Betancuria: A Portrait of Two Worlds

The Vikings began raiding the Frankish kingdom of Neustria (northwestern France) as early as the 9th century. Over time, some of these groups settled permanently in the region and founded, in 911, the Duchy of Normandy. This name derives from the Germanic word “northman” (“man of the north”), a term used by the Franks to refer to the Scandinavian settlers. Over the centuries, these Normans became fully integrated into the European feudal world, contributing their knowledge of warfare and naval logistics following their conversion to Christianity. Five centuries later, that same spirit of expansion and that same faith would lead the Norman knight Jean IV de Bethencourt (1362–1425) to the shores of Erbania.

The conquest of Fuerteventura was completed in January 1405, following months of siege and negotiations. Its success was made possible, to a large extent, by internal divisions among the mahoreros from the ancient Berber *mahar, meaning “member of an alliance,” with the addition of the Hispanic suffix -ero- who were torn apart by the rivalries between their two kings: Guise and Ayose. According to the chronicles, both sides were embroiled in such a fierce war that, upon the Normans’ arrival, the island was dotted with “castles” and divided by a stone wall running from coast to coast. The remains of this wall can still be seen at La Pared de Jandía.

Founded in 1404 in the shelter of the Valtarajal Valley, Betancuria became the first permanent settlement of European expansion in the Atlantic. Furthermore, between 1424 and 1431, it held the distinction of being the episcopal see of the Canary Islands, elevating the parish of Santa María to the status of a cathedral. Betancuria was also home to the archipelago’s first Franciscan convent, dedicated to Saint Bonaventure. This model of social integration, territorial organization, and religious structure not only spread to the rest of the islands but also crossed the ocean to shape the New World. Due to this historical significance, Betancuria has been twinned since 1984 with the Norman commune of Grainville-la-Teinturière, the birthplace of Jean IV de Bethencourt.