![]() The world of Columbus became entirely dominated by Spanish interests. Cesar sought to expand papal lands in Italy. Alexander's illegitimate son, Cesar Borgia is "The Prince" on whom the Florentine Machiavelli models his famous work about politics. The new pope was Alexander VI Borgia, a Spaniard. Columbus set sail into a future that changed the world, but his world was also changing behind him. Seven days before Columbus set sail, Pope Innocent VIII died. It was the pope's hope to sponsor a grand crusade to defeat the Turks and capture Jerusalem.Īgain, according to Marino, the finances for such a huge adventure were to come from the discoveries of Columbus. Still many in the west were not willing to let go of the Roman ideal, among them Pope Innocent VIII. The great Sultan Mehmet II had conquered Constantinople in 1453. Barely 40 years before Columbus left Spain, the Eastern Roman Empire finally disappeared. ![]() In 1492, the world was in the midst of a great geo-political revolution which only hindsight could reveal with clarity. The answer to this question is the crux of the matter, the pivot point on which the alleged cover-up turns. But why would the pope direct funding to a speculative venture, even if his illegitimate son were its sponsor? Another papal ally had control over the special collections of the Spanish faithful. A member of the Geraldini house was the Papal Nuncio at the court. It is also noteworthy that Genoese bankers were very active at the court of Isabella. Between the Genoese and Florentine connections, the pope had ample ability to provide funding. This conclusion is based on the contents and tone of several of Columbus' letters.Ĭertainly, the pope was related to the great Medici family, the first family of Florence and patron of artists including Michelangelo. Marino alleges a more particular motive and connection: Columbus may have been the illegitimate son of Pope Innocent VIII, himself a familiar figure in Genoese life. In his long quest to obtain funding for his voyage of discovery, Columbus, a Genoese, would have appealed to the powerful banking establishment in the still-great Italian maritime power of Genoa. Furthermore, respected Scottish historian William Robertson, an 18th century colleague of philosopher David Hume, notes the papal role in his rare book on the discovery of America.īut, just what was this papal role? According to Marino, the pope, not Queen Isabella - or her hocked jewels - provided the funding for Columbus' expedition. For example, on his tomb there is an inscription that refers to his having a part in the discovery of the new lands. To be sure, there is independent evidence that credits the pope. This cover-up erased the role of Pope Innocent VIII in the discovery of the New World. The tale involves many great figures of the Renaissance. Using a blend of conjectures, coincidences, curiosities and certainties, the author paints a picture of a Watergate-style cover-up surrounding Columbus' initial voyage. And, in the fashion of the later-published "Da Vinci Code," he has written "Cristoforo Colombo ed Il Papa Tradito" (available only in Italian) stating his case. Italian journalist and author Ruggero Marino claims that Pope Innocent VIII sponsored Christopher Columbus' first voyage. Absent from this familiar list was the pope until very recent historical times. From ancient Egyptians to extraterrestrials, popular literature has identified various peoples and personages with the discovery of the Americas.
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