73 moments

1. Born in Genoa

   1451-01-01 · Genoa, Liguria, Italy

   

   Columbus was born in the Republic of Genoa, where he spent his early years in a family engaged in weaving and commerce. The year is secure, but the exact date and precise birthplace within Genoa are unknown.

2. Family relocates to Savona

   1470-01-01 · Savona, Liguria, Italy

   

   The Columbus family moved west along the Ligurian coast to Savona, where his father operated a tavern. Settlement-level coordinates; the quoted family relocation is understood to include Christopher.

3. Shipwrecked near Lagos

   1476-08-01 · Coast of Lagos, Algarve, Portugal

   

   While serving aboard a Genoese commercial convoy, Columbus survived an attack and shipwreck off southern Portugal. Representative coastal coordinate because the wreck's exact position is not established.

4. Establishes himself in Lisbon

   1477-01-01 · Lisbon, Portugal

   

   After reaching Portugal, Columbus made Lisbon his principal base for maritime commerce and cartographic work. The card marks the beginning of a residence lasting through 1485.

5. Returns from Galway to Lisbon

   1477-01-01 · Lisbon, Portugal

   Columbus sailed south from Galway and rejoined his brother Bartholomew in Lisbon during the autumn trading season. Only seasonal precision is supported.

6. Purchases sugar in Madeira

   1478-01-01 · Madeira, Portugal

   

   The Centurione commercial house sent Columbus to Madeira, an important Atlantic sugar-producing island. Island-level representative coordinate; the specific Madeiran port is not stated.

7. Trades at Elmina

   1482-01-01 · Elmina, Central Region, Ghana

   

   During commercial voyages along West Africa, Columbus reached the Portuguese trading post at Elmina on the Gulf of Guinea. This card represents a visit occurring sometime during the documented 1482–1485 interval.

8. Hears western-island reports on La Gomera

   1484-01-01 · La Gomera, Canary Islands, Spain

   

   While on La Gomera, Columbus heard islanders relate reports of lands supposedly lying to the west, relevant to his developing Atlantic project. Island-level coordinate because no settlement is identified.

9. Returns to Porto Santo

   1484-01-01 · Porto Santo, Madeira, Portugal

   

   Columbus returned to Porto Santo, where his wife's family had connections, and learned that she had died. The visit occurred before 1484; the displayed year is the latest bound, not a precise visit date.

10. Stays at Córdoba

    1487-01-01 · Córdoba, Andalusia, Spain

    

    Columbus frequented Córdoba while seeking royal patronage and formed a relationship there with Beatriz Enríquez de Arana. Presence is explicitly described as likely rather than certain; 1487 follows the surrounding biographical chronology.

11. Retreats to La Rábida

    1491-01-01 · La Rábida Friary, Palos de la Frontera, Andalusia, Spain

    

    After years of unsuccessful lobbying, Columbus stayed at the Franciscan friary whose community helped revive his proposal at court. The passage places the stay by early 1491 without a more exact date.

12. Waits at the Granada campaign camp

    1492-01-01 · Granada, Andalusia, Spain

    

    Columbus waited near the royal camp through the conclusion of the Granada War while his westward proposal remained under consideration. Representative coordinate at Granada; the precise location of Columbus's lodging in the camp is uncertain.

13. Signs the Santa Fe agreement

    1492-04-17 · Santa Fe, Granada, Andalusia, Spain

    

    At Santa Fe, Columbus concluded the capitulations defining his titles, privileges, and prospective authority over lands reached by the expedition. The article identifies these as the agreements Columbus reached with the monarchs.

14. Attends reading of the Palos order

    1492-05-23 · Church of Saint George the Martyr, Palos de la Frontera, Andalusia, Spain

    

    Columbus attended the public reading of the royal provision ordering Palos residents to supply caravels for his expedition.

15. Departs Palos on the first voyage

    1492-08-03 · Historic Port of Palos, Palos de la Frontera, Andalusia, Spain

    

    Columbus sailed from Palos with the Santa María, Pinta, and Niña, beginning his first Atlantic expedition. Coordinate represents the historic port area on the Río Tinto.

16. Sails from La Gomera

    1492-09-06 · San Sebastián de La Gomera, Canary Islands, Spain

    

    After repairs and provisioning in the Canary Islands, Columbus began the westward Atlantic crossing from San Sebastián de La Gomera.

17. Makes first American landfall

    1492-10-12 · Guanahani, The Bahamas

    

    Columbus went ashore on Guanahani and claimed the island for the Catholic Monarchs, beginning sustained European contact with the Caribbean. The identity of Guanahani is disputed. Coordinates use San Salvador Island, a prominent candidate, and do not assert certainty.

18. Lands on Cuba

    1492-10-28 · Bariay Bay, Holguín Province, Cuba

    

    Columbus reached and explored northeastern Cuba, which he named Juana and interpreted as part of Asia. Bariay Bay is traditionally associated with the landing; exact identification is not completely certain.

19. Explores northwestern Hispaniola

    1492-12-06 · Môle-Saint-Nicolas, Haiti

    

    Columbus reached Hispaniola and examined its northwestern coast, continuing his search for Asian trading centers and gold. The date is reported as 5 or 6 December; this chronology uses 6 December, also given by the canonical biography.

20. Meets Guacanagaríx at La Navidad

    1492-12-25 · La Navidad site area, northern Haiti

    

    After the Santa María grounded, Columbus met the local cacique Guacanagaríx and arranged to leave a Spanish garrison built from the wreck. The exact archaeological location of La Navidad remains uncertain; coordinate is a representative point near proposed sites east of Cap-Haïtien.

21. Reports to the monarchs in Barcelona

    1493-01-01 · Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

    Columbus presented captured Taíno people, gold objects, plants, and his account of the first voyage to Ferdinand and Isabella. The source does not provide the meeting's exact date or venue.

22. Stops at the Bay of Rincón

    1493-01-13 · Bay of Rincón, Samaná Peninsula, Dominican Republic

    

    At his final American stop of the first voyage, Columbus encountered Ciguayo resistance in an inlet he called the Bay of Arrows. Representative coordinate within the bay.

23. Anchors at Santa Maria Island

    1493-02-17 · Santa Maria Island, Azores, Portugal

    

    Storms drove the returning Niña to the Azores, where Columbus remained offshore during a confrontation with Portuguese authorities. Island-level coordinate; Columbus initially remained aboard the Niña.

24. Meets John II at Vale do Paraíso

    1493-03-01 · Vale do Paraíso, Azambuja, Portugal

    

    Columbus met Portugal's king after returning across the Atlantic; John II questioned whether the expedition violated Portuguese treaty rights. The meeting followed the 4 March Lisbon arrival; no exact day is given.

25. Reaches Lisbon in a storm

    1493-03-04 · Lisbon Harbor, Lisbon, Portugal

    

    Bad weather forced Columbus into Lisbon while returning from the first voyage, bringing news of his Caribbean landfalls into Portuguese territory. Representative coordinate in the Tagus harbor.

26. Returns to Palos

    1493-03-15 · Palos de la Frontera, Andalusia, Spain

    

    Columbus completed the first expedition at its point of departure after more than seven months away.

27. Departs Cádiz on the second voyage

    1493-09-25 · Cádiz, Andalusia, Spain

    

    Columbus left Cádiz with a much larger fleet intended to establish permanent Castilian settlements in the Caribbean. The canonical biography gives 24 September; this card follows the voyage article's 25 September date.

28. Lands on Dominica

    1493-11-03 · Dominica

    

    The second voyage reached the Lesser Antilles at Dominica, opening a new route through the eastern Caribbean. Island-level coordinate because the precise shore is not specified.

29. Lands on Marie-Galante

    1493-11-03 · Marie-Galante, Guadeloupe, France

    

    Columbus made another same-day landfall and named the island Santa María la Galante. Island-level coordinate.

30. Explores Guadeloupe

    1493-11-04 · Guadeloupe, France

    

    Columbus began several days of exploration on Guadeloupe during the second expedition through the Lesser Antilles. The card marks the beginning of a documented 4–10 November exploration period.

31. Makes landfall at Añasco Bay

    1493-11-19 · Añasco Bay, Puerto Rico, United States

    

    Columbus made the expedition's first documented Puerto Rican landfall after sailing along the island's southern coast. Representative coordinate in Añasco Bay.

32. Revisits the ruins of La Navidad

    1493-11-28 · La Navidad site area, northern Haiti

    

    Columbus returned to the first voyage's outpost and found that the garrison had been destroyed and its occupants killed. The preceding dated sequence places this discovery on 28 November; exact site coordinates remain disputed.

33. Founds La Isabela

    1494-01-02 · La Isabela, Puerto Plata Province, Dominican Republic

    

    Columbus established La Isabela, the first enduring town attempted by his second expedition on Hispaniola's north coast.

34. Returns to Cuba

    1494-04-30 · Cuban south-coast waters, Cuba

    

    Columbus began an extended exploration of Cuba's southern coast, continuing to interpret the island as an Asian mainland. Representative offshore coordinate because the initial arrival point is not specified.

35. Reaches Discovery Bay

    1494-05-05 · Discovery Bay, Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica

    

    Columbus reached Jamaica during his second-voyage exploration of the Greater Antilles.

36. Returns to Hispaniola

    1494-08-20 · Hispaniola

    

    After exploring Cuba and Jamaica, Columbus returned to Hispaniola amid mounting colonial conflict and disease. Island-level representative coordinate because the landing place is not specified.

37. Requests food on Guadeloupe

    1496-04-10 · Guadeloupe, France

    

    On the homeward passage of the second voyage, Columbus stopped at Guadeloupe to seek provisions; violence and hostage-taking followed. Island-level coordinate.

38. Disembarks at Cádiz

    1496-06-11 · Cádiz, Andalusia, Spain

    

    Columbus completed the second voyage in Cádiz after nearly three years associated with the Caribbean colonial project. The subject is the returning expedition led by Columbus.

39. Departs Sanlúcar on the third voyage

    1498-05-30 · Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Andalusia, Spain

    

    Columbus began his third Atlantic expedition, taking three ships on a southerly route to investigate reports of continental land.

40. Calls at Porto Santo

    1498-06-01 · Porto Santo, Madeira, Portugal

    

    Columbus revisited Porto Santo at the beginning of his third voyage, returning to an island associated with his late wife. The visit occurred between the 30 May departure and subsequent June calls.

41. Visits Madeira

    1498-06-01 · Madeira, Portugal

    

    Columbus spent time on Madeira with the Portuguese captain João Gonçalves da Câmara before proceeding toward the Canaries. Island-level coordinate; the precise place of residence or meeting is not stated.

42. Anchors near Soldado Rock

    1498-07-31 · Soldado Rock, Gulf of Paria, Trinidad and Tobago

    

    Columbus entered the Gulf of Paria through the Dragon's Mouth and anchored near Trinidad's southwestern extremity. The dated passage places the anchorage on or immediately after 31 July.

43. Lands at Icacos Point

    1498-08-02 · Icacos Point, Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago

    

    Columbus landed at Trinidad's southwestern tip during his reconnaissance of the Gulf of Paria. The plural subject refers to Columbus and his men in the immediately preceding text.

44. Lands on the Paria Peninsula

    1498-08-05 · Paria Peninsula, Sucre, Venezuela

    

    Columbus personally landed on the South American mainland and formally claimed the province for Castile. The preceding sentence dates the mainland landing to 5 August; exact landing site is uncertain.

45. Reaches Margarita Island

    1498-08-14 · Margarita Island, Nueva Esparta, Venezuela

    

    Columbus's fleet reached Margarita after exploring the Gulf of Paria and nearby islands. Island-level coordinate.

46. Returns to Hispaniola amid rebellion

    1498-08-19 · Hispaniola

    

    Columbus returned to his colonial government and encountered an organized settler rebellion against his rule. Island-level coordinate because the place of arrival is not specified.

47. Returns to Santo Domingo

    1500-02-03 · Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

    

    Columbus went back to Santo Domingo intending to prepare a defense against accusations made by rebellious colonists.

48. Surrenders to Bobadilla

    1500-10-01 · Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

    

    Columbus presented himself to royal commissioner Francisco de Bobadilla in Santo Domingo and was confined aboard a caravel in chains. Only early-October precision is supported.

49. Arrives in Cádiz as a prisoner

    1500-11-01 · Cádiz, Andalusia, Spain

    

    Columbus reached Cádiz in chains after being removed from the governorship of the Indies. The English source does not specify the day; Spanish voyage chronologies commonly date the arrival to 25 November 1500.

50. Appears before the monarchs at the Alhambra

    1500-12-12 · Alhambra, Granada, Andalusia, Spain

    

    After release from imprisonment, Columbus and his brothers pleaded their case before Ferdinand and Isabella in Granada.

51. Writes from Seville

    1502-04-02 · Seville, Andalusia, Spain

    

    While preparing his final expedition, Columbus wrote to the Bank of Saint George and explicitly located himself in Seville. Settlement-level coordinate; the precise writing location is unknown.

52. Stops at Arzila

    1502-05-01 · Asilah, Morocco

    

    Columbus briefly diverted to the Moroccan coast in response to reports that Portuguese soldiers were under siege. The stop occurred after 9 May and before the fleet reached the Canary Islands.

53. Departs Cádiz on the fourth voyage

    1502-05-09 · Cádiz, Andalusia, Spain

    

    Columbus sailed with four vessels on his last attempt to find a westward maritime passage to Asia. Some itinerary reconstructions give a departure range of 6–11 May.

54. Lands at Le Carbet

    1502-06-15 · Le Carbet, Martinique, France

    

    Columbus completed the fastest Atlantic crossing of his career and landed on Martinique. The plural refers to Columbus and his accompanying expedition.

55. Arrives off Santo Domingo

    1502-06-29 · Santo Domingo Harbor, Dominican Republic

    

    Columbus sought refuge from an approaching hurricane but was denied entry to Santo Domingo's port. Offshore harbor coordinate; he was refused permission to enter port.

56. Shelters at the Haina River

    1502-06-30 · Mouth of the Haina River, Dominican Republic

    

    Columbus's ships sheltered near the Haina River while a devastating hurricane struck the Hispaniola fleet. The exact anchorage is uncertain; the date follows the hurricane chronology immediately after 29 June.

57. Stops in Jamaica

    1502-07-01 · Jamaica

    

    After surviving the Hispaniola hurricane, Columbus briefly called at Jamaica before sailing toward Central America. The source does not identify the date or location of the Jamaican stop; island-level coordinate.

58. Arrives at Guanaja

    1502-07-30 · Guanaja, Bay Islands, Honduras

    

    Columbus reached Guanaja in the Bay Islands, where the expedition encountered a large, cargo-laden Indigenous trading canoe. The sentence describes Columbus and his regrouped expedition.

59. Lands at Puerto Castilla

    1502-08-14 · Puerto Castilla, Colón Department, Honduras

    

    Columbus made his first mainland Central American landing near present-day Trujillo and began exploring the Honduran coast.

60. Takes possession near the Aguán River

    1502-08-17 · Mouth of the Aguán River, Honduras

    

    Columbus formally claimed mainland territory after anchoring near the Aguán River on the Honduran coast. Representative coordinate near the river mouth; historical accounts vary in identifying the precise anchorage.

61. Finds gold at Almirante Bay

    1502-10-05 · Almirante Bay, Bocas del Toro, Panama

    

    Columbus entered Almirante Bay and observed fine gold ornaments, shifting increasing attention toward the resources of Veragua. Representative coordinate within the bay.

62. Explores the Belén River

    1503-01-01 · Belén River, Colón Province, Panama

    

    Columbus led river explorations from the expedition's anchorage and attempted to establish the settlement of Santa María de Belén. The fleet anchored at the Belén River in January 1503; wording is reproduced verbatim despite the source's grammatical error.

63. Beaches the ships at St Ann's Bay

    1503-06-25 · St Ann's Bay, Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica

    

    With the surviving vessels no longer seaworthy, Columbus ran them ashore and began a year-long stranding in Jamaica.

64. Uses the lunar eclipse at St Ann's Bay

    1504-02-29 · St Ann's Bay, Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica

    

    While stranded, Columbus used his foreknowledge of a lunar eclipse to pressure local communities into resuming food supplies.

65. Reaches Santo Domingo after rescue

    1504-08-13 · Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

    

    After rescue from Jamaica, Columbus and the surviving expedition members reached Santo Domingo before arranging passage home. The referenced port is Santo Domingo; the rescued party included Columbus.

66. Departs Santo Domingo as a passenger

    1504-09-12 · Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

    

    Columbus, his son Ferdinand, his brother Bartholomew, and surviving companions began their final Atlantic return as paying passengers.

67. Reports in Seville

    1504-11-01 · Seville, Andalusia, Spain

    

    After landing at Sanlúcar, Columbus traveled to Seville and pursued financial claims arising from the fourth voyage. The plural includes Columbus and his son Ferdinand.

68. Returns to Sanlúcar

    1504-11-07 · Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Andalusia, Spain

    

    Columbus completed his fourth and final Atlantic expedition at Sanlúcar de Barrameda.

69. Presents results to Ferdinand in Segovia

    1504-12-01 · Segovia, Castile and León, Spain

    

    With Queen Isabella dead, Columbus presented the fourth voyage's disappointing results to King Ferdinand in Segovia. No exact December day or venue is given.

70. Settles in Seville while ill

    1505-04-01 · Seville, Andalusia, Spain

    

    Columbus established himself in Seville during his final illness and continued petitioning for restoration of his contractual privileges. Settlement-level coordinate; his precise residence is not identified.

71. Moves to the court at Segovia

    1506-01-01 · Segovia, Castile and León, Spain

    

    Columbus traveled by mule to Segovia to continue pressing his claims before the itinerant royal court. Only early-1506 precision is supported.

72. Follows the court to Valladolid

    1506-03-01 · Valladolid, Castile and León, Spain

    

    Columbus followed King Ferdinand's court to Valladolid after the king's marriage to Germaine of Foix, continuing his petitions. The precise arrival date and Valladolid lodging are unknown.

73. Dies in Valladolid

    1506-05-20 · Valladolid, Castile and León, Spain

    Columbus died in Valladolid while following Ferdinand's itinerant court and pursuing the privileges promised under the Capitulations of Santa Fe. The exact building in which he died is unknown.