Canary Islanders, or Canarians (Spanish: canarios), are a Romance
people and subgroup of the Spaniards. They are indigenous to the
Canary Islands, an autonomous community of Spain near the coast of
northwest Africa, and descend from a mixture of Spanish settlers and
aboriginal Guanche peoples. The distinctive variety of the Spanish
language spoken in the region is known as habla canaria (Canary
speech) or the (dialecto)canario (Canarian dialect). The Canarians,
and their descendants, played a major role during the conquest,
colonization, and eventual independence movements of various countries
in Latin America. Their ethnic and cultural presence is most palpable
in the countries of Uruguay, Venezuela, Cuba, Dominican Republic, and
the United States territory of Puerto Rico.The original inhabitants of
the Canary Islands are commonly known as Guanches (although this term
in its strict sense only refers to the original inhabitants of
Tenerife). They are believed to be either Berbers in origin or a
related group.The islands were conquered by Castilians (mainly
Andalusians) at the beginning of the 15th century. In 1402, they began
to subdue and suppress the native Guanche population. The Guanches
were initially enslaved and gradually absorbed by the Spanish
colonizers.After subsequent settlement by Spaniards and other European
peoples, mainly Portuguese, the remaining Guanches were gradually
diluted by the settlers and their culture largely vanished. Alonso
Fernández de Lugo, conqueror of Tenerife and La Palma, oversaw
extensive immigration to these islands during a short period from the
late 1490s to the 1520s from mainland Europe, mostly Spain and
Portugal, and immigrants included Galicians, Castilians, Catalans,
Basques and Portuguese. At subsequent judicial enquiries, Fernández
de Lugo was accused of favoring Genoese and Portuguese immigrants over
Castilians.
people and subgroup of the Spaniards. They are indigenous to the
Canary Islands, an autonomous community of Spain near the coast of
northwest Africa, and descend from a mixture of Spanish settlers and
aboriginal Guanche peoples. The distinctive variety of the Spanish
language spoken in the region is known as habla canaria (Canary
speech) or the (dialecto)canario (Canarian dialect). The Canarians,
and their descendants, played a major role during the conquest,
colonization, and eventual independence movements of various countries
in Latin America. Their ethnic and cultural presence is most palpable
in the countries of Uruguay, Venezuela, Cuba, Dominican Republic, and
the United States territory of Puerto Rico.The original inhabitants of
the Canary Islands are commonly known as Guanches (although this term
in its strict sense only refers to the original inhabitants of
Tenerife). They are believed to be either Berbers in origin or a
related group.The islands were conquered by Castilians (mainly
Andalusians) at the beginning of the 15th century. In 1402, they began
to subdue and suppress the native Guanche population. The Guanches
were initially enslaved and gradually absorbed by the Spanish
colonizers.After subsequent settlement by Spaniards and other European
peoples, mainly Portuguese, the remaining Guanches were gradually
diluted by the settlers and their culture largely vanished. Alonso
Fernández de Lugo, conqueror of Tenerife and La Palma, oversaw
extensive immigration to these islands during a short period from the
late 1490s to the 1520s from mainland Europe, mostly Spain and
Portugal, and immigrants included Galicians, Castilians, Catalans,
Basques and Portuguese. At subsequent judicial enquiries, Fernández
de Lugo was accused of favoring Genoese and Portuguese immigrants over
Castilians.
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