Diego Columbus (, before 1492 – after 1514) was a Lucayan

Taíno The Taíno are the Indigenous peoples of the Caribbean, Indigenous peoples of the Greater Antilles and surrounding islands. At the time of European contact in the late 15th century, they were the principal inhabitants of most of what is now The ...

taken from the island of

Guanahani Guanahaní (meaning "small upper waters land") was the Taíno language, Taíno name of an island in the Bahamas that was the first land in the New World sighted and visited by Christopher Columbus' Voyages of Christopher Columbus#First voyage (14 ...

and adopted by

Christopher Columbus Christopher Columbus (; between 25 August and 31 October 1451 – 20 May 1506) was an Italians, Italian explorer and navigator from the Republic of Genoa who completed Voyages of Christopher Columbus, four Spanish-based voyages across the At ...

. Diego's Lucayan name is unknown, but he was an inhabitant of Guanahani (later San Salvador) in October 1492, when Christopher Columbus made landfall during his first voyage. During the fleet's stay at the island from October 12–14, Columbus abducted seven of the Native inhabitants for use as guides and translators, including the future Diego. Believed to have been 13–15 years of age, he seemingly distinguished himself to Columbus throughout the voyage due to his notable intelligence and rapid acquisition of Spanish customs. Diego was one of ten Natives taken back to Spain aboard the '' Niña'' in January 1493. Arriving at

Palos de la Frontera Palos de la Frontera () is a town and Municipalities of Spain, municipality located in the southwestern Spain, Spanish province of Huelva (province), Huelva, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. It is situated some from the provincial capi ...

in March, he was taken to and presented to the Royal Court in

Barcelona Barcelona ( ; ; ) is a city on the northeastern coast of Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second-most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within c ...

with the other Natives in April. There they became the first Native Americans to be baptized during a ceremony officiated by Cardinal

Pedro González de Mendoza Pedro González de Mendoza (3 May 1428 – 11 January 1495) was a Spanish cardinal, statesman and lawyer. He served on the council of King Henry IV of Castile and in 1467 fought for him at the Second Battle of Olmedo. In 1468 he was named bis ...

, following which he was adopted by Columbus, receiving the name ''Diego''. By the time of Columbus' second voyage in 1493, all ten Natives were either sick with or died from contracted disease, with the exception of Diego. Returning with three others to Hispaniola later that year, Diego became Columbus' chief interpreter and played a vital role in discovering the fate of the fort of

La Navidad La Navidad ("The Nativity", i.e. Christmas) was a Spanish fort that Christopher Columbus and his crew established on the northwest coast of Hispaniola (near what is now Caracol, Nord-Est, Caracol, Nord-Est (department), Nord-Est Department, Hait ...

which had been left under the watch of Cacique Guacanagari during the first voyage. Diego served Columbus faithfully during his remaining time in the Indies, with Columbus negotiating a marriage between Diego and Cora, the sister of

Guarionex Guarionex (Taíno language: ''"The Brave Noble Lord"'') was a Taíno cacique from Maguá in the island of Hispaniola at the time of the arrival of the Europeans to the Western Hemisphere in 1492. He was the son of cacique Guacanagarix, the grea ...

, another Hispaniolan Cacique. This marriage produced one son, also named Diego, who was later sent to be educated in Castile but died of an illness in 1506. Confined to

Santo Domingo Santo Domingo, formerly known as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city of the Dominican Republic and the List of metropolitan areas in the Caribbean, largest metropolitan area in the Caribbean by population. the Distrito Na ...

for the remainder of his life, the last record of Diego is dated to 1514. His longtime colleague,

Bartolomé de las Casas Bartolomé de las Casas, Dominican Order, OP ( ; ); 11 November 1484 – 18 July 1566) was a Spanish clergyman, writer, and activist best known for his work as an historian and social reformer. He arrived in Hispaniola as a layman, then became ...

, claimed to have met with him in the years after. A deadly smallpox epidemic would sweep Hispaniola in 1519, after which Diego Columbus is no longer listed in official records.

In fiction

José Barreiro José Barreiro (born in Cuba in 1948) is an American novelist, journalist and activist. He is recognized as an advocate of Native community self-determination and autochthonous development (indigeneity). Barreiro is an elder and advisor in t ...

's ''The Indian Chronicles'' consists of a fictionalized memoir written by Diego reflecting on the events of his life.

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Columbus, Diego Columbus family Spanish West Indies 15th-century births 16th-century deaths Taíno people 1400s births 1500s deaths