ever, was too shrewd to restore him to the full powers of control which he claimed by virtue of his discovery. As soon as he became convinced that there was little use in trying to secure his rights, Columbus asked for a fleet with which to continue his discoveries. This was readily granted, and in May, 1502, he set sail with four caravels to seek a route to the real East. A part of the royal grant was the condition that he should not revisit Española, but on June 29th Columbus anchored off Santo Domingo. Being forbidden to enter the harbor, he refitted as best he could outside, where he successfully weathered a storm which, curiously enough overwhelmed a fleet on which Bobadilla and several of his bitterest enemies had set sail for Spain. Columbus proceeded westward, and between July 30, 1502, and January 24, 1503, he sailed along the coast of Central America, from Honduras to Veragua, where he attempted a settlement. In April, 1503, the disheartened survivors insisted on abandoning the enterprise. With the greatest difficulty the rotten ships were brought as far as Jamaica, where, in August, they had to be beached to save their cargoes. The Admiral had been confined for many weeks to his bed, with a complication of mental and bodily ailments, from which he aroused himself at moments of special danger to show his earlier courage, enthusiasm, and skill. From Jamaica a messenger, Diego Mendez, started across to Cuba in a canoe to seek help at Santo Domingo. It was many months before the pitiful survivors learned that he had not perished on the way. He reached Española in safety, but Ovando, who had succeeded Bobadilla, delayed as long as he could before permitting Mendez to hire a vessel to go to the rescue of the castaways on Jamaica. At last, in June, 1504, the survivors who had remained faithful to the Admiral through dangers and disasters were once more embarked on their way back to civilization. Refitting the vessel at Santo Domingo, Columbus proceeded to Spain, landing at San Lucar de Barrameda on November 7. Before the end of the month. Queen Isabella, upon whom all his hopes rested, died. Columbus went to Seville, where he busied himself during such intervals of freedom from pain as he had in trying to put his affairs in order, and in writing letters to all whose friendship or help he craved. In May, 1505, he vainly journeyed to Segovia to plead with the King for some recognition of his rights and those of his son. Thence he retired to Valladolid, where he died, May 20, 1506.
Columbus literature, already very voluminous, was more than doubled during the celebration of the four hundredth anniversary of his discovery of America in 1892. The chief source for information about him was for many years Navarrete's great collection of documents, published at Madrid between 1825 and 1837. This has been in a measure supplanted by a monumental work published by the Italian Government, Scritti di Colombo (Rome, 1892). The standard English version of the Letters is Major's translation in the Hakluyt Society volumes for 1848 and 1870, supplemented by Markham's translation of the Journal in 1843. There is a convenient edition of the Letters edited by W. C. Ford (New York, 1892). The great critical study of Columbus's life and family is by Harrisse, in two volumes (Paris, 1884), the results of which were presented in English by Winsor (Boston, 1892). Among the best of the many shorter biographies are those by Markham (London, 1893), and by Adams (New York, 1892).
COLUMBUS (Colon), Diego (in It.,
Giacomo) (c.1468-1515). The youngest brother of
Christopher Columbus. He was born probably
at Genoa and upon the news of his brother's
great discovery came to Spain. He accompanied
Christopher on his second voyage, and late in
1493 was at the head of a commission intrusted
with the government of Española in the absence
of the Admiral. In 1496 he went to Spain to
defend his brother against the charges submitted
by some of the unruly members of the colony.
He returned to Española, but fell into disgrace
and was sent in chains to Spain in the year 1500.
A number of years before his death he entered
the Church.
COLUMBUS, Diego (c.1478-1526). Eldest
son of Christopher Columbus. He was born probably
at Lisbon, and came in 1484 to Spain with
his father, who left him for some time with his
friends at the Convent of La Rábida, while he
himself went to seek aid at the Court. In 1494
he became page to the Crown Prince, Juan, and
after the latter's death in 1497 he was admitted
into the household of Queen Isabella, where he
remained till 1504. After the death of his father
he received the title of Admiral of the Indies,
but was refused the viceroyalty which he
claimed as his paternal right. In 1508 he
married a daughter of the house of Alba, and
through her influence succeeded in being made
Governor of the Indies. In 1509 he arrived at
Española to take possession of his office. He
never desisted in his claim to the viceroyalty
and to a share of the revenues from the New
World due him, and in 1520 finally won his case.
He was recalled, however, from his government
in 1523, and though he made his peace again
with the Court, did not return to the New
World. He died at Montalban in 1526. His son
Luis (1521-72), born at Santo Domingo, received
the title of Admiral of the Indies in 1529. He
finally abandoned all claims of the family to the
viceroyalty and received in compensation an
estate in Jamaica and one near Veragua, with
the titles of Duke of Veragua and Marquis of
Jamaica. In 1563 he was banished on account of
his dissolute life to Oran, where he died. With
Diego Colon (died 1578), a nephew of Luis and
a great-grandson of Christopher, the male line
of the great Admiral became extinct. The present
Dukes of Veragua trace their descent from a
sister of the last Diego.
COLUMBUS, Ferdinand (Fernando) (1488-1539). A natural son of Christopher Columbus by Beatriz Henriquez, of Cordova. In 1498 he became page to Queen Isabella. He accompanied his father on his last voyage to the New World,
and in 1509 he sailed for Española with his brother Diego, who had been made Governor of the Indies. Returning to Spain, he settled down as a cosmographer and writer on navigation. He traveled extensively in Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, and France, and in 1522 visited
England. Two years later he was a member of the board of arbitration selected to decide on the conflicting claims of Spain and Portugal to the Molucca Islands. His political career was an active one, and mainly in line with his profession as geographer. Two years before his death he
