Spanish scientists said they will reveal details of the nationality of 15th-century explorer Christopher Columbus tomorrow, after using DNA analysis to tackle a centuries-old mystery. Some have suggested that Columbus could even be Mallorcan.
Countries have argued over the origins and the final resting place of the divisive figure who led Spanish-funded expeditions from the 1490s onward, opening the way for the European conquest of the Americas.
Many historians have questioned the traditional theory that Columbus hailed from Genoa, Italy. Other theories range from him being a Spanish Jew or a Greek, to Basque or Portuguese.
Researchers led by forensic expert Miguel Lorente have been testing tiny samples of remains buried in Seville Cathedral, long marked by authorities there as the last resting place of Columbus, though there had been rival claims.
They had compared them with those of known relatives and descendants and their findings are due to be announced in a documentary titled "Columbus DNA: The true origin" on Spain's national broadcaster TVE on Saturday.
Gabriel Verd from Montuiri has spent fifty of his 68 years researching Christopher Columbus and in seeking to prove that the explorer was born in Mallorca and not in Genoa. This research started because, when he was young, he used to hear people say that Columbus had been born in Felanitx. If so, where was the evidence?
This initially came from two researchers who, at the end of the 1950s, maintained that Columbus was from Mallorca - Manuel López Flores from Seville and a Venezuelan, Hermano Nectario María.
One of the many indications, according to Gabriel, comes from an island off Venezuela. Columbus called it Margalida, and Margalida was a Mallorcan name. It was the name of Cristòfor Colom's mother - Margalida Colom. Why would Columbus (Colom) have used Margalida rather than Margarita or Margaretta, which would have been in keeping with the Genoa origins?
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And the answer is....... not from Mallorca.
Marvin Le MartianAh diddums. Did the man say something nasty. Never mind, mummy will kiss and make it better. Man up Marvin and fingers crossed, not long now before we know.
Who cares, no really who cares where he is from.
tranq tranquerHow rude!
Sit on your dart and spin Marvin. Of course he was from Felanitx. Once this is proved it will be the key to unlocking Es Sindicat as The Columbus Center. Es Sindicat is best described as an old wine factory, founded in 1919 and unique in Mallorca . The authorities have been looking for a use for this building for years and if tomorrow it is proven Cristobal Colon was a Felanitxer then their problem will be solved. There are several videos of the place on Youtube, El Celler Cooperatiu de Felanitx 1927 shows the place in operation ( accompanied by timely music) . Plus towards the end the railway in operation taking away the barrels of wine.
No, he wasn't. But some of his sailors on the voyage were Spanish so perhaps one of them was Mallorcan and gave CC the idea for the name.
I heard he was a Geordie! Really. No hold on. A Genoan! Wait! Possibly a Genevan, No that can’t be right either. Maybe he was from….oh who cares. Throw a dart.