The 15th-century explorer Christopher Columbus has been identified as a Sephardic Jew from Western Europe, according to Spanish scientists who utilized DNA analysis to investigate this long-standing mystery.
For centuries, debates have swirled around Columbus’s origins and the location of his final burial site. The explorer, who led Spanish-funded expeditions beginning in the 1490s and opened the Americas to European conquest, has been linked to various nationalities, with traditional claims pointing to Genoa, Italy. Alternative theories suggest he might have been Spanish, Greek, Basque, Portuguese, or even British.
To clarify Columbus’s origins, researchers conducted a 22-year study led by forensic expert Miguel Lorente. They analyzed tiny samples of remains interred in Seville Cathedral, long recognized as Columbus’s burial site, despite competing claims. By comparing these samples to DNA from known relatives and descendants, the researchers unveiled their findings in a documentary titled “Columbus DNA: The True Origin,” aired on Spain’s national broadcaster TVE.
Lorente revealed, “We have DNA from Christopher Columbus, though it’s very partial, and we also have DNA from Hernando Colón, his son.” Their analysis indicated traits consistent with Jewish ancestry in both the Y chromosome and mitochondrial DNA of Hernando.
Before the reign of Catholic Monarchs Isabella and Ferdinand, around 300,000 Jews lived in Spain. The term “Sephardic” is derived from Sefarad, the Hebrew name for Spain. After evaluating 25 potential locations, Lorente concluded that Columbus was likely born in Western Europe.
In a recent statement, Lorente confirmed existing theories that the remains in Seville Cathedral indeed belong to Columbus. While the research faced complexities due to the extensive data, Lorente expressed confidence in the reliability of the results.
Columbus died in Valladolid, Spain, in 1506, wishing to be buried on Hispaniola, now divided between the Dominican Republic and Haiti. His remains have since traveled, being moved from Hispaniola to Cuba in 1795 and ultimately thought to have arrived in Seville in 1898.