page_title: Beatriz Enríquez de Arana
section_title: Relationship with Columbus
hierarchical_section_title: Beatriz Enríquez de Arana / Biography / Relationship with Columbus
context_page_description: Beatriz Enríquez de Arana was the mistress of Christopher Columbus and mother of Ferdinand Columbus, Columbus's natural son, whom he later officially recognized.
context_section_description: In 1479 Columbus had traveled to Lisbon, to conduct trade and visit his brother, where he met and married Filipa Moniz about 1479 or 1480, producing a son named Diego. Columbus' wife died in 1484, according to some historians; others speculate he may have simply deserted her and took their child, then around five years old, and moved to Spain.
  In early 1486, Columbus was living in the court of the Spanish monarchs in Seville, while trying to convince them to finance his "Enterprise of the Indies". King Ferdinand V and Queen Isabella I were preoccupied at the time trying to unify Spain. They were interested in Columbus's idea but couldn't give it their full attention while the war in Granada was going on against the Moors. Meanwhile, Columbus was given subsistence and allowed to stay at the monarchs' castle in Cordoba as his project promised the possibility of future riches and spread of Christianity.
  While waiting for a decision and another meeting with the Spanish monarchs, Columbus patronized a local apothecary shop that was operated by people from Genoa, Italy, his probable birthplace. At the pharmacy he became a friend of a young Basque man named Diego de Arana.
  Diego had two orphaned cousins in his family's household: Beatriz Enríquez de Arana and her brother Pedro Enríquez de Arana.  Diego introduced Beatriz, then  20 or 21 years old, to the 35 year old Columbus in 1487.  In August 1488, they had a son named Ferdinand (aka Hernando Colon), but did not marry. Diego's family, who adopted Beatriz, had a prosperous wine business. They may have helped Columbus with money for his expeditions; her cousin and brother late
  When Columbus left for his first expedition to the New World, the two children, Diego and Ferdinand, were turned over to Beatriz to bring up. The care she gave them was noted and praised by Queen Isabella. Some historians think that the award money intended for the look-out man that would be the first to spot land went instead to Columbus's mistress. 
  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 a bit 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.
caption: Posthumous portrait of Christopher Columbus by Ridolfo Ghirlandaio
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