(Columbus did not set out to “discover America.” In fact, Columbus never set foot on nor saw what is now America, or even North America. The first Spanish-American establishment in the New World, La Navidad, is built with the remains of this Basque ship. Not infrequently, they resolutely defied the established powers through their leading roles in desertions, rebellions, mutinies, and various conspiracies…” After making landfall October 11 in the Bahamas, Columbus’ crews replenish their supplies and continue sailing the Caribbean area.ĭecemThe Santa Maria becomes shipwrecked off the coast of present day Haiti. Nevertheless, the observable clanlike spirit demonstrated by the Basques could camouflage the fact that they were often highly individualistic and competitive among themselves. They frequently used Euskara, their native language, to provide greater group strength and unity. They often acted collectively, as they represented an ethic group and were seen as such by the Crown’s other settlers. “ the Basques participated willingly in all of the enterprises in which their presence was sought by the Spanish monarchy. It should be noted here what Basque historian José Manuel Azcona Pastor says of the close-knit unity of the Basques: Only a quick meeting of the crews and officers of all three ships keep this from happening. When they hadn’t reached land at 800 leagues, the Basques on the Santa Maria threaten to throw him overboard. Columbus told his crews that they would reach land within 750 leagues of the Canary Islands. The Basques assert their unity early during this first voyage. For a complete explanation see Garate’s paper “Basque Names, Nobility and Ethnicity on the Spanish Frontier.”) However, some New World Basques made the personal decision to add “de” to their names for the reason of prestige and/or to show nobility. In addition, Garate contends that the additions of “de” and accent marks in Basque names are Castilian or Spanish additions. (Professor Joxe Mallea-Olaetxe and Basque historian Donald Garate report that most Basque names are toponyms-taken from geographical locations. (De La Cosa is also referred to as Lakotsa, Lakotza, LaCosa, Lacoza, Lakoza and Juan Vizcaíno.) Among the other Basques on the Santa Maria are: Juan de Lequeitio, boatswain from Bizkaia Martín de Urtubia, cabin boy from Natxitua, Bizkaia Lope Aresti, caulker from Erandio, Bizkaia Pérez Vizcaíno, cooper from Lekeitio, Bizkaia Domingo de Anchiá, cooper from Ispazter, Bizkaia Diego de Arana, mentioned earlier, who is expedition bailiff and of Basque origin from Córdoba Domingo Vizcaino Juan de Urniga and Pedro de Bilbao.Īmong the Basques on the Niña are: Juan Ruiz de la Peña, from Bizkaia Juan Martínez de Açogue, from Deba (Deva), Gipuzkoa Pedro Arraes, from Deba, Juan Arraes (son of Pedro), also from Deba Miguel de Soria and Pedro de Soria.Īmong the Basques on the Pinta are: Juan Quintero, from Algorta, Bizkaia and Ojer de Berástegui, from Gipuzkoa. Columbus and Beatriz never marry and have a son, Fernando.Ĭolumbus’ flagship, the Santa Maria (nicknamed “La Gallega”) is built in Basque shipyards and is the property of Bizkaian, Juan de la Cosa who is also its shipmaster. ![]() Diego is an officer on Columbus’ first voyage to the New World. In addition, in 1485 when Columbus’ wife dies, he spends the rest of his life with Basque Beatriz Enriquez de Arana, who is introduced to him by Diego de Arana. Vincent, near Lisbon in August 1476, del Valle relates that when Columbus was just 14 years old he fought in and with his uncle’s pirate fleet against Genoa under the name of Columbo Junior. Lersundi states Casenove was a Basque pirate and was variously known as Colon, Coullon or Coulon. However, his parents’ heritage is unknown, which has given rise to an interesting question: Was Columbus Basque? Supporting this theory, Spanish historian Fernando del Valle Lersundi argues that Columbus was from Nafarroa and, at one time, fought as a Basque pirate for his uncle, Admiral Guillermo de Casenove. Christopher Columbus (Colum Echeverria O’Brien) Not much is known of Christopher Columbus’ early life except that he was probably born in Genoa, Italy. ![]() ![]() ![]() RELATED CHRONOLOGIES: Basques in the Americas 1592-1692 Basques in the Americas 1692-1792 Basques in the Americas 1792-1893 Also be sure to see the comments at the bottom of the page. This is one in a series of chronologies on historic contributions of Basques featured in Euskal Kazeta.
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