WASHINGTON: As American citizens observe Columbus Day, they may be surprised that Justice Brett Kavanaugh has more in common with Christopher Columbus than they may know. The bitter and divisive political showdown over the confirmation of Judge Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court was a modern-day political smear job brought on by the Democrats. It was an attempt at character assassination of a man who appeared a political threat to Democrat power.
Political smear jobs are nothing new in the course of human history. Christopher Columbus was also the target of character assassination in his day.
The trials of Christopher Columbus
Many Americans would be surprised to learn that on his third journey to the New World, Columbus was arrested. In 1500, Columbus was put in chains, and taken back to Spain to stand trial for his “crimes.” Only eight years after his discovery of the New World, Columbus had outlived his usefulness to the Spanish Crown.
King Ferdinand had put plans in motion for Columbus to be stripped of his title, his position, and his wealth. Why? First, he was not a Spanish noble. He was an Italian sailor with big dreams.
Second, he was a foreign sailor and a commoner in the eyes of the Spanish nobility. Third, he had no title to be governor over anyone, especially Spanish nobles.
Exploration developed into colonization and settlement
Unfortunately for the Italian sailor, Columbus proved to be “in the way.” He was on the receiving end of the increasing dissatisfaction and outright animosity of the noble colonists. Rising malice toward Columbus possibly lingered because nobles may have felt deceived by his exaggerated accounts of the abundance of gold.
As early as 1495, the Spanish Crown attempted to get a better handle on its investment by sending a royal commission to report on the Spanish colony and to judge the governing capabilities of Columbus. Returning to Spain in 1496, Columbus managed to appease the royals. However, the king waited two years before sponsoring the third voyage.
While in Spain for the two years, the king used the “charges” against the sailor to insist that Columbus be a better governor. To help the king appointed Francisco de Bobadilla as an “administrator.” Bobadilla, a Spanish nobleman and a loyal knight who fought in the wars against the Moors, was familiar with court politics. He was quite capable. It was Bobadilla that had Columbus arrested, but it took him two years to build his “case.”
Columbus vs. the Elites
Christopher Columbus had been in Spain since 1496; but, upon returning in 1498, he found that tensions against him still high. The noblemen eventually accused him. Their complaints to King Ferdinand are mostly the same crimes repeated by revisionist historians and their adherents today. Interestingly, after Columbus had returned to the Caribbean, King Ferdinand appointed Bobadilla as the replacement for the admiral as governor and chief justice of Hispaniola in May of 1499.
Bobadilla was given all that is given to Columbus, but with even more authority and power. Moreover, when Bobadilla arrived in Hispaniola in August of 1500, he briefly investigated the charges of incompetent governance against Columbus and his brothers. By October 1500, Bobadilla had them all arrested, and shipped back to Spain in irons.
The monarchs left them in prison until December 1500. Columbus was eventually let free to defend himself.
Christopher Columbus’ character assassination
The trial was to assassinate the character of Columbus, which it did. However, until progressive revisionist historians got ahold of the trial information, Columbus had enjoyed some centuries of fame. However, in his day, the trial of Columbus ruined him. The trial proved to be merely a convenient method for allowing the king a technique to break the original decree designating Columbus as governor.
Ironically, the result of the trial was the dropping of charges against Columbus. However, the King had already permanently removed Columbus as governor. Essentially by 1500, the bold Italian sailor was out of the loop.
Students of Columbus should know this side of the Columbus narrative. All Americans should grasp that the King of Spain had always been in charge of Columbus’ expeditions.
Politicians quest to keep ing power then and now
King Ferdinand made sure the monarchy of Spain was in charge of the Caribbean islands and the lands beyond.
Most Americans, have never lived under a despot; so, it is hard to comprehend it fully.
Columbus desired to find a new route to Cathay and in the process obtain power, status and wealth. To pursue his dreams, he needed to contract his services with any kingdom that would provide the means. Eventually, Columbus submitted himself to the power of the Spanish crown.
Americans can understand this – after many centuries, it is the same. In the twenty-first century, many would still sell their souls to gain the world – fame, fortune, or power. Columbus was a pawn in a king’s game.
Image: Linked In Slide Share (https://www.slideshare.net/Mangeles957/christopher-columbus-77008243) used under educational sharing