Jean de Béthencourt (ca. 1362-1425, esp. 1402-1406)

by Zhao Luyang 赵鲁阳 (See Chinese translation)

Jean de Béthencourt (see alternative names), also known as the conqueror of the Canary Islands, was born in Grainville-la-Teinturière, Normandy, in 1360. He was the son of Jean III Béthencourt and Marie de Bracquemont. In 1392, he married Jeanne de Fayel in Paris, who was the daughter of Guillaume de Fayel and Marguerite de Chatillon.

The Norman-French explorer left La Rochelle, France, on 1st May 1402, passing La Coruña and Cádiz. He arrived on the island of Graciosa and then landed north of Lanzarote, on the Canary Islands, on 30th June 1402. The arduous voyage was also taken by sailors, who were fleeing due to fear and desertion. Thus the total number of crew decreased from 53 to 27. After they landed in Lanzarote, they managed to construct a fort named Rubicon and appointed Bertin de Berneval to be the chief administrator.

Béthencourt and his cohorts then began another round of their expeditions, heading towards Fuerteventura. However, his team fell again into mutiny and they were compelled to return to Lanzarote due to lack of resources.

Béthencourt was appointed Governor of the Canary Islands by King Enrique III (Henry III of Castile) on 10th January 1403. He then conquered Castile, the islands of Fuerteventura and El Hierro in 1405, and expelled the local chieftains, known as majos and bimbaches. Béthencourt was honoured as King of the Canary Islands by King Henry III from 1404. His adventures and military maneuvres had been funded by King Henry III, his overlord.

Béthencourt launched his expeditions together with Gadifer de La Salle (1340–1415). After Béthencourt returned to Spain, aiming to seek more help, he accepted the post bestowed by King Henry III and submitted himself to him. Gadifer de La Salle was outraged by Béthencourt’s actions, which he took to be egoistic. He returned determined to return to France after the division. During his administration, when Béthencourt was away, he successfully incorporated the islands of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura into their territory. Afterwards, Béthencourt continued to pursue his ambitions, conquering the island of Ferro. He also transformed his territory into colonies by employing peasants from Norman and Basque regions, and converted most of the aboriginals to Catholicism.

The French explorer conferred his territory onto his nephew, Maciot de Béthencourt and returned to France in 1406. He did not lead a peaceful life after this, but instead prepared for another round of conquests. However, he passed away in 1425 without fulfilling his dream of universal conquest. Maciot de Béthencourt governed the Canary Islands until 1454 when the King of the Castile islands interfered to overturn his barbarian governance and abolished his power.