A new genetic study conducted by Spanish scientists suggests that famed explorer Christopher Columbus was likely of Spanish and Jewish descent, potentially solving a centuries-old mystery.
Researchers now believe that Columbus, whose 1492 expedition across the Atlantic significantly altered world history, was probably born in western Europe, possibly in Valencia. They also suggest that he concealed his Jewish identity or converted to Catholicism to avoid religious persecution.
This DNA study challenges the long-standing theory that Columbus hailed from Genoa, Italy—a theory that many historians had already questioned.
Columbus led a Spanish-backed expedition with the goal of discovering a new trade route to Asia but instead reached the Caribbean. His arrival marked the beginning of European contact with the Americas, eventually leading to conquest, settlement, and the deaths of millions of indigenous people due to disease and conflict.
For centuries, various countries have laid claim to Columbus’ origins, leading to around 25 conflicting theories, including claims from Poland, Great Britain, Greece, Portugal, Hungary, and Scandinavia.
The recent findings are the result of over two decades of research. The study began in 2003 when José Antonio Lorente, a professor of forensic medicine at Granada University, and historian Marcial Castro exhumed remains believed to belong to Columbus from Seville Cathedral.
Columbus passed away in 1506 in the Spanish city of Valladolid, but he had requested to be buried on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. Although his remains were initially moved there in 1542, they were later transferred to Cuba before finally being reinterred in Seville.
The researchers also collected DNA samples from Columbus’ tomb, as well as from the remains of his son, Hernando, and his brother, Diego. By comparing this genetic data with that of historical figures and the explorer’s relatives, scientists aimed to uncover the truth about his origins.
While the widely accepted theory had placed Columbus’ birth in Genoa in 1451 to a family of wool weavers, the new evidence points to Spain, likely Valencia, as his birthplace. Additionally, the research supports the idea that he was Jewish but kept this hidden to avoid persecution.
Before 1492, an estimated 300,000 Jews lived in Spain, but they, along with Muslims, were ordered to either convert to Catholicism or leave the country in that same year—coinciding with Columbus’ voyage to the Americas.
Announcing the results on the television documentary Columbus DNA: His True Origin, Professor Lorente stated that the findings were “almost absolutely reliable.” The program aired on Spain’s national broadcaster RTVE on Saturday, coinciding with Spain’s National Day, which commemorates Columbus’ arrival in the Americas.
