Christopher Columbus is a character that raises more questions than answers. Was it Genoese, Portuguese, Galician or something more exotic? This mystery is what the documentary intended to clear up. Columbus DNA. Its true origin after centuries in which it has been thought that Columbus could have been born anywhere, except where the history books say.
Finally, after tests carried out by research at the University of Granada led by Professor of Legal Medicine José Antonio Lorente, it has been confirmed that Columbus was a Sephardic Jew from the Iberian Peninsula, possibly from some area of Valencia.
The origin is clear: he was a Sephardic Jew from somewhere on the Mediterranean coast, possibly from Valencia.
Francesc Albardaner, the main defender of this theory, has celebrated the data. “He was a Jew by culture, by nation, by religion and, above all, by nation,” the documentary states. The support of converted Jews would have been essential to link the admiral with the Catholic Monarchs.
Albanader has justified the reason why he has always maintained that Columbus was Jewish and, therefore, it was impossible for him to be Genoese: “In Genoa the Jews were expelled after the 12th century and there were no people, no community, no synagogue, or anything at all. The Jews could only go to the city and stay in Genoa for three days to do business and then they had to leave.
On the other hand, it has also been revealed that Diego Columbus, who was believed to be the admiral’s younger brother, was only a distant fifth or sixth degree relative who would have posed as his brother during their close collaboration during the discovery of America. .
Numerous theories
There has never been a consensus until now
The enigma of the origin of Christopher Columbus has always interested historians. Although the theory of Genoese origin has been the most accepted and supported by most historians and documents since the 16th century, there have been disagreements over the centuries, as the admiral never specified in his writings where he was born. Now, all of them have been refuted after the confirmation that Columbus was Jewish.
The traditional and most accepted theory by most historians was that Columbus was born in Genoa, in the region of Liguria, present-day Italy, around 1451. According to this theory, his original name was Cristoforo Colombo. However, it was always questioned, mainly because someone of low birth could never have contacted the Catholic Monarchs. Furthermore, he did not speak either Italian or Genoese.
DNA has provided definitive data on Columbus
Another theory suggested that Columbus was born in Galicia. This proposal is based on the idea that Columbus could have been a Galician nobleman named Pedro Álvarez de Soutomaior – known as Pedro Madruga -, who would have adopted a new identity after fleeing political conflicts. He could also have been Castilian because he always used Spanish to communicate, as well as Navarrese.
The idea that he was Portuguese arose from analysis of his correspondence and his close relationship with Portugal. According to this hypothesis, Christopher Columbus would have actually been a privateer named Pedro Ataíde who was persecuted by the Portuguese king João II.
Another theory argues that Columbus could have been a converted Sephardic Jew. This is based on the analysis of some of his writings and the fact that his expedition to America was financed shortly after the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492. Proponents of this hypothesis believe that Columbus sought to open routes to escape from persecution and finding a new refuge for the Jews.
Confirmed
The remains in Seville are from Columbus
What was clear before the premiere is that part of his bones rest in the Seville Cathedral. After having analyzed the small bone remains, the results obtained by the team of experts confirmed that they belong to the admiral.
The investigation has yielded positive data
Although this important historical figure has not had a peaceful rest. His remains have traveled to different places: first they were buried in Valladolid in 1506, then transferred to Seville, from there to Santo Domingo in 1537, and later to Havana in 1795. Finally, in 1898, they returned to Seville, where they rest today. .
However, this discovery does not completely close the door to other bones of the admiral being elsewhere. Therefore, it is feasible that his remains could follow the Cathedral of Santo Domingo. “Neither are they all in Seville, nor are they all in the Dominican Republic,” said Lorente.
Source: www.lavanguardia.com
