Beatriz de Bobadilla y Ossorio

Beatriz de Bobadilla y Ulloa-Ossorio (Medina del Campo, 1462 – Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 1501) was the daughter of Juan de Bobadilla and named after his cousin Beatriz de Bobadilla. Beatriz de Bobadilla y Ossorio was married to ruler of the La Gomera and El Hierro islands, Lord Hernán Peraza the Younger and after his death she succeeded him as ruler.

Beatriz de Bobadilla y Ulloa-Ossorio
Born1462 (1462)
Medina del Campo, Kingdom of Castile
Died1501 (aged 38–39)
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
NationalitySpanish
Other namesBeatriz de Bobadilla y Ulloa, Beatriz de Bobadilla y Ossorio
OccupationLady and Governor of La Gomera and El Hierro
Spouse(s)Hernán Peraza the Younger
ChildrenGuillén Peraza de Ayala and Inés de Herrera y Ayala

Background

Beatriz was born in Medina del Campo to the powerful and wealthy Bobadilla family with close ties to the Crown of Castile. Her father, Juan de Bobadilla who held numerous roles including alderman for Medina del Campo, governor of Madrid, and chief huntsman for the Catholic Monarchs. As a result of this last role, Beatriz became known as "La Cazadora" – The Huntress. The name was also a reference to attractiveness and her rumored high-profile relationships with King Fernando and Christopher Columbus. As a result of the former, Queen Isabella arranged for her to marry Hernán (also known as Fernán) Peraza, Lord of La Gomera and El Hierro, in 1482.[1]

Conquest of the Canary Islands

During the Spanish Conquest of the Canary Islands the island of La Gomera was not taken in battle but was incorporated into the Peraza-Herrera fiefdom through an agreement between Hernán Peraza the Elder and some of the insular aboriginal groups who accepted the rule of the Castilian. However, there were a number of uprisings by the Guanches due to outrages committed by the rulers on the native Gomeros. The last one, in 1488 resulted in the death of his son and Beatriz's husband, Hernán Peraza the Younger. Beatriz de Bobadilla y Ossorio then had to seek the assistance of Pedro de Vera, conqueror of Gran Canaria, in order to snuff out the rebellion. The subsequent repression caused the death of two hundred rebels and many others were sold into slavery in the Spanish markets. Beatriz then took her deceased husband's place as Lord of La Gomera and El Hierro, ruling for over ten years until their son, Guillén Peraza de Ayala, was old enough to rule himself.

Columbus

Christopher Columbus made La Gomera his last port of call before crossing the Atlantic in 1492 with his three ships. He stopped here to replenish his crew's food and water supplies, intending to stay only four days. Beatriz de Bobadilla y Ossorio, the Countess of La Gomera and widow of Hernán Peraza the Younger, offered him vital support in preparations of the fleet and he ended up staying one month. When he finally sailed, she gave him cuttings of sugarcane, which became the first to reach the New World.[2]

Columbus would visit her a further two times, in 1493 and 1498.[3]

Children

Beatriz de Bobadilla y Ossorio had two children, Guillén Peraza de Ayala and Inés de Herrera. Guillén succeeded her as ruler of the islands and was made a Count by Queen Juana of Castile/Emperor Carlos V.[4]

References
  1. Boase, Roger (2017). Secrets of Pinar's Game (2 vols): Court Ladies and Courtly Verse in Fifteenth-Century Spain. BRILL. p. 497. ISBN 978-9004338364.
  2. Abreu y Galindo, J. de (1977). A. Cioranescu (ed.). Historia de la conquista de las siete islas de Canarias. Tenerife: Goya ediciones.
  3. Boase, Roger (2017). Secrets of Pinar's Game (2 vols): Court Ladies and Courtly Verse in Fifteenth-Century Spain. BRILL. p. 497. ISBN 978-9004338364.
  4. de Haro, Alonso Lopez (1622). Genealogical nobility of the kings and titles of Spain. Luis Sanchez.
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