Cristoforo Colombo, the great explorer
Every year, during the second week of October, the “Federated Italo-Americans” of Southern California celebrates in Los Angeles the great explorer and navigator Cristoforo Colombo, for the benefit of the Italian community as well as the new generation of Italo-Americans.
In fact it’s not uncommon that young children come back home from school and tell their parents that their teachers have taught them a new version of the discovery of America, different from what the children had learned at home from their parents.
What children are learning in school at times is that Christopher Columbus, the explorer that on October 12, 1492 discovered the “New World”, was either Spanish, Portuguese or perhaps Italian. Reliable historians have taught for centuries that the grand navigator Cristoforo Colombo was a full-blood Italian, born in Genoa from Italian parents. In fact the house where Colombo was born is located in Via dell’Olivella near Porta Sant’Andrea and it is still visible today. Genoa is the capital of Liguria, the northen-most coastal region of Italy.
Genoa, once known as “The Superb”, was one of the 4 Repubbliche Marinare. The “Maritime Republics”: Genoa, Venice, Pisa and Amalphi, were established in medieval time to better organize and control the maritime traffic on the Mediterranean with the Orient.
Liguria used to overshadow Venice in power and splendor: its capital, Genoa, made Paris and London look like country towns. All Colombo’s ancestors were Italian from Genoa and Piacenza and have been traced back for at least ten generations, since anno domini 1230.
Because the city of Genoa was not in the best economical shape to finance an expedition around the world, Columbus decided to introduce his project to other countries like France, Portugal and Spain. Dominican Friars, that were acquainted with Christopher Columbus and were impressed by his reputation as a navigator and as a practicing catholic, introduced him to Queen Isabella of Spain and to King Ferdinand of Portugal.
At that time both Isabella and Ferdinand were very busy fighting the Moors that were trying to conquer the whole Iberian peninsula. When the Moors were finally expelled from the city of Granada and southern Spain (January 2, 1492), their majesties showed interest in meeting with Columbus.
Isabella and Ferdinand were truly impressed by the knowledge and the enthusiasm exhibited by the navigator; they agreed that his mission should have two major purposes: to find gold for Spain and to bring Christianity to the New World. The Spanish monarchs, sold on that idea, lent him enough money to purchase 3 caravels. Colombus named them NiEa, Pinta and Santa Maria. These crafts were equipped with a total of 88 men.
The little fleet weighed anchor on August 3, 1492 and a few days later landed at the Canary Islands. After re-supplying with fresh water and provisions, they resumed the journey.
The weather was good and everybody aboard was enjoying the new venture. For several weeks they had not seen land and were getting nervous.After such a lengthy navigation, the crew became tired and started rioting. Columbus reassured them and they calmed down. Finally on October 12 land was sighted.
Colombo and his men were overjoyed for having reached the “OTRO MUNDO, EL NUEVO MUNDO”. Columbus named that land SAN SALVADOR, that today goes under the name of Watling Island and is part of the Bahamas. Other islands discovered shortly thereafter in the same general area were: the island of Santa Maria (Rum Cay), Isabella (Crooked Island), Fernandina (Long Island), Cuba (Juana), Hispaniola, Haiti and Santo Domingo.A few days later the caravel Santa Maria went aground; the damage was so extensive that Columbus decided to abandon it. On January 4th, 1493 the great navigator decided to set sail on the NiEa to return home.
A storm separated the NiEa from the Pinta in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean but a couple of days later the two caravels were reunited. On March 15th our heroes reached Spain and received a triumphal welcome by their majesties in full court.
From the new world Colombo brought to Isabel and Ferdinand gold, unusual plants, unknown birds and animals, spices, colorful parrots, cotton, peculiar weapons and a few Indians to be baptized.
The sovereigns were very impressed and happy for the discoveries, for the land claimed in the name of Spain, for the popularity achieved, and were delighted to compensate Columbus and his crew with money and titles. The great navigator was given the title of “Admiral of the Ocean Seas” and also “Governor” of all discovered lands.After a short but restful vacation Columbus was ready to return to the new world and to discover other lands, other islands.
Within the following ten years Columbus crossed the ocean three more times (1493, 1498 and 1502).
Other explorers (Pizarro, Cortes, Vasco de Gama, De Soto, Magellan, Cabot, Verrazano) followed his example and the world was enriched with new lands everywhere.
Christopher Columbus died at 55 at Valladolid, Spain. He was by far the greatest explorer that ever existed.
Tony Ghezzo
10631 Vinedale Street, Sun Valley, CA 91352 - Phone (818) 767-3413 - Fax: (818) 767-1410