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Vasco De BalboaSpanish conquistador. He was the first European to cross the Isthmus of Panama and reach the shores of the South Sea, now known to everyone as the Pacific Ocean.
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Biography of Vasco Núñez de Balboa
Vasco Núñez de Balboa (c. 1475-1517) was a Spanish conquistador and explorer. He is known for being the first European to cross the Isthmus of Panama and reach the shores of the South Sea, which is now known as the Pacific Ocean. Balboa was born in Jerez de los Caballeros, in the province of Badajoz, Spain.
As a young man, Balboa received a land grant with indigenous people on the island of Hispaniola (now Haiti). However, like many other land grants, it did not bring him much wealth. He soon found himself in debt and decided to hide in an empty barrel on a ship bound for the Gulf of Darien. The ship was carrying colonists and supplies to the newly established colony of New Andalusia. Along the way, they encountered another ship, but only one ship, carrying Balboa, made it to the Caribbean coast. The other ship, with the supplies, was wrecked. Facing the threat of famine, Balboa led the colonists across the Isthmus of Panama, which was considered part of "Golden Castile." They plundered an abandoned indigenous village for food, fabrics, and gold. Balboa's success led to him being seen as a leader.
Leader of the "Golden Castile" Colony
Balboa became the leader of the colony known as "Golden Castile." By 1511, he had only 300 sailors and soldiers under his command. With this small force, he began to conquer the interior regions of "Golden Castile." One indigenous chief informed Balboa that to the south of the Gulf of Darien lay a densely populated land rich in gold. The chief also mentioned that from the mountain peaks, one could see another sea with ships as large as Spanish vessels. Balboa realized that only a great feat could save him, a "poorly endowed man, not of noble birth," from the gallows that awaited him in Spain for his quest for power.
In 1513, Balboa set out from the mouth of the Atrato River, along the Atlantic coast, and after about 150 kilometers, he landed on the Pacific coast. Balboa instilled fear in the local indigenous people, not only with his own cruelty but also with his fierce dog, Leoncillo, which was said to be worth twenty soldiers. However, Balboa was more farsighted than his predecessors and avoided unnecessary violence. On September 1st, Balboa embarked on his expedition to discover the "South Sea" with a group of 180 bold and resilient soldiers. They were accompanied by six hundred indigenous porters and a pack of greyhounds.
The crossing of the Panama isthmus, which was necessary to reach the unknown sea, was difficult. The narrow passage was surrounded by high mountains and dense vegetation. The men had to hack their way through thick lianas, ferns, and giant trees while facing marshes filled with mosquitoes. The forest was inhabited by numerous birds and animals that had never been disturbed by humans before. The poisonous vapors of the swamps, along with yellow fever and dysentery, drained the men's strength and energy. After a twenty-day journey, filled with continuous battles with indigenous people, Balboa reached the mountain peak and finally saw the vast Panama Bay, beyond which lay the boundless "South Sea" - the Pacific Ocean. On September 29th, he arrived at a bay that he named San Miguel. Waiting for high tide, Balboa waded into the water with his sword in one hand and the Castilian flag in the other, reciting a proclamation: "...I take possession for the Castilian Crown... of these southern seas, lands, shores, harbors, and islands, along with everything they contain... And if any king or ruler, Christian or Moor... makes any claims on these lands and seas, I am prepared to dispute and fight for them, in the name of the rulers of Castile, both present and future. The power and dominion over these Indies, islands, and continents, both North and South, from the Arctic to the Antarctic, on both sides of the equator, within and beyond the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn... are theirs now and forever, as long as the world exists, until the Day of Judgment for all generations."
The information Balboa gathered from the indigenous chiefs coincided with the accounts of the natives on the shores of the Gulf of Darien. Balboa learned that to the south there was a vast land "so rich in gold that they make everyday utensils out of it," and the inhabitants tame llamas and use them as domesticated animals for transporting heavy loads. These fascinating details, along with a large quantity of pearls Balboa obtained from the natives, convinced him that he was in the Asian lands described by Marco Polo, not far from the empire of "Sipango," which was rumored to possess immense wealth and had attracted adventurers for centuries.
Returning to the shores of the Gulf of Darien, Balboa sent a report of his great discovery to Spain, along with a fifth of the gold he had obtained and two hundred beautiful pearls. The government changed its anger to mercy.
For the most perceptive individuals, Balboa's discovery of the "South Sea" was decisive evidence that Columbus had not found India but a New World.
Balboa began preparing for a new expedition to the "South Sea" and the conquest of the fabled rich land of Biru (Peru). However, his plans were never realized.
The new governor of "Golden Castile," Pedro Arias de Avila, arrived in the colony and read the royal decrees that instructed him to treat Balboa favorably for his discovery of the "South Sea." However, Avila secretly began investigating Balboa. After Balboa received a new high appointment from the crown, Avila started to view him as a dangerous rival. As a result of Avila's intrigues, Balboa was accused of organizing expeditions for personal gain. He was also reminded of past offenses and was ultimately convicted of treason and beheaded. The European discovery of Peru was delayed by fifteen years.
In 1519, Pedro Arias de Avila built the city of Panama on the southern coast of the isthmus, becoming the first Spanish settlement on the "South Sea." He soon moved the administrative center of "Golden Castile" there.
