# Beatriz Enríquez de Arana

Beatriz Enríquez de Arana (1465–1521?) was the mother of Ferdinand Columbus, Christopher Columbus's younger son. The nature of her relationship to Christopher Columbus has been a subject of dispute amongst historians. Some evidence suggests that she was the second wife to Columbus. Other evidence suggests that Beatriz was the mistress of Columbus. Columbus himself referred to Beatriz as his wife and that social conventions at the time would likely have prevented Ferdinand Columbus from receiving his royal appointment to the court of Spain, if he were illegitimate. The Columbus family tree lists Ferdinand and Diego Columbus, Columbus's son from his first marriage, on the same branch, whereas illegitimate children are found to be separated in other parts of the tree.

## Biography

Beatriz Enríquez de Arana was born around 1465 in the village of Santa María de Trasierra. She was the daughter of Pedro de Torquemada and Ana Núñez de Arana, prosperous farmers and owners of orchards, houses and vineyards. She had one brother, Pedro de Arana. When her father died, she moved with her mother and brother to the nearby city of Córdoba. When her mother died in 1471, Beatriz and Pedro were placed under the guardianship of her grandmother, Eleanor Nunez, and her maternal aunt, Mayor Enriquez de Arana. Beatriz received a good education and learned how to read and write, an exceptional accomplishment in an era when most women could not sign their names. After the death of their grandmother and aunt in 1478, the children were raised by their closest surviving relative, Rodrigo Enriquez de Arana.
Christopher Columbus met Beatriz Enríquez de Arana sometime in 1487 while seeking support from the Catholic monarchs for his discovery project. On August 15, 1488, Beatriz gave birth to Ferdinand Columbus. That same year, Columbus sent his older son, Diego Columbus, to Córdoba to be raised by Beatriz and her family. Columbus was busy advocating for his proposed voyage and spent little time with his family. In 1494 both boys were sent to the royal court in Valladolid to serve as pages. Thereafter, Arana had little contact with the Columbus family, although Christopher provided her with a modest annuity after his first successful voyage in 1492.
Some stipulate that Christopher Columbus may have never married Beatriz Enríquez de Arana, possibly because of the strict social barriers that existed at the time between a nobleman and a common peasant. Other historians claim that Beatriz hailed from a noble family of small share-holders, removing any barrier she may have had preventing her from marrying Columbus, if otherwise she had been a commoner. When Columbus died he left some provision for her in his will, directing his son Diego to hold her in respect and continue an annual allowance. Diego appears to have been remiss with payments; Beatriz' last recorded act in 1521 was hiring an attorney to collect some money, and Diego's will written in 1532 contained a directive that any unpaid monies from the last three or four years were to be paid out to Beatriz' heirs.
Neither her cause of death, or the exact date have been recorded, but it is assumed to have taken place shortly after 1521.
Other members of the Arana family were also associated with Columbus. On his first voyage in 1492, Diego de Arana, a cousin to Beatriz, served Columbus as chief marshal of the fleet, responsible for maintaining order among the sailors. Pedro de Arana, brother to Beatriz, was captain of one of the ships during Columbus's third voyage.