Christopher Columbus
1451–1506
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Columbus was not a native Spaniard, but was born in the sea-faring city of Genoa. By age thirty he had distinguished himself as a successful trader and navigator, and at that time began contemplating an idea that came to obsess him. He was certain that Asia could be reached by sailing West, and was more than willing to risk his life in the endeavor, but he did not have the resources to finance the project himself. At that time, Portugal was had the best resources for major exploration, so Columbus first presented his idea to John II. The Portuguese monarch denied his request, but then secretly put together an expedition to test Columbus's theory. The expedition failed, and when Columbus discovered the treachery he furiously decamped for Spain, then a rival of Portugal.
It took Columbus many months to get an audience with Isabel and Ferdinand, and many more months to get a non-commital answer. In all, Columbus remained in Spain for five years before deciding to give up and approach the French king. Just as he was preparing to leave, however, Isabel summoned him one more time, and this time committed resources for his voyage.
The first voyage of Columbus departed on the 3rd of August and sighted land—probably an island in the Bahamas—on October 12, 1492. After building a small settlement on Hispaniola, and gathering gold, fruit, and other goods (including natives), he returned to Spain and a hero's welcome.
From the moment Columbus returned in triumph, however, he was the object of much jealousy, and intrigue. On his second voyage he led 17 ships to the new world, but most were filled with miscreants and adventurers who sought their own gain and were nearly ungovernable. Columbus himself, was a great navigator and explorer, but a poor leader of such men. The fact that he was a foreigner contributed greatly to his problems. To make matters worse, his entire crew was obsessed with wresting gold from the natives and as a result, nearly the whole indigenous population of Hispaniola was wiped out.
Columbus made a total of four voyages to the New World; the third in 1498, and the fourth and final voyage in 1502. Both of these voyages resulted in further discoveries, but ended in disaster. His authority was challenged at every turn by both ambitious nobles and unruly ruffians. The natives preferred to commit suicide than to submit to the abuse of the Spaniards. On his third voyage Columbus was arrested by the Governor who had been left in charge of the Spanish colony on Hispaniola and returned to Spain in chains. On the fourth voyage he was ship-wrecked, and the local Spanish governor delayed sending a rescue party until he was fairly sure that Columbus was dead. Greedy nobles actively sought to remove him from power, so they could lay claim to the wealth and power that had been promised him.
Columbus returned to Spain, indignant at his poor treatment, but was powerless to restore his rightful honor. Queen Isabella, his faithful sponsor had died during the year he spent shipwrecked, and Ferdinand refused to stand up for his interests. Columbus spent the final years of his life in relative poverty. His reputation was not restored for another generation, when his son married into one of the finest families of Spain and was able to reclaim his inheritance.
Key events during the life of Christopher Columbus:
| Columbus born in Genoa | |
| Fall of Constantinople closes many trade opportunites for Christian vessels in the East. | |
| Sailed in a military expedition against Naples. | |
| Began his career as a Genoese merchant. | |
| Began to formulate a plan for reaching the east by sailing west. | |
| Columbus presents his plans to John II of Portugal, but is rejected. | |
| Columbus presents his plans to Isabel and Ferdinand. They delay giving a definite answer. | |
| After five years of waiting Columbus prepares to leave Spain for France. | |
| Isabella relents and funds an expedition with three small ships. | |
| First voyage departed Aug 3, 1492 with three ships, returned March 1493. | |
| Second voyage departed Sept 24, 1493, with seventeen ships, returned Sept 1494. | |
| Third voyage departed May 30, 1498 with six ships. Returned, 1499 in chains. | |
| Fourth voyage departed May 11, 1502 with four ships to search for the straight of Malacca. | |
| Columbus ship-wrecked on Jamaica for a year. | |
| Returned to Spain for the last time. His sponsor Isabella was dead. | |
| Death of Columbus. |
Other Resources
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Image Links | ||
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 Columbus in his study in The Romance of Spanish History |
 Columbus at the door of the convent in The Romance of Spanish History |
 Columbus before the commisioners in The Romance of Spanish History |
 The Landing of Columbus in The Romance of Spanish History |
 Erecting the Cross in The Romance of Spanish History |
 Columbus before Ferdinand and Isabella in The Romance of Spanish History |
 Columbus and the Egg in The Romance of Spanish History |
 The colony destroyed in The Romance of Spanish History |
 Columbus in chains in The Romance of Spanish History |
 The Eclipse in The Romance of Spanish History |
 The Rescue in The Romance of Spanish History |
 Columbus and the Egg in Thirty More Famous Stories Retold |
 Columbus as a Youth in A Child's History of Spain |
 The landing of Columbus in A Child's History of Spain |
 The Bradley Portrait of Columbus in A Child's History of Spain |
 Columbus sailing westward in Panama: Peeps at Many Lands |
 Hoisting the Spanish flag in Central America in Panama: Peeps at Many Lands |
 Christopher Columbus in Indian History for Young Folks |
 Columbus Reading Polo's Book in A First Book in American History |
Columbus plants flag of Spain in the New World in A First Book in American History |
Columbus Returns in Triumph in A First Book in American History |
 Columbus in Chains in A First Book in American History |
 Columbus before Isabella in A First Book in American History |
 Columbus at the court of Isabella and Ferdinand in Story of the Thirteen Colonies |
 Landing of Columbus in Story of the Thirteen Colonies |
 Columbus at the court of Ferdinand and Isabella in Famous Men of Modern Times |
 Columbus landing at San Salvador in Famous Men of Modern Times |
 The reception of Columbus at Barcelona in Famous Men of Modern Times |
 Columbus in chains in Famous Men of Modern Times |
 Death of Columbus in Story of the Greatest Nations: Spain |
 Columbus ridiculed at Salamanca in Story of the Greatest Nations: Spain |
 Columbus before Isabella in Story of the Greatest Nations: Spain |
 Isabella offering her Crown Jewels to Columbus in Isabella of Castile |
 Reception of Columbus by Isabella at Burgos in Isabella of Castile |
 Columbus was dressed in shining steel, with a beautiful red cloak, and he carried the red and yellow flag of Spain. in The Men Who Found America |
 Columbus and his crew confess and take communion before sailing in The Story of Columbus |
 Columbus and his son Diego at the Gate of the Convent in The Story of Columbus |
 Columbus addressing the mutineers in The Story of Columbus |
 Columbus naming the Island of San Salvador in The Story of Columbus |
 We could have done that', said the Courtiers in The Story of Columbus |
 Columbus sent to Spain in chains in The Story of Columbus |
 The voyage of Columbus in This Country of Ours |
 The Landing of Columbus in History of the United States |
 Columbus at Barcelona in History of the United States |
Departure of Columbus in Historical Tales: Spanish American |
 Reception of Columbus by Ferdinand and Isabella in Historical Tales: Spanish |
 Bust of Columbus in Columbus the Discoveror |
 Columbus demonstrating his theory of the earth's rotundity in Columbus the Discoveror |
 The landing at Guanahani in Columbus the Discoveror |
 Return of Columbus from his first voyage in Columbus the Discoveror |
 Columbus negotiates a peace with Roldan in Columbus the Discoveror |
 The Death of Columbus in Columbus the Discoveror |
 Christopher Columbus in History of the Church: Early Modern Times |
 The Earliest Engraved Portrait of Christopher in Builders of Our Country: Book I |
 Columbus Describing his Plan for Reaching China in Builders of Our Country: Book I |
 Columbus Claiming the New Country in the Name of Spain in Builders of Our Country: Book I |
 Columbus and Diego. in The Discovery of New Worlds |
 The parting of Columbus with Ferdinand and Isabella, 3rd August 1492 in A Book of Discovery |
The Best Portrait of Columbus in A Book of Discovery |
 Columbus landing on Hispaniola in A Book of Discovery |
 The first representation of the people of the new world in A Book of Discovery |
 Columbus at the Court of Spain. in European Hero Stories |
 Columbus Before the Learned Men of Salamanca in European Hero Stories |
 Columbus's First View of the New World in European Hero Stories |
 Columbus at the Court of Spain. in Old World Hero Stories |
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| Pious and stalwart queen of Spain, unified diverse kingdoms, reformed finances, conquered Granada, financed Columbus. | |
| King of Aragon who ruled united Spain with Queen Isabel. Drove the Moors out of Granada. | |
| Martin Alonzo Pinzon | Spanish navigator who sailed with Columbus on first voyage, but later feuded with him. |
| Nicholas Ovando | Governor of Hispaniola. Responsible for great massacres of the natives. |
| Bartholomew de Casas | Priest who accompanied the Spanish conquistadors to New World and tried to protect the natives from abuses. |
| Francisco Bobadilla | Rival of Columbus who was appointed governor of the West Indies. |
| Bartholomew Columbus | Brother of Columbus who accompanied him on his third voyage. |
| Diego Columbus | Son of Columbus; his heir and biographer. |