Spanish DNA experts have revealed that the 15th-century explorer Christopher Columbus was actually a Sephardic Jew from western Europe. Getty Images
A recent DNA study on the remains of Christopher Columbus, the famous 15th-century explorer, suggests he may have been a Sephardic Jew from western Europe, rather than the Italian from Genoa he was widely believed to be. Spanish researchers shared their findings in a new documentary that aired on national television. This groundbreaking discovery is the result of a 21-year investigation that analyzed samples of remains buried at Seville Cathedral in Spain, thought to be Columbus's final resting place.
The research, led by Professor Jose Antonio Lorente, a forensic medicine expert from the University of Granada, revealed that Columbus's DNA showed compatibility with Jewish origins. The DNA samples, taken from Columbus and his son, Fernando Colon, were compared, and traits found in the Y chromosome and mitochondrial DNA linked them to Jewish ancestry.
Columbus’s origin has been debated for years. While he was believed to have been born in Genoa, Italy, historians have questioned this, suggesting he could have been Greek, Basque, Portuguese, or even British. However, this new research strengthens the argument that he may have been from the western Mediterranean region, possibly the Spanish Mediterranean. The study points out that there wasn’t a large Jewish presence in Genoa or the broader Italian peninsula at that time, making the idea of Columbus’s Italian origin less likely.
During the 15th century, Spain was home to around 300,000 Jews before Catholic monarchs King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella expelled Jews and Muslims from the country in 1492, unless they converted to Christianity. That same year, Columbus embarked on his famous first voyage to the Americas. Researchers now believe Columbus might have concealed his Jewish background or converted to Catholicism to avoid persecution, a common practice among many Jews during that era.
The term "Sephardic" refers to Jews of Spanish or Portuguese descent, and it is derived from the Hebrew word "Sepharad," which relates to the Iberian Peninsula. This study also supports the theory that the remains in Seville Cathedral do indeed belong to Columbus. Professor Lorente stated that the results are nearly conclusive.
Columbus passed away in Valladolid, Spain, in 1506. Although he wished to be buried on the island of Hispaniola (now split between Haiti and the Dominican Republic), his remains were moved multiple times before being placed in Seville in 1898. He is most famously known for completing four transatlantic voyages under the sponsorship of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain. While he is credited with opening the door for European exploration of the Americas, Columbus’s legacy is a controversial one, as his voyages led to the colonization and oppression of Indigenous peoples. Due to this, many places in the United States have renamed "Columbus Day" to recognize the atrocities committed against Native Americans following his arrival.
