by Andrew Rowen | Jun 7, 2022 | New York City
In 1493, after Columbus’s first voyage, Pope Alexander VI issued papal bulls “awarding” Spain dominion over “Española” and other lands Columbus had “discovered,” i.e., the Taíno homeland, reasoning that the Lord was pleased that “barbarous nations” be overthrown and...
by Andrew Rowen | May 14, 2022 | New York City
By the end of April 1494, Columbus’s three caravels reached Cuba, and he planted a cross at the island’s easternmost point, which today retains the name of the Taíno chiefdom then located there—Point Maisí. He believed the point was terra firma’s easternmost tip and...
by Andrew Rowen | May 1, 2022 | New York City
Following Columbus’s departure for Cuba, Pedro Margarite promptly and openly disobeyed Columbus’s orders to: survey the island; attempt to establish the sovereigns’ dominion without triggering resistance; and capture Chief Caonabó. Instead, by early May 1494 (528...
by Andrew Rowen | Apr 24, 2022 | New York City
Prior to the second voyage, Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand had instructed Columbus promptly to explore the land the “Indians” called “Cuba” to ascertain whether it was the Indies mainland, and he’d advised them that this exploration would follow establishment of...
by Andrew Rowen | Apr 9, 2022 | New York City
After dispatching reinforcements to Fort Santo Tomás, Columbus decided on the next steps to his conquest of “Española.” Alonso de Hojeda would replace Pedro Margarite as the fort’s warden, and Margarite was to march about the island with a squadron of almost four...
