Cristóvão Colon’s DNA studies
 By Manuel Luciano da Silva, Medical Doctor 

Cristovão Colon (Columbus) died on May 20, 1506, in  a humble dwelling at Valladolid, Spain. He was 53 year old. His two sons, Diogo and Fernand, were at his bedside. He was buried in Valladolid. 

DNA And Politics

I do not now who was the wise guy that suggested that DNA studies should be done on the Cristovão  Colon’s  (Columbus) bones.  This idea has many political implications and even controversies. 

If we go to Spain and visit the main cathedral– La Giralda --  in Seville, the guides will direct us to a large mausoleum called the Tomb of Colon.  

sevilla_tomb_signature.jpg (62787 bytes)   sevilla_tomb_bottom.jpg (112514 bytes)       Spain-Sevilla-Cathedral-Giralda.jpg (66207 bytes)
Tomb                        Tomb                           La Giralda
Click on photos for larger view

In the Cathedral is the mausoleum-monument of Christopher Columbus. Four heralds dressed in full court mourning upbear the sarcophagus; they bear respectively the arms of, Castile, Léon, Aragon, and Navarre, the four nations which united under the rule of Ferdinand and Isabella, constituted the kingdom of Spain. The sarcophagus is of bronze, ornamented with enamelled metallic plates, and in it are the pretended remains of Columbus.  

Originally the mausoleum was intended to be placed in Havanna, Cuba, but because of the war of independence, the monument stayed in Spain. When it was placed in Sevilla's Cathedral, a stone pedestal was designed with an inscription commemorating this history. "Cuando ¶ la isla de Cuba se emancipio de la madre España ¶ Sevilla obtuvo el deposito ¶ de los restos de Colon y su Ayuntamiento erigio este ¶ pedestal"

But if we go to San  Domingo, Dominican Republic,  in Central America, and visit  the Cathedral Of Santo Domingo we are told that  there  we will find  his true  remains

I do not know if the respective governments – Spanish and Dominican -- will ever give permission for the genetic scientists to realize their DNA  studies on the bones of both tombs. Either way, the DNA  results will delight the members of the media who always love  to have controversial material  in order to permit   their bile flow easier...!

I must confess that I have no interest,  what so ever,   in this aspect of the DNA study of the navigator’s remains.  I am,  on the order hand,  very much interested in the DNA study that will determine the  TRUE nationality of the navigator. 

DNA And His Nationality 

With the modern and sophisticated genetic technique it is possible to make the diagnosis of Cristovão Colon’s family lineage. We just have to get the right subject matter. 

To start off we have in Madrid, Spain, live, the Duke of Verágua, called Cristoval Colon, who is the eighteenth direct descendent  of the famous navigator Cristovão Colon. (Columbus).  

We have in a mausoleum in the main church in the City of Beja, Portugal, the body of Duke of Beja, D. Fernando, son of the Portuguese King,  who got pregnant Isabel Gonsalves Zarco, who was the daughter of João Gonsalves Zarco, the discoverer of Porto Santo in 1418. She gave birth to the baby in Cuba, in 1448, only 12 kilometers north of Beja. 

In order to perform the  DNA studies we just need two pieces of hairs,  one inch long. A piece from the Duke  of Verágua and one piece of hair from the tomb of Duke of Beja. Even though he is buried more than five hundred years ago,  his hair should be in condition to be submitted to the DNA Studies.  

Then the electron microscope is applied to these two pieces of hairs and the comparative analysis is made and the diagnosis is achieved if indeed the Duke of Beja was the father of the Cristovão Colon. 

If this test is negative then we have to pursue the line of  navigator’s mother. This  will be more difficultly to find out where she is buried or even members of her  Zarco Family.

The biggest block to achieve these important studies it will be to conquer the permission from the Portuguese authorities- civil and religious - to allow collection to the samples.  

There are many laboratories in the world that can do these DNA studies, including in Portugal. After the 9-11 destruction of the Twin Towers  in New York City,  the DNA studies to identify the remnants  of thousands of victims, have became almost routine… The DNA studies in the U. S. A. (and elsewhere) are becoming very important evidence to decide in very important tribunal cases, concerning rape, homilies, robbery, etc. 

Further articles, I am preparing,  using  simple examples and clear language to explain the following:  

Return