Beatriz Enríquez de Arana
Encyclopedia
Beatriz Enríquez de Arana or Doña Beatriz Enriquez de Arana (1467 - 1521) was the mistress of Christopher Columbus
.
was in Córdoba in 1487 at the Spanish monarchs' Alcazar
. In 1479 Columbus had traveled to Lisbon, to see his brother and for conducting trade. There he met his first wife Filipa Moniz and married about 1479 or 1480. They had a son named Diego. Columbus' first wife died in 1484, according to some historians, and he became a widower, while other historians say he simply walked out on her and took their child, then around five years old, and moved from Lisbon to Spain.
In early 1486, Columbus was living in the court of the Spanish monarchs, King Ferdinand V
and Queen Isabella I
in Seville, Spain. Columbus was there because he was trying to convince them to finance his "Enterprise of the Indies" which was a far reaching expedition to reach the east by going west. Columbus had knowledge of the Canaries Current and was hoping he could reach the Indias by taking advantage of this ocean phenomenon. The Spanish monarchs were preoccupied at the time trying to unify Spain. They were interested in Columbus's idea but couldn't give it their full attention while the war in Granada
was going on against the Moors
. Meanwhile Columbus was given subsistence and allowed to stay at the monarchs' castle in Cordoba since they thought he might have a good idea that would provide future riches and spread Christianity.
While waiting for a decision on his enterprise and another meeting with the Spanish monarchs Columbus had time on his hands and would patronize a local apothecary
shop that was operated by people from Genoa, Italy. Columbus supposedly was from that area in Italy and felt comfortable associating with doctors, physicians, surgeons, astronomers, scientists and others that also patronized the Genoese pharmacy. At the pharmacy he became a friend of a young basque
man named Diego de Arana.
Diego had two orphaned cousins under the family's household, Beatriz Enríquez de Arana and her brother Pedro Enríquez de Arana. Their family was originally from Arana
as was Diego's, a valley of Álava
, Spain. Diego introduced Beatriz, a 20 (or 21) year old woman of basque
origin, to Columbus in 1487. At the time Columbus was thirty-five. They became lovers and in August 1488 they had a son named Ferdinand Columbus (aka Hernando Colon). They never married. Diego's family, who adopted Beatriz, had a prosperous wine business. They may have helped Columbus with money for his expeditions.
According to historian Rafael Ramírez de Arellano, her father or stepfather was Pedro de Torquemada of converso
origin and her mother was Ana Núñez de Arana. In his history of Cordoba he explains that with her brother (Peter) they took the name of their maternal aunt Mayor Enríquez de Arana. She was one of the relatives who took them in (with possibly Francisco Enriquez de Arana, a wine maker) when they became orphaned in 1471 after the death of their parents. The Núñez de Arana families were small landholders of modest means. Beatriz knew how to read and write, an unusual thing at the time. This indicated she had at least some social status. Most historians agreed though, that the lower social status of Beatriz is the reason why Columbus never married her. He had aspired to come across someone of higher social status to help benefit his ventures.
When Columbus left for his first expedition to the New World
the two children, Diego and Ferdinand, were turned over to Beatrice. She took great care of them and was even congratulated by Queen Isabella for her outstanding work. Some historians think that the award money intended for the look-out man that would be the first to spot land went instead to Columbus's mistress. When Columbus died he left his fortune to her. She never claimed the inheritance.
Beatriz was born in the small village of Santa Maria of Trassierra (near Cordoba) in a family of peasant farmers and small share holders. She was from a noble family of Cordoba, Spain. She had two brothers.
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
.
Biography
The history of the relationship of Beatriz and Columbus starts with the reason why Christopher ColumbusChristopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
was in Córdoba in 1487 at the Spanish monarchs' Alcazar
Alcázar
An alcázar , alcácer or alcàsser is a type of castle in Spain and Portugal. The term derives from the Arabic word القصر meaning "fort, castle or palace"; and the Arabic word is derived from the Latin word, 'castrum', meaning an army camp or fort...
. In 1479 Columbus had traveled to Lisbon, to see his brother and for conducting trade. There he met his first wife Filipa Moniz and married about 1479 or 1480. They had a son named Diego. Columbus' first wife died in 1484, according to some historians, and he became a widower, while other historians say he simply walked out on her and took their child, then around five years old, and moved from Lisbon to Spain.
Ferdinand II of Aragon
Ferdinand the Catholic was King of Aragon , Sicily , Naples , Valencia, Sardinia, and Navarre, Count of Barcelona, jure uxoris King of Castile and then regent of that country also from 1508 to his death, in the name of...
and Queen Isabella I
Isabella I of Castile
Isabella I was Queen of Castile and León. She and her husband Ferdinand II of Aragon brought stability to both kingdoms that became the basis for the unification of Spain. Later the two laid the foundations for the political unification of Spain under their grandson, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor...
in Seville, Spain. Columbus was there because he was trying to convince them to finance his "Enterprise of the Indies" which was a far reaching expedition to reach the east by going west. Columbus had knowledge of the Canaries Current and was hoping he could reach the Indias by taking advantage of this ocean phenomenon. The Spanish monarchs were preoccupied at the time trying to unify Spain. They were interested in Columbus's idea but couldn't give it their full attention while the war in Granada
Granada
Granada is a city and the capital of the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence of three rivers, the Beiro, the Darro and the Genil. It sits at an elevation of 738 metres above sea...
was going on against the Moors
Moors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
. Meanwhile Columbus was given subsistence and allowed to stay at the monarchs' castle in Cordoba since they thought he might have a good idea that would provide future riches and spread Christianity.
While waiting for a decision on his enterprise and another meeting with the Spanish monarchs Columbus had time on his hands and would patronize a local apothecary
Apothecary
Apothecary is a historical name for a medical professional who formulates and dispenses materia medica to physicians, surgeons and patients — a role now served by a pharmacist and some caregivers....
shop that was operated by people from Genoa, Italy. Columbus supposedly was from that area in Italy and felt comfortable associating with doctors, physicians, surgeons, astronomers, scientists and others that also patronized the Genoese pharmacy. At the pharmacy he became a friend of a young basque
Basque people
The Basques as an ethnic group, primarily inhabit an area traditionally known as the Basque Country , a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.The Basques are known in the...
man named Diego de Arana.
Diego had two orphaned cousins under the family's household, Beatriz Enríquez de Arana and her brother Pedro Enríquez de Arana. Their family was originally from Arana
Harana/Valle De Arana
Harana/Valle de Arana is a municipality located in the province of Álava , in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain.The municipality is made up of four villages :* Alda* Contrasta* San Vicente de Arana* Ullibarri-Arana...
as was Diego's, a valley of Álava
Álava
Álava is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Álava. Its capital city is Vitoria-Gasteiz which is also the capital of the autonomous community...
, Spain. Diego introduced Beatriz, a 20 (or 21) year old woman of basque
Hidalgo (Spanish nobility)
A hidalgo or fidalgo is a member of the Spanish and Portuguese nobility. In popular usage it has come to mean the non-titled nobility. Hidalgos were exempt from paying taxes, but did not necessarily own real property...
origin, to Columbus in 1487. At the time Columbus was thirty-five. They became lovers and in August 1488 they had a son named Ferdinand Columbus (aka Hernando Colon). They never married. Diego's family, who adopted Beatriz, had a prosperous wine business. They may have helped Columbus with money for his expeditions.
According to historian Rafael Ramírez de Arellano, her father or stepfather was Pedro de Torquemada of converso
Converso
A converso and its feminine form conversa was a Jew or Muslim—or a descendant of Jews or Muslims—who converted to Catholicism in Spain or Portugal, particularly during the 14th and 15th centuries. Mass conversions once took place under significant government pressure...
origin and her mother was Ana Núñez de Arana. In his history of Cordoba he explains that with her brother (Peter) they took the name of their maternal aunt Mayor Enríquez de Arana. She was one of the relatives who took them in (with possibly Francisco Enriquez de Arana, a wine maker) when they became orphaned in 1471 after the death of their parents. The Núñez de Arana families were small landholders of modest means. Beatriz knew how to read and write, an unusual thing at the time. This indicated she had at least some social status. Most historians agreed though, that the lower social status of Beatriz is the reason why Columbus never married her. He had aspired to come across someone of higher social status to help benefit his ventures.
When Columbus left for his first expedition to the New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
the two children, Diego and Ferdinand, were turned over to Beatrice. She took great care of them and was even congratulated by Queen Isabella for her outstanding work. Some historians think that the award money intended for the look-out man that would be the first to spot land went instead to Columbus's mistress. When Columbus died he left his fortune to her. She never claimed the inheritance.
Beatriz was born in the small village of Santa Maria of Trassierra (near Cordoba) in a family of peasant farmers and small share holders. She was from a noble family of Cordoba, Spain. She had two brothers.
Further reading
- Curtis, William Eleroy, The relics of Columbus: an illustrated description of the historical collection in the monastery of La Ra, William H. Lowdermilk Company, 1893, p. 117 item 521
- Davidson, Miles H., Columbus then and now, University of Oklahoma Press, 1997, pp. 152-158, ISBN 0-8061293-4-4
- Duro, Cesáreo Fernández, Colón Y La Historia Póstuma, BiblioBazaar, LLC, 2008, pp. 184-163, 217, ISBN 0-5597978-5-0
- Foster, Genevieve, The World of Columbus and Sons, Charles Scribner's Sons 1965, pp. 133-145, Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 65-18410
- Markham, Clements Robert, Life of Christopher Columbus, G. Philip & Son, ltd., 1902, pp. 60-63
- Ryan, Sara Agnes, Christopher Columbus in Poetry, History and Art, The Mayer and Miller company, 1917, p. 45