Christopher Columbus was mallorquín.
Christopher Columbus, the descrubridor whose feat is commemorated in these days, could
to have been born in Majorca and not in Genoa, according to diverse investigations, among
them those of the heraldista and lawyer José Antonio Dávila and García Miranda.
Christopher Columbus figure has always been wrapped in the mystery. A
mystery that the own admiral took charge of fomenting when leaving big
incognito about their origin. Numerous specialists have taken charge of
to investigate the admiral's figure. And most of they have leaned for
to rebut their Genoese origin, or they have contributed tests of their Aragonese origin.
The historian Menéndez Pidal settled down that Columbus not
he/she spoke neither Italian neither "genovisco" - language
that it was spoken in Genoa -. Another very significant fact is that the
correspondence among the three siblings Columbus - Cristóbal, Bartolomé and Diego - you
it developed entirely in Castilian and not in the maternal language, like there was
logical.
Pidal also settled down that Columbus's language not
it was the sefardí and that, also, their Castilian was plagued of
"aragonesismos" and Italianisms, like they were used then in the one
Kingdom of Aragon.
On the other hand, the Peruvian historian Luis Ulloa Cisneros defends the thesis
of Christopher Columbus Catalan origin, while another historian, Manuel
López Flores, affirms that it was mallorquín and the prince's of Viana natural son and of Margarita Columbus, of family possibly
he/she converses, resided in the town mallorquina of Felanitx.
The prince's of Viana bastard son.
Manuel López Flores also affirms that this bastard son
of the prince of Viana it was baptized as Juan. But
it was made call for imperatives of their mesianismo "Cristoferens",
that is to say, the one that takes to Christ. Also, it is certain that Columbus never signs
with their last name, neither Cristóbal, neither Cristóforo, but Cristoferens. Columbus adds in his signature some initials
crípticas whose meaning is ignored. Sometimes signature "the one
Admiral" but never Columbus, like it has been said.
Another investigation that endorses Columbus's Aragonese origin - the Balearic ones
they belonged then to the Kingdom of Aragon - it is that of the marquis of Villarreal of Álava who has located in the area
levantina of the crown of Aragon to diverse people related with
marine activities of last name Colom, among those
that they appear several with Cristóbal's names, Diego and Bartolomé.
José's investigations Antonio Dávila is based on the grace that the kings
Catholics granted to Columbus, that he/she added to their family weapons those
new that they grant him according to a privilege granted in Barcelona the 20 of
May of 1493.
For Dávila, "since the authenticity of Columbus's testament is more than
doubtful, we have to keep these indications and to value the coat of arms
that one affirms it was that of Columbus's" lineage.
"But there is a small difference between the oldest drawings and those
later. And that is the difference that has taken me to discover the one to me
the admiral's origin mallorquín. The band doesn't start up of the "boss"
but rather it figures "on the everything." This way, they would be described this way
Columbus's "field of gold" original weapons, "the gules" boss, brochante on the one
"an entire band of azure."
"On the other hand - he/she affirms - a part of the shield "entered in tip"
he/she always brings the weapons that it is, the most reduced and simplified
possible, because he/she has little space.
According to that, it is easy to see that an interpretation versosímil
of Columbus's primitive weapons it is that it is, simply, of those
calls "bars" of Aragon, with the bar of bastardy, that that
it would confirm Manuel's thesis López Flores. Or an interpretation of those
you arm mallorquinas reflected in the banner of the Balearic Kingdom: flag cuatribarrada with a "azure band on those
four bars."
Columbus hides his origin.
It is also explained why Christopher Columbus hid his condition of Aragonese: in
times of absolute monarchy, a citizen was not able to condition the benefit of
their services, should conform to with the graces that the king wanted
to grant him. A foreigner could only put previous conditions to lend their
services and to "be naturalized the king's citizen.
Therefore, if Columbus was subject of the Aragonese crown it could not negotiate as it
he/she made, and with profit, the "Capitulations of Santa Faith." This explains,
according to the marquis's of Villarreal of Álava studies,
that Columbus hid to have been born in Aragonese territory, it was peninsular,
insular or, even, Neapolitan.
In 1931 he/she was discovered the call I "document boromei"
of 1494, in the one that the Milanese count Juan Borromeo
he/she affirms that Pedro of Angleria, treasurer of the Reyes
Catholic, he/she had informed him of Christopher Columbus authentic personality,
possibly recognizing their character of "Aragonese."
Also the father The Houses, columnist of the Discovery, says that Columbus was of
a main lineage, but that the hidden thing for diverse reasons.
Also, the historian José Tomás Cabot sustains
that Columbus hides his origin because it had been during years secret agent of
Fernando the Catholic in the court of Portugal. That which gives a new meaning
to the pardon that Juan II, king from Portugal, grants him March 20 1488.
Ana García Rivas
Newspaper 16