[Asterix]

It is a commonly accepted fact that Christopher Columbus, the man who discovered America in 1492 and founded the first colonies of the New World, was of Italian origin; a Genovese woolworker, in specific. But History is made by humans, and thus inherits all the flaws that come with the human misconception and prejudice. History sometimes holds records not of the actual truth, but instead of the truth that the people who created these records would like to pass onto the next generations. Christopher Columbus and the truth about his nationality is one perfect example, that much extended, as to enter the areas of conspiracy

According to the commonly accepted facts, Christopher Columbus was born in Genova in 1451, was a woolworker until 1473, year in which the first seeds of his future dreams and desires to find a new way to China, sailing westwards, started to grow. Many futile years passed, as he desperately (and in vain) tried to persuade the Royalties of western Europe to finance his desired journeys. Finally, in 1492, as we all know, he received the funds and Royal support he needed in order to turn his dream into reality.

The first questions that arise are simple, yet crucial. How can it be possible for a woolworker, a person without education, without any talent other than the skills of his labor, to become suddenly a man who reads, writes and speaks Spanish, Portuguese, Greek and Latin, corresponds with famous scientists and geographers of his time for many scientific matters, negotiates with Kings and Queens, and becomes the fearless navigator and seaman that dares to sail where no man had gone before (as it was believed in 15th century, at least)? Also, another important fact. There is not a single letter written by Columbus in Italian language, including the ones sent to the Pope. How can it be, an Italian person, living in Genova until his 22d birthday, to use the Spanish language to write a letter to the Pope?

Some other interesting details. When Columbus' son and biographer, Ferdinard, visited Genova (among other Italian cities) in 1515 and also in 1521, he could not locate a single relative of his father, nor his place of birth. Also, despite the fact that there were many relatives and descendants of the woolworker named Domenico Colombo (supposed father of Christopher), none of them claimed to be a relative of the explorer and navigator Christopher Columbus, nor he attempted to claim part of his inheritance. In addition, the authorities of Genova never offered to assist in any way Christopher Columbus (supposedly not only a Genovese citizen, but a very eminent one) in his troubled times in Spain. On the other hand, Spanish authorities never referred to Columbus as Italian, or as Spanish, either. Plus, on the contrary with the contemporary practises that demanded for the nationality of an individual to be mentioned in official documents, in no official document Columbus was ever addressed as "Genovese". It was mentioned mostly as Cristobal Colon, the name that he was known and referred to in Spain, without any other remark about his nationality. He was actually a stateless man..

A final detail: in 1501, when Bobadilla brought Columbus back to Spain in chains, a letter by the navigator was sent to the Spanish Royalties, in which Columbus says that up until the year 1500, he had 40 years of maritime service. Adding an earlier statement of his, that he went to sea for the first time when he was 14, plus around 7 years in his attempts to persuade the Spanish Kings, that would mean that he was 61 years old in 1501, meaning that he was born in 1439. The suggestion that Cristoforo Colombo was born in 1451 is true, but it has nothing to do with Cristobal Colon, Cristopher Columbus, who discovered America. It was a completely different person...


Sources:
Seraphim G. Canoutas "Christofer Columbus. A Greek Nobleman"
Chris D. Lazos "Christofer Columbus"
Ruth G.Durlacher- Wolper "A Byzantine Prince from Chios"

[Fluffybunny]

Does this really qualify as a conspiracy?

The guy could have had a family he wanted nothing to do with and just changed his name...

Conspiracy seems so malevolent...

[Asterix]

Well, by definition a conspiracy is: "A secret agreement between two or more people to perform an unlawful act". (And to make full use of the word "unlawful", we include the morally unlawful as well).

Therefore, if it is so that the facts around the life of Columbus have been deliberately distorted, I think it does qualify as a conspiracy. Perhaps it does not affect us in modern times in the same degree as e.g. goverment concealing the truth about something, but it is nevertheless a conspiracy passed in History.

As for whether these facts have been deliberately altered or not, there are strong indications, in my opinion, that they have. It is really strange, to say the least, how can it be so that almost all the items belonging to Columbus (such as his maps, books, personal items, letters, log books) have been lost. The original copy of the biography written by his son, Ferdinard, is lost. Most of the letters written by him are lost, while the ones written to him by the scientists and geographers he was corresponding with, are preserved.

Proof of course, there can't be. But, as they say, when a coincidence repeats itself many times, stops being a coincidence.