accused her of being alone with a man, who, was, addition, a Castilian, and, therefore, the enemy of his homeland. He asked to Bencomo, the arrest to the princess. To comply with the law, he was forced to imprison him, well that she was imprisoned for many months. Then she was released well witnesses were able to convince to Bencomo that lovers never met just because, in fact they was accompanied. She married to the Conquistador
Conquistador
Conquistadors were Spanish soldiers, explorers, and adventurers who brought much of the Americas under the control of Spain in the 15th to 16th centuries, following Europe's discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus in 1492...
in the Iglesia de la Concepción (Church of the Conception) of Los Realejos
Los Realejos
Los Realejos is a medium-sized town in Spain, located on the north side of the island of Tenerife and part of the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife...
. Then, she was baptized as Mencías del Castillo. Not known the place nor the date on which she died.
Personal life
She was described as blonde, freckles and green eyes (Like many others aborigines of northern Tenerife).Influence on the Canary Islands
- The marriage of Dácil and Castilian was considered as the bond of brotherhood between the Guanches peopleGuanchesGuanches is the name given to the aboriginal Berber inhabitants of the Canary Islands. It is believed that they migrated to the archipelago sometime between 1000 BCE and 100 BCE or perhaps earlier...
and the Spanish peopleSpanish peopleThe Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
, though that was not real brotherhood in practice by part of the Spanish conquerost and settlers, which, enslaved to the Guanches and subjected them to their culture and language in the early sixteenth century. - The poet Antonio de Viana (1578 - 1650?) picked up the story of Dácil into one of his best known poems in the Canary Island, in the book La Conquista de Tenerife (1604) (The Conquest of Tenerife (1604)), which produced that many people who met the princess through the poem the considered him unique to poetry. However, as the historian once said canary Bethencourt Alfonso, "this princess plays important role in the poem of Viana; figure that was not imaginary, well she was of flesh and blood."
- Moreover, his name is one of the many names Guanches that, fortunately for the Canary Island, is not lost, since there are still people who have it in that archipelago.
- She is also a of historical figures more remembered of archipelago.
External links
- http://elguanche.net/Ficheros/batallaacentejohupalupa.htm. La batalla de Acentejo (The Battle of Acentejo) (In Spanish).
- http://es.globedia.com/batalla-acentejo-derrota-imperio-colonial. La batalla de Acentejo: la derrota de un imperio colonial (The Battle of Acentejo: the defeat of a colonial empire) (in Spanish)