A recent DNA study on the remains of Christopher Columbus, the 15th-century explorer, has revealed a surprising discovery – Columbus was likely a Sephardic Jew from Western Europe. Spanish researchers made this announcement in a new documentary titled “Columbus DNA: The True Origin,” which aired on Spain’s national broadcaster TVE. The study, which began in 2003, involved testing samples of remains buried at Seville Cathedral in Spain, where Columbus was believed to be interred.
Jose Antonio Lorente, a professor of forensic medicine at the University of Granada who led the research, stated in the documentary that the analysis of Columbus’s DNA pointed to a Jewish origin. The scientists compared DNA samples from the remains with those of known relatives and descendants, including Columbus’s son Fernando Colón. Through this comparison, they found traits in the DNA that were consistent with a Jewish lineage.
Previously, Columbus was believed to be Italian, born in Genoa in 1451. However, historians have also speculated that he could have been Greek, Basque, Portuguese, or British. While the exact birthplace of Columbus remains unknown, the DNA analysis suggested a western Mediterranean origin, ruling out Genoa or other parts of the Italian peninsula as likely birthplaces due to the lack of a significant Jewish population in these regions during the 15th century.
During Columbus’s time, Spain saw the expulsion of Jews and Muslims following the decree by Catholic monarchs King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella to convert to Christianity or leave the country. As a result, researchers suggest that Columbus may have hidden his Jewish heritage or converted to Catholicism to avoid persecution. The term “Sephardic Jew” refers to Jews connected to the Iberian Peninsula.
The study also confirmed the identity of the remains in Seville Cathedral as those of Columbus. Lorente stated that the results were highly reliable, providing further insight into the explorer’s origins. Columbus died in Valladolid, Spain in 1506, and his remains were later moved to different locations before finally resting in Seville.
Although Columbus’s voyages across the Atlantic Ocean were sponsored by Spain and marked a significant chapter in history, his actions, including the violence and colonization of Indigenous populations in the Americas, have been widely criticised. In light of this, many states and cities in the United States have chosen to rename Columbus Day to acknowledge the darker aspects of his legacy and honour the experiences of Native Americans since his arrival in the Americas.