Andamana

Born: 1300s, Spain: Canary Islands
Died: 1300s
Country most active: Spain: Canary Islands
Also known as: Atidamana, Antidamana, Andamada, Andamanada

The following is excerpted from William B. Whiting’s 1875 Andamana; the first queen of Canary.

In 1844 the writer, Commodore William B. Whiting, U. S. Navy, then a lieutenant, visited the island of Gran Canaria and was much interested in the legends of Andamana, originally a village maiden and afterwards Queen of Canary, which prevail there. The unanimity of these traditions proves that their foundation rests on truth, and Spanish histories also confirm their correctness; though the works of other nations, at least English histories, make no mention of her name; and to correct this deficiency, and to place it, where it deserves to be, on their record, among historical narratives of the heroines of the world, is the object of this notice.

In the village of Gaidar lived a young girl called Andamana,* who, legend says, possessed extraordinary wisdom. Her judgment was often consulted on the most weighty matters, and her reputation for wisdom, at first confined to her own family and friends, and then to her own district, soon spread to the surrounding country, so that deputations from a distance often came to the village where she resided to consult her opinion on important or disputed points. Litigants appealed to her before bringing their cases before the magistrates, and the magistrates themselves often appealed to her before making their decisions, and the invariable success which attended compliance with her coun- sel induced the people to regard her as inspired.

This popular rumor, which often came to her ears, and the constant reference to her judgment of public matters, seem to have kindled ambition in her breast, and to have prompted her subsequent conduct.

The wisdom of her decisions at first only elicited applause; but when encouraged by the deference paid to those opinions, she proceeded to pronounce decisions also, in addition to giving advice; the magistrates complained of her actions as an infringement on their privileges.

Particularly was this complaint induced, by the fact that their receipts were seriously affected by her course; she charged no fee; but their charges were heavy, and often the litigant who was able to give the largest fee obtained a verdict in his favor, although his adversary might possess the better argument.

Andamana was extremely popular among the people of her district, and the Guanarteme, fearing to take open measures against her, on his own responsibility, called a council to take into consideration her pretensions and encroachments. But instead of quailing before this measure, so fraught with apparent danger to the success of her ambitious plans, she made it a means of advancing her power.

The Council met when the door opened, and Andamana, splendidly attired, entered, and calmly assumed a seat as presiding officer of the assembly. The members of the Council were struck dumb with astonishment, and none uttered a word. It was commonly reported (as I said before) that Andamana was inspired, and her conduct on this occasion tended to confirm this impression on the members of the Council. After a brief pause, she arose and upbraided them as unworthy of all she had done, and dared them to cite one instance where, in the judgments or decisions she had rendered, she had been swayed by personal interest or personal advantage. She then resumed her seat and waited in vain for a reply, then arose again and pronounced the Council dissolved.

The adoption of this strain of superiority was a bold and successful stroke of policy. From this time no further op- position was made to her assumptions of power, which she henceforth exercised with regal sway.

Her next step was to revise the judicial code of her district, abolishing many laws which she did not approve; altering others, and introducing many new ones. She also established especial punishments for different offences which, before, were left to the discretion of the magistrates; defined the duties of those officers, and appointed punishments for bribery and the perversion of justice.

Pursuing the same course of assumption of power which had hitherto been so successful in her own district, she sent copies of her code of laws to the surrounding districts, directing its observance in their future administration of justice. In her own province Andamana was almost idolized, but her influence was little felt and altogether unacknowledged beyond it, and her messages and instructions were treated with scorn, and, in some cases, her messengers with punishment.

Immediately on their return she visited Gumidafe, known as the Knight of Facaracas, a nobleman whose habitation was a fortified cave in the neighborhood of Gaidar, and who was said to be the greatest warrior on the island, and who had control of a large force of armed men. To him, it is said, she related her grievances, and made an offer of marriage on condition that he should espouse her cause and fight her battles, which offer he gladly accepted. She then called the people of her district to arms, and when they were assembled, had the marriage ceremony uniting her and Gumidafe performed before the multitude, and installing him in the command of the army, and (knowing the influence of her presence in the expedition she contemplated) placing herself at his side, with his troops united to those of Gaidar, swept down on the offending provinces, and soon overrun the whole island. In every place where she went, she proclaimed immunity to all who would join her standard, but destruction to her opponents. In this way her forces increased as she advanced. Many towns received her with acclamation, and she speedily overcame all opposition. Every province having submitted to her sway, she returned to Gaidar and proclaimed herself and Gumidafe queen and king of Canary.

Her reign was a long and a beneficent one, and her first act was to establish a uniform code of laws for the whole island.
Andamana and Gumidafe were succeeded by their son, Artemis. The descendants of Andamana continued to reign in Gaidar until the conquest of the island by the Spaniards under Pedro de Vera, during the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella in Spain. Thus ended the royal line of Andamana. History has recorded many a name less worthy of memory than hers, but its pages, except in Spanish works, make no mention of her, nor of the Napolenonic coup d’etat by which she first achieved her supremacy.

* Ab Gal calls her Atidamana; Galineo calls her Antidamana, and other Spanish writers call her Andamada, and some Andamanada; but the name generally accepted as correct, and the one alone prevalent in the island of Gran Canaria, is Andamana.


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