The Island of Lanzarote
Lanzarote is the most easterly of the seven Canary Islands, situated some 1,000 km from the Iberian Peninsula and a 100 km (60 miles). from the coast of Saharan Africa.
Located in the temperature zones of the Cancer Tropic and protected by the influential climatic effects the island has an enviable year round climate of low rainfall and temperatures that rarely fall below 20°C even in winter months.Lanzarote was declared a protected biosphere in 1994 the first island in the world to enjoy such status.
Lanzarote is best known as the Island of Fire as a result of the world's longest volvcanic erruption in 1730.The island is very contrasting fom beautiful beaches,volcanic vistas to the green Valley of 1000 palms.The island also has some unique attrractions created by Cesar Manrique such as Jameos Del Agua,Mirador del Rio and Jardin de Cactus.
The Original Inhabitants
The original name of the island,Tite-Roy-Gatra,translates as Rose-coloured-Hill. Lanceletto Malocello, a Genoese navigator who arrived on the island in 1312,is credited with making its presence known to the European powers of the time. In 1339 the very first reference to the island was recorded in the "Dulcert Atlas" as the island found by Lancelotto Malocello. The name Lanzarote is the direct translation into spanish of lancolot (lancelloto).
At the time of Marcello´s arrival a king, Zonzamas, ruled the island. The name is still borne by the ruins of his palace which stand on a plateau near San Bartolome, considered one of the most important archeological sites in the Canary Islands.
The original inhabitants, generally known as the Gaunches, were divided into three levels: the royal family, the noblemen and the people. Those at the bottom of the hierarchy laboured and fished while those at the top occupied positions of command and administered justice.
King Zonzamas was succeeded by Ico, his daughter, and her consort, guanarteme. They in turn were followed by their son gaurdafia who was the ruler at the time of the spanish colonisers led by Juan De Bethencourt in 1402.
The Norman expedition on behalf of Spain
The conquest of Lanzarote led by Bethencourt began in earnest in 1402.Bethencourt, a Norman, set out for the Canary Islands on behalf of the Castile. 
The claim of Spain over the Archipelago had been recognised since the days of Alfonso X1.The king Guardafia showed no signs of resistance and in fact along with the islanders welcomed the Norman Knight. Bethencourt promised to protect the island against pirates and in return was promised a peaceful submission of the island and guardafia , but as a friend and not a subject.
Following such a welcome Juan De Bethencourt proceeded to build Rubicon castle, close to his landing spot, with the intention of defending the island. He then left for Spain to swear allegiance to henry III.
Bethencourt returned after an absence of two years and was faced with the task of subduing the islanders who had always treated him as their friend. They finally surrendered on 27 February 1404 and on that day their king Guardafia was baptised and christened Luis. Bethencourt was granted the title of king of the Canary Islands by pope Innocent VII. And in 1425 died in Normandy.
Bethencuort was succeeded by his nephew Maciot who later turned out to be a tyrant. He established Teguise as the capital and seat of governor.he was suspected of trying to sell the canaries to the Portuguese. The Portuguese had also laid claim to the islands, but at arbitration the pope decided in favour of the Castile. Eventually maciot was forced to sign an agreement abdicating his rights over Lanzarote and the other islands for all time.
The house of Diego de Herrera and Ines Peraza and their descendants ruled the island over the following decades and the first ruler to be granted the title Count of lanzarote was Agustin de Herrera y Rojas. He was famous for his exploits in seeing off pirates of many nationalities. He died in Teguise in 1598 and the island remained under a feudal system , governed by his successors until 1812.
The division of the canaries into two provinces of Spain
The constitution of Cadiz of 1812 abolished the feudal system and the Canaries became a province of Spain with Santa Cruz, Tenerife as the capital. In 1852 the law of free ports granted the islands immunity from customs and excise duties.
Half a century later in 1927, the Archipelago was divided into two provinces:
- The Province of Tenerife: Tenerife, La Gomera, La Palma, and Hierro with Santa Cruz, Tenerife, as capital.
- The Province of Gran Canaria: Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura with Las Palmas, Gran Canaria as capital.
History of Lanzarote is provided by Discover Lanzarote.com