Christopher Columbus was likely Spanish and Jewish, study suggests
A recent genetic study by Spanish researchers suggests that the renowned explorer Christopher Columbus may have had Spanish and Jewish ancestry. This new information aims to clarify a historical mystery that has persisted for centuries.
Researchers think that the adventurer, whose journey across the Atlantic in 1492 altered the path of global history, likely originated from western Europe, potentially hailing from the city of Valencia.
Some believe he hid his Jewish background or converted to Catholicism to avoid facing religious discrimination.
Research on DNA challenges the long-standing belief, which numerous historians have doubted, that the explorer originated from Genoa, Italy.
Columbus led a voyage supported by the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, aiming to find a new path to Asia. Instead, he arrived in the Caribbean.
His arrival marked the start of a time when Europeans began interacting with the Americas, resulting in conquest and colonization, as well as the tragic loss of countless indigenous lives due to diseases and conflict.
For years, nations have debated where the explorer came from, with numerous countries asserting that he belongs to them.
About 25 different theories have emerged regarding the place where he was born, with suggestions ranging from Poland and Great Britain to Greece, Portugal, Hungary, and various Scandinavian countries.
These recent discoveries are grounded in over twenty years of research.
The research kicked off in 2003 when José Antonio Lorente, a forensic medicine professor at the University of Granada, along with historian Marcial Castro, dug up what they thought were Christopher Columbus's remains from Seville Cathedral.
Columbus passed away in 1506 in the Spanish city of Valladolid, but he expressed a desire to be buried on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. In 1542, his body was moved there, but many years later, it was relocated to Cuba and ultimately interred in Seville.
The researchers collected DNA samples from the tomb as well as from the bones of Hernando, Columbus' son, and Diego, his brother.
Since that time, researchers have analyzed the genetic data alongside that of historical individuals and the explorer's descendants in an effort to unravel the mystery.
The common belief for a long time was that Columbus was born in 1451 in Genoa, into a family of wool workers.
However, they now think he resided in Spain—probably in Valencia—and was of Jewish descent. It is believed that he concealed his heritage to escape persecution.
Before the year 1492, when Columbus arrived in the Americas, there were approximately 300,000 Jews living in Spain. However, they, along with Muslims, were given an ultimatum: convert to Catholicism or leave the country.
In the television documentary "Columbus DNA: His True Origin," Professor Lorente revealed the study's findings, stating they were "nearly completely dependable."
The show, which was broadcast on Spain's national channel RTVE Saturday evening, coincided with the celebration of Spain's National Day.
The day commemorates the explorer's landing in the Americas.
