The European discovery of the Canary Islands occurred in the 14th century, with Lanzarote being the first of the islands to be conquered. In 1402, Jean de Béthencourt, a French nobleman in the service of the Castilian crown, arrived on Lanzarote with a small force. He established a base in the town of Rubicón, in the island’s south, marking the beginning of Spanish influence on Lanzarote.

Béthencourt’s conquest was relatively bloodless, thanks to the strategic alliances he forged with local leaders. However, the subsequent colonization brought significant changes. The indigenous population was gradually absorbed into the new social and economic systems imposed by the Europeans. Lanzarote became an important stopover for ships traveling between Europe, Africa, and the Americas, contributing to its growing significance in the early colonial period.