After five centuries of speculation and theories, the true identity of Christopher Columbus began to emerge thanks to the documentary ‘Columbus DNA: His True Origin’ produced by RTVE. This feature-length film, which details 22 years of research carried out by forensic pathologist and professor at the University of Granada, José Antonio Lorente, revealed that the man who discovered America was in fact Jewish.
The investigation began with a search for Columbus’ remains, believed to be in Seville or the Dominican Republic. Science has confirmed that the remains in the Seville Cathedral belong to the admiral. An analysis of the bones of his son, Hernando Colón was crucial in establishing parentage and resolving a 150-year-old dispute between Spain and the Caribbean nation. Hernando’s DNA results showed traits consistent with a Jewish origin, both in the “Y” chromosome and in the mitochondrial DNA.
The documentary, presented in a true crime format, chronicles the process of genetic research, where 25 possible origins of Columbus were examined and narrowed down to eight plausible hypotheses. As theories were presented, DNA dismantled many of them, leading to the conclusion that Columbus was not Genoese, as had been believed for centuries.
Researcher Francesc Albardaner, who led one of the lines of research, claims that Columbus was Jewish and places him in the Western Mediterranean, more precisely in the Iberian Peninsula, where, at the time of Columbus, there were about 200,000 Jews. In contrast, in Italy the Jewish population was significantly smaller. Albardaner argues that the story of Columbus as a Genoese comes into crisis if his Jewish origin is accepted, because Genoa had expelled the Jews in the 12th century.
Research also revealed that the surname Colombo, common in Italy, was used for abandoned children, further complicating the tale of an Italian Columbus. In addition, the Letters of Columbus, preserved in large numbers, are written in Spanish, without Italian influence.
The documentary also addresses other mysteries about Columbus’ life, including the revelation that his brother Diégo was not really his brother, but a distant relative. Throughout his life, Columbus hid his origin, perhaps due to the persecution faced by Jews on the Iberian Peninsula. In 1492 an ultimatum was issued forcing Jews to convert to Christianity or leave the kingdoms of the Catholic Monarchs.
Albardaner suggests that Columbus, throughout his life, had to appear as a devout Christian to avoid persecution. The research also highlights the support Columbus received from Jews and converts, such as the Duke of Medinaceli and Luis de Santángel, who played a crucial role in financing his expedition to America.
Finally, Lorente concludes that the DNA indicates a Mediterranean origin for Columbus, suggesting that his most likely provenance is in the Spanish Mediterranean arc or in the Balearic Islands which at the time belonged to Crown of Aragon. With this new evidence, the documentary not only rewrites the story of Columbus, but also invites deeper reflection on the identity and legacy of the man who changed the course of history.
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Originally published in The European Times.
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