Susanna Fontanarossa
Encyclopedia
Susanna Fontanarossa (Susanna of Fontarossa) was the mother of Cristoforo Colombo, a Genoese wool weaver commonly believed to have been Christopher Columbus
's mother (the famous navigator and explorer who was generally credited as a discoverer of the Americas.)she worked as a stay at home mother to her sons and always dreamed of a daughter.
Almost nothing is known about her before her marriage to Domenico Colombo
in 1445. She bore 5 children to Domenico: Cristoforo
, Bartolomeo, Giovanni, Giacomo, and a daughter named Bianchinetta.
A notarised
document of sale in the Genoa
state archive contains the Latin
ate text «Sozana,(quondam) de Jacobi de Fontana Rubea, uxor Dominici de Columbo de Ianua ac Christophorus et Pelegrinus filii eorum», which can be translated as "Susanna was (the daughter) of Giacomo from Fontanarossa of the Bisagno, wife of Domenico Columbus from Genoa, their sons are Cristoforo and Pellegrino." The Val Bisagno was a significant inland district in the ancient Republic of Genoa
including the valley of the river Bisagno. Thus she was described as 'Susanna from Fontanarossa' within the Val Bisagno, rather than Suzanna Fontarossa.
Today the hilltop village of Fontanarossa, Goretto, Genova
, Liguria
, in the Val Trebbia
(20 miles inland of Genoa, at 44°35′10.66"N 9°15′18.80"E) and only 4 miles beyond the watershed of the river Bisagno), has a marble stone with the inscription Susanna Fontanarossa, the mother of Christopher Columbus, was born in this village. ("In questo borgo nacque Susanna Fontanarossa, madre di Cristoforo Colombo."). The village records state that she may have been born in the hamlet of "Le Ferriere".
Little is known about her after 1484. She died before her husband, Domenico.
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...
's mother (the famous navigator and explorer who was generally credited as a discoverer of the Americas.)she worked as a stay at home mother to her sons and always dreamed of a daughter.
Almost nothing is known about her before her marriage to Domenico Colombo
Domenico Colombo
Domenico Colombo was the father of the Christopher Columbus and Bartholomew Columbus. He was also a weaver....
in 1445. She bore 5 children to Domenico: Cristoforo
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...
, Bartolomeo, Giovanni, Giacomo, and a daughter named Bianchinetta.
A notarised
Notary public
A notary public in the common law world is a public officer constituted by law to serve the public in non-contentious matters usually concerned with estates, deeds, powers-of-attorney, and foreign and international business...
document of sale in the Genoa
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
state archive contains the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
ate text «Sozana,(quondam) de Jacobi de Fontana Rubea, uxor Dominici de Columbo de Ianua ac Christophorus et Pelegrinus filii eorum», which can be translated as "Susanna was (the daughter) of Giacomo from Fontanarossa of the Bisagno, wife of Domenico Columbus from Genoa, their sons are Cristoforo and Pellegrino." The Val Bisagno was a significant inland district in the ancient Republic of Genoa
Republic of Genoa
The Most Serene Republic of Genoa |Ligurian]]: Repúbrica de Zêna) was an independent state from 1005 to 1797 in Liguria on the northwestern Italian coast, as well as Corsica from 1347 to 1768, and numerous other territories throughout the Mediterranean....
including the valley of the river Bisagno. Thus she was described as 'Susanna from Fontanarossa' within the Val Bisagno, rather than Suzanna Fontarossa.
Today the hilltop village of Fontanarossa, Goretto, Genova
Génova
Génova may refer to:* Spanish spelling of the city of Genoa, Italy* Génova, Quindío, a municipality in the department of Quindío, Colombia* Génova, Quetzaltenango, a municipality in the department of Quetzaltenango, Guatemala...
, Liguria
Liguria
Liguria is a coastal region of north-western Italy, the third smallest of the Italian regions. Its capital is Genoa. It is a popular region with tourists for its beautiful beaches, picturesque little towns, and good food.-Geography:...
, in the Val Trebbia
Trebbia
The Trebbia is a river predominantly of Liguria and Emilia Romagna in northern Italy. It is one of the four main right-bank tributaries of the river Po, the other three being the Tanaro, the Secchia and the Panaro...
(20 miles inland of Genoa, at 44°35′10.66"N 9°15′18.80"E) and only 4 miles beyond the watershed of the river Bisagno), has a marble stone with the inscription Susanna Fontanarossa, the mother of Christopher Columbus, was born in this village. ("In questo borgo nacque Susanna Fontanarossa, madre di Cristoforo Colombo."). The village records state that she may have been born in the hamlet of "Le Ferriere".
Little is known about her after 1484. She died before her husband, Domenico.