Bentor, sometimes also called Ventor, Bentore, Benytomo, or Bentorey, was the last mencey or king ofTaoro from November1494 until his suicide in February 1495. A native Guanche prince in the Canary Islands during the second half of the 15th century, Bentor was the eldest grandson of Bencomo, the penultimate mencey of Taoro. Taoro was one of nine menceyatos, or kingdoms, on the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands before the Spanish conquest of the islands. Bentor's mother was probably named Hañagua, although this is unclear. He succeeded his grandfather as mencey upon his father's death in November 1494, and led the kingdom until his own death by suicide four months later in February 1495. Bentor had five siblings: one sister and four brothers.
Biography
Bentor was born in about 1463 in Tenerife to Adjona. Bentor, then the Crown Prince, participated in many battles against the invading Spanish in 1495 alongside his father Bencomo, mencey of Taoro. Bencomo was killed during the Battle of Aguere in November 1495 and Bentor, being the eldest son, was chosen as his successor. His uncles Tinguaro and Adjona may also have participated in the battle, however Adjona did not perish like Tinguaro and lived on until 1507. Shortly after the Battle of Aguere, Alonso Fernandez de Lugo sent Fernando Guanarteme to negotiate with Bentor, but he refused to hand over the territory. , Bentor, the last Guanche mencey, which, according to tradition by not surrendering, threw himself from this place".
Death and legacy
Following the disastrous Second Battle of Acentejo which occurred in December 1494 the Guanche forces were severely decimated. The forces took refuge on the slope of the Tigaiga mountain after the battle, where Bentor committed suicide in February 1495 by jumping off of the hill and tumbling down the mountainside. As a consequence, the Guanche resistance completely collapsed and the remaining menceys surrendered in the Peace of Los Realejos. The Canary Islands are now a Spanish autonomous community. The HotelRural Bentor on the island of Tenerife is named after him.
