Famed explorer Christopher Columbus is likely of Spanish and Jewish descent, according to a groundbreaking genetic study conducted by Spanish scientists that seeks to illuminate a long-standing historical debate.
This new research suggests that Columbus may have been born in western Europe, with Valencia as a probable birthplace. It is believed that he may have concealed his Jewish identity or converted to Catholicism in order to escape the religious persecution prevalent during his time.
The DNA analysis challenges the long-held belief that Columbus originated from Genoa, Italy, a theory that has faced scrutiny from historians for years.
Columbus, whose expedition was backed by Spain, aimed to discover a new route to Asia but ultimately made landfall in the Caribbean. His arrival marked a significant turning point in history, initiating widespread European contact with the Americas that resulted in profound consequences, including the tragic decline of many indigenous populations due to disease and conflict.
Debates about Columbus’s origins have persisted for centuries, with at least 25 different theories emerging, positing homes as varied as Poland, Great Britain, Greece, and beyond.
The findings stem from over two decades of research, initiated in 2003 when a team exhumed what were believed to be Columbus’s remains from a cathedral in Seville. Columbus passed away in Valladolid in 1506 and expressed a desire to be buried on Hispaniola, but his remains underwent a long journey before being finally interred in Seville.
Researchers analyzed DNA samples from Columbus’s tomb and skeletal remains of his son and brother to uncover his ancestry, and they have since compared this genetic data with known historical figures and relatives of the explorer.
Historically, Columbus was thought to be born in Italian Genoa in 1451. However, recent evidence now suggests he likely lived in Spain and had Jewish heritage, possibly concealing his identity to evade persecution.
Before the expulsion edict in 1492, around 300,000 practicing Jews resided in Spain, along with Muslims who also faced conversion or exile.
Professor José Antonio Lorente announced the study’s findings in a documentary, asserting that they are “almost absolutely reliable.” This revelation coincided with Spain’s National Day, a celebration of Columbus’s arrival in the Americas, emphasizing the ongoing relevance of his legacy and origins in contemporary discourse.
