COLUMBUS
Columbus research gives history buffs something to chew on
Luso Life
The controversy surrounding Christopher Columbus seems to grow at this time of year. We
have all heard the stories of how other navigators arrived on the shores of the New World
well before the old admiral. But lately a series of articles and books claim Columbus was
a Portuguese Jew and a secret agent working for the king of Portugal.
Augusto Mascarenhas Barreto wrote a book in Portuguese in 1988 whose title can be
translated to "The Portuguese Christopher Columbus : Secret Agent of King John
11"
There is another book being translated to English entitled, "The Colon"
(Columbus is a misnomer) The original was written in Spanish by Alfredo F. De Melo of
Uruguay. This book credits Dr. Manuel L. da Silva, MD., of Bristol, R.I.,for a series of
literary discoveries.
Dr.da Silva and his wife, Silvia, went to the Vatican in July 1994 to investigate the
papal bulls relating to the New World discoveries. They made some astonishing discoveries
while there supporting the theory that Columbus was Portuguese. They found two papal bulls
dated May 4, 1493, written in Latin by Pop Alexander V1 referring to the discoveries of
the Western Hemisphere by Crisrofom Colon. Dr da Silva points out that the name is written
in Portuguese and not Spanish (Cristobal Colon), is not written in Latin like the rest of
the manuscript (Christopher Columbus), and is not written in Italian (Cristoforo Colombo.)
Dr da Silva added, "Cristofom does not have the "h", and the till over the
o is used only in the Portuguese language."
Dr da Silva said that at the time of the discoveries the Catholic Church was the supreme
court of the world and the pope was the supreme judge. "Then what better place to
look for evidence of that era than in the Vatican?"
Dr da Silva has written several books on this subject. In 1987 he published the American
and Portuguese editions of "The True Antilles; Newfoundland and Nova Scotia,"
and in 1989 "Columbus was 100 Percent Portuguese." In 1992 and 1993 he published
the American and Portuguese editions of "The Religious and Mythological Powers in the
Name of Cristovao Colon" and "The Pope Alexander V1 and Cristofom Colon."
Dr da Silva in his "Columbus was 100 Percent Portuguese" cites Barreto's
genealogical research tracing Columbus' true name to Salvador Fernandes Zarco, "Son
of Dom Fernando, First Duke of Beja, who had a love affair with Isabel Goncalves Zarco,
daughter of Joao Goncalves Zarco, discoverer of Porto Santo and Madeira. The Zarcos were
Portuguese Jews who came from the city of Tomar. The Duke of Beja was also Duke Viseu and
Governor of the order of Christ, and son of King D. Duarte,"
Another interesting point is where this Salvador Zarco was born. "In those days when
a girl became pregnant out of wedlock, she was usually secreted away to another locality
to give birth to her illegitimate child. This is the reason why Salvador Fernandes Zarco
was born in Cuba, a town eight miles north of Beja.
According to this research, Zarco (Columbus) was the first cousin of King John 11,
half-brother of Queen Dona Leonor, half-brother of King Manuel 1, and grandnephew of
prince Henry the Navigator.
Dr da Silva describes Zarco's intriguing secret mission to divert Spain's attention from
the real sea route to India by sailing west, giving time for Prince Henry's navigators to
go beyond the Cape of Storms, which was later renamed the Cape of Good Hope.
"By 1485 Salvador Fernandes Zarco was 37 and by the order of the king he changed his
name to Cristofom Colon and departed to Spain." The book further describes how Colon
spent seven years in Spain trying to convince the Spanish royalty to approve a western
route to India. "During his seven year wait Colon was offered private financing by
merchants and bankers, but he always refused. Why? Because his mission was to obtain
official sponsorship of the Spanish Crown in conformity with the scheme of the astute King
John 11"
So, was Columbus Portuguese? Or was he Italian? Whatever your opinion, those who can get
their hands on these books can be sure of one thing; They will make you think.
Pedro Amaral
Luso Life -10/5/97
The Standard-Times
E-mail: Rufina Bernardetti Silva Mausenbaum