Was Christopher Columbus a Douglas?
By Dr. Deborah Richmond Foulkes, FSA Scot
Recently a number of articles have appeared in newspapers in Spain as well in the
United Kingdom about some interesting research regarding the true identity of
Christopher Columbus. Alfonso Ensenat de Villalonga of Barcelona, author of “The Life
of Christopher Columbus” believes that Pedro Scotto, a young man born in 1451 in
Genoa, Italy was of Scottish descent. And he maintains that Scotto assumed the name
Cristobal Colon, aka Christopher Columbus. De Villalonga was able to verify that this
Pedro Scotto went off to sea in the late 15th century and that he served Vincenzo
Columbus who was captain of a pirate ship. The author also came upon some 15th
century, contemporary descriptions of Cristobal Colon that do not conform to modern
21st century interpretations of Columbus. De Villalonga concludes from his findings
that the famous navigator was really a freckle-faced blond haired Scotsman named
Pedro Scotto, born in Genoa the son of Scottish parents with ancient ties to
Lanarkshire, Scotland.
The history of the Douglas family in Italy began around 794. Guillelmo de Duglas,
younger son of Sholto Duglas was a lieutenant of Charlemagne. He was credited with
defending Florence when he drove out the invaders and restored the city-state to
independence. Duglas became ill during that campaign and took up residence in
Piacenza to convalesce. He ultimately fell in love with and married the daughter of the
lord of Castle Spettino and they had many children. The name Pedro is in that line. The
Douglas Scotti’s armorial bearings were originally three stars in chief just like the 13th
century Douglas arms of Lanarkshire, Scotland. The family had become very powerful
by the 14th century in Italy and changed their armorials to two stars separated by a bend
to signify their allegiance to the Guelph party. The motto used by the Fombio line was
Numquam Retrorsum or Never Retrieve/Retreat (translations differ from the old Latin).
And in 1620 the Count of Agazzano wrote his Douglas cousins in Scotland to confirm
the family’s relationship.
But the question remains, is Pedro Scotto a Douglas? De Villalonga references a
chronicle of Catholic kings by Ludo Martineo Siculo that identifies Pedro Colon as the
navigator Columbus. And in his book about Columbus the author offers additional
evidence to prove that Pedro Colon and Pedro Scotto are actually the same man. As
many of you know I have researched our family in the 8th century in northern Italy. And I
have met descendants of both surviving lines including the Fombio Scotti Douglas and
the Agazzano Douglas Scotti. Both families are quick to remind us that Scotto and Scotti
were terms referencing a nationality and did not always indicate a surname. People of
Celtic heritage from Ireland and Scotland were frequently called Scotto or Scotti in Italy.
Perhaps Pedro Scotto was the son of Scottish parents and maybe he was a
descendant of Guillelmo de Duglas of the 8th century. But de Villalonga missed an
important fact associated with the Douglases of northern Italy. The author was incorrect
about the family likeness. He believed that the 15th century description of the navigator
as a blond haired, freckle-faced sailor proved he was a Scot and a Douglas. It might be
true that Pedro was of Scottish heritage but it does not make him a descendant of the
Douglases of Piacenza. Sholto Duglas, Guillelmo’s father was described as a dark
haired, swarthy man by the King of Scots. That fact was well documented and
accounted for his sobriquet.
Despite the excitement generated by de Villalonga’s research and his conclusion
that Christopher Columbus was a sailor from Genoa named Pedro Scotto, it would be a
stretch to assume that he was a Douglas. And I would strongly recommend that we put
on hold for now any plans to rename Columbus, Ohio Douglasdale. After all, there is
only one Douglasdale and that’s in Lanarkshire, Scotland. Hope to see you all there
this July for the Gathering!
By Dr. Deborah Richmond Foulkes, FSA Scot
Recently a number of articles have appeared in newspapers in Spain as well in the
United Kingdom about some interesting research regarding the true identity of
Christopher Columbus. Alfonso Ensenat de Villalonga of Barcelona, author of “The Life
of Christopher Columbus” believes that Pedro Scotto, a young man born in 1451 in
Genoa, Italy was of Scottish descent. And he maintains that Scotto assumed the name
Cristobal Colon, aka Christopher Columbus. De Villalonga was able to verify that this
Pedro Scotto went off to sea in the late 15th century and that he served Vincenzo
Columbus who was captain of a pirate ship. The author also came upon some 15th
century, contemporary descriptions of Cristobal Colon that do not conform to modern
21st century interpretations of Columbus. De Villalonga concludes from his findings
that the famous navigator was really a freckle-faced blond haired Scotsman named
Pedro Scotto, born in Genoa the son of Scottish parents with ancient ties to
Lanarkshire, Scotland.
The history of the Douglas family in Italy began around 794. Guillelmo de Duglas,
younger son of Sholto Duglas was a lieutenant of Charlemagne. He was credited with
defending Florence when he drove out the invaders and restored the city-state to
independence. Duglas became ill during that campaign and took up residence in
Piacenza to convalesce. He ultimately fell in love with and married the daughter of the
lord of Castle Spettino and they had many children. The name Pedro is in that line. The
Douglas Scotti’s armorial bearings were originally three stars in chief just like the 13th
century Douglas arms of Lanarkshire, Scotland. The family had become very powerful
by the 14th century in Italy and changed their armorials to two stars separated by a bend
to signify their allegiance to the Guelph party. The motto used by the Fombio line was
Numquam Retrorsum or Never Retrieve/Retreat (translations differ from the old Latin).
And in 1620 the Count of Agazzano wrote his Douglas cousins in Scotland to confirm
the family’s relationship.
But the question remains, is Pedro Scotto a Douglas? De Villalonga references a
chronicle of Catholic kings by Ludo Martineo Siculo that identifies Pedro Colon as the
navigator Columbus. And in his book about Columbus the author offers additional
evidence to prove that Pedro Colon and Pedro Scotto are actually the same man. As
many of you know I have researched our family in the 8th century in northern Italy. And I
have met descendants of both surviving lines including the Fombio Scotti Douglas and
the Agazzano Douglas Scotti. Both families are quick to remind us that Scotto and Scotti
were terms referencing a nationality and did not always indicate a surname. People of
Celtic heritage from Ireland and Scotland were frequently called Scotto or Scotti in Italy.
Perhaps Pedro Scotto was the son of Scottish parents and maybe he was a
descendant of Guillelmo de Duglas of the 8th century. But de Villalonga missed an
important fact associated with the Douglases of northern Italy. The author was incorrect
about the family likeness. He believed that the 15th century description of the navigator
as a blond haired, freckle-faced sailor proved he was a Scot and a Douglas. It might be
true that Pedro was of Scottish heritage but it does not make him a descendant of the
Douglases of Piacenza. Sholto Duglas, Guillelmo’s father was described as a dark
haired, swarthy man by the King of Scots. That fact was well documented and
accounted for his sobriquet.
Despite the excitement generated by de Villalonga’s research and his conclusion
that Christopher Columbus was a sailor from Genoa named Pedro Scotto, it would be a
stretch to assume that he was a Douglas. And I would strongly recommend that we put
on hold for now any plans to rename Columbus, Ohio Douglasdale. After all, there is
only one Douglasdale and that’s in Lanarkshire, Scotland. Hope to see you all there
this July for the Gathering!
History
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| "J' amais Arriere" |
of North America
| Charlemagne with his lieuenants in Paris. |
| The Douglas Scotti Armorials in Italy. |