Source: “The Lost Colony of the Templars: Verrazano's Secret Mission to America**”,** By Steven Sora, Destiny Books, 2004.
Columbus And The Knights Of Christ.wav
This podcast explores the often-oversimplified story of Columbus's voyages, suggesting a deeper, more complex history involving the Knights Templar and their successors, the Knights of Christ, particularly in Portugal. It argues that Columbus benefited from the extensive nautical knowledge and secret explorations already undertaken by these orders and other groups like the Genoese merchants, who had long established themselves in Portugal. The text also discusses how the idea of a "New World" was popularized not by Columbus finding Asia, but through the accounts of explorers like Amerigo Vespucci and the influential pastoral romance Arcadia by Jacopo Sannazaro, which hinted at a secret, idyllic land across the Atlantic. Ultimately, it suggests that Columbus was not the sole or even first discoverer of the Americas, but rather the individual whose voyages brought these previously hidden lands into the European consciousness.
Topic 1: Myths and Realities of Christopher Columbus
The commonly known story of Christopher Columbus and his voyage is presented as being oversimplified to the point of inaccuracy and even leading to unfair criticism. A popular, brief version depicts him as a poorly educated weaver's son who, believing the world is round, aims to reach Asia by sailing west. In this tale, Queen Isabella funds his journey by selling jewels, and he reaches the New World after overcoming a near mutiny by a crew of convicts. A more modern, slightly expanded version still features his belief in a round world (though noting the flat-earth idea was fiction) but ends with his exploitation of resources, enslavement of people, and bringing disease. The source asserts that the truth is more complex than these simplified narratives. It refutes the myth that the world was widely believed to be flat in his time, stating that ancient Greeks and Romans knew the world was round. It also debunks the story of Queen Isabella selling her jewels; the voyage was primarily financed by bankers and a military police force called the Santa Hermandad, with Columbus himself contributing a significant sum borrowed from a Florentine banker. Furthermore, the assertion that his crew consisted solely of convicts is described as untrue, with most being experienced mariners from Spain. The source also addresses and dismisses the claim that Columbus was of Jewish heritage, presenting it as a myth based on weak evidence such as his name (meaning "Christ-bearer"), his siblings' Christian names, his documented devoutness, and the coincidence of his departure date with the expulsion of Jews from Spain.
Topic 2: Christopher Columbus's Background and Early Life
The source confirms that Christopher Columbus was indeed the son of a Genoese weaver. He took to the sea at an early age and traveled to Lisbon, Portugal. It is mentioned that he had a brother who arrived in Lisbon earlier and operated a chart shop in the Alfama district, which was home to a notable Genoese community. This period in Lisbon was crucial for Columbus's development, as Portugal was considered a prime location for acquiring nautical knowledge, thanks in part to the Knights of Christ. Columbus is described as adapting quickly to this environment. The source notes that while he may have been able to write in his Genoese dialect, no documents from before his move to Portugal survive. His later writings show a mix of Portuguese and Spanish with unconventional grammar, suggesting he learned Portuguese first, followed by Spanish, the language of the educated class in Portugal and the language he likely used on voyages. This early life at sea and in Lisbon exposed him to diverse languages and nautical skills, laying the foundation for his future explorations.
Topic 3: The Significance of Columbus's Marriage
A key, often overlooked aspect of Columbus's life highlighted by the source is his marriage to Felipa Perestrello e Moniz. The source posits that this marriage was likely a significant catalyst that set him on the path to exploring the west. He met Felipa while attending Mass at the Monastery of All Saints in Lisbon, not far from his brother's chart shop. Felipa came from a noble background, with connections to the Moniz family (linked to Prince Henry the Navigator) and the Perestrello family, who were Genoese expatriates and hereditary governors of Madeira. Marrying into this family conferred upon Columbus Portuguese citizenship and the right to trade within Portugal's extensive network. The marriage linked him to wealthy Italian families, despite his own lack of wealth. Following the marriage, Columbus moved with his new bride and her mother to Porto Santo, Madeira, where Felipa's brother had taken over the governorship previously held by their deceased father, Bartolomeo Perestrello. According to Columbus's son, Fernando, Felipa's mother gifted Columbus her late husband's maps, sea charts, and journals. Bartolomeo Perestrello was a captain under Prince Henry and connected to the Knights of Christ. Access to these documents provided Columbus with valuable practical knowledge and, significantly, navigational secrets potentially inherited through the Knights Templar/Knights of Christ line. The source speculates that if Felipa had lived, her family's influence might have persuaded the Portuguese king to sponsor his voyage, changing the course of history. Felipa's death five years after his access to her family's papers is suggested as possibly leading to a loss of influence within the Perestrello family, contributing to Portugal's subsequent rejection of his proposal.
Topic 4: Portugal's Role in Exploration
The source positions Portugal as a leading nation in global exploration and mapping, potentially surpassing Spain and other nations. This burst of discovery is attributed to figures like Prince Henry the Navigator and King Dinis I. Portugal's geographical position on the western edge of Iberia, facing the Atlantic, and its history during the Reconquista influenced its maritime focus. King Dinis I's decision to protect the Knights Templar by reforming them into the Knights of Christ allowed their expertise and assets to remain within Portugal, significantly contributing to the nation's strength and exploratory capabilities. Portugal also actively invited Genoese merchants and seafarers, leveraging their knowledge of shipbuilding, navigation, and trade, which had been honed through extensive trade in Africa and the Indian Ocean, drawing on ancient Phoenician and Arab traditions. Under Prince Henry, the Knights of Christ sponsored voyages down the African coast and into the Atlantic, increasing knowledge of the world. The Portuguese were also actively searching for western islands like Antillia, suggesting they had knowledge or strong theories about lands across the Atlantic, potentially based on prior voyages, ancient texts, or information from fishermen. This extensive activity meant that by the time Columbus proposed his voyage, Portugal may have already possessed significant, potentially secret, information about the existence and nature of lands to the west.
Topic 5: The Knights Templar and Knights of Christ
The source details the important role played by the Knights Templar and their successor order, the Knights of Christ, in the history of Portugal and Spain. Invited by Christian kings during the long conflict known as the Reconquista, the Templars served as a military force helping to push back Islamic rule on the Iberian Peninsula. They built numerous castles and churches in both countries, with significant sites in Portugal including Tomar and Santa Maria do Olival. When the Knights Templar order was officially dissolved in 1314 by the Pope and King Philip IV of France, King Dinis I of Portugal refused to persecute the knights. Instead, after a period of protecting them, he reformed the order under a new name, the Knights of Christ. This new order, while perhaps losing some autonomy compared to the Templars, allowed the knights to remain in Portugal, retaining their assets and knowledge. The Knights of Christ became closely tied to the Portuguese monarchy and played a crucial role in the age of exploration. Prince Henry the Navigator, a key figure in Portugal's maritime endeavors, was a grand master of the order. The source suggests that the navigational secrets and accumulated knowledge of the Templars were passed down to the Knights of Christ, potentially influencing Portugal's exploration efforts and figures like Columbus, who was connected to the order through his marriage and the appearance of the Templar red cross on his sails.