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The eruption that took place in Lanzarote between 1 September 1730 and 16 April 1736 differs from the normal style of the historic (last 500 years) volcanism of the Canary Islands. The duration (2,056 days), extent (200 km²), volume of materials emitted (3–5 km³) and the evolution of magmas from extremely SiO₂-undersaturated lavas (melanephelinites) towards olivine tholeiite compositions are quite unique in the historic trend of volcanism in the Archipelago, and, apparently, even in the Earth's historical record of basaltic fissure eruptions. However, no specific work has been undertaken until now to attempt the reconstruction of this eruption. We present here a detailed reconstruction of the eruption, based on field observations and data provided by eye-witness accounts, one of which is a hitherto unpublished manuscript. The “anomalous” nature of this eruption in relation to the historic volcanism of the Canaries …