Christopher Columbus Imprisoned
August, 1500 · Early Modern
In August 1500, Francisco de Bobadilla arrived in Santo Domingo, Hispaniola with royal authority to investigate complaints about Columbus's governance. Columbus and his brothers were arrested, and in early October 1500, they were sent back to Spain in chains aboard the caravel La Gorda. They languished in jail for six weeks before King Ferdinand ordered their release, though Columbus lost his titles as governor and viceroy.
Key Figures
Christopher ColumbusFerdinand II of AragonFrancisco de BobadillaBartholomew ColumbusDiego Columbus
Locations
HispaniolaSpainSanto Domingo
Topics
spainlawexplorer
Connected Events — 2 Connections
Defined Spanish territorial claims that made Columbus's governance of Hispaniola a matter of international law and royal prerogative, giving Ferdinand authority to remove him Treaty of Tordesillas Divides the New World
The expulsion of Jews created a precedent for Ferdinand II's willingness to remove even successful servants when they became politically inconvenient, as he later did with Columbus Alhambra Decree
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