The Irish standard., 1893-04-29
A SPANISH DUKE.
The Direct Lineal Descendant OF
Columbus Who is the Guest
of Uncle Sam.

columbus VINO Is LQo tu6ST
Of Uncle Sam.
HIS TITLE OF NOBILITY.
The Blue Blood of the Alvas and
Braganzas Runs Warmly
Through His Veins.
In the year 1896 at Madrid, where he
resided in his own hotel, certain Don
Mariana de Larreategui inherited the
names and titles proper to the descend
ant of Christopher Columbus, and as
sumed legally the following appellations:
"Don Christobal Colon de la Corda, Duke
OF Veragua and of La Vega, Grandee of
Spain of the first class, Marquis of ia
maica, Admiral and Seneschal Major OF
the Indies" His grandson, who inherits
all these titles, has come to America to
represent the discoverer at the festivals
which the United States are giving in
honor of his famous ancestor. In no Eu-
ropean country is it more difficult than in
Spain to trace mans pedigree, and, ac.-
cording to writer in the New York
Times, this is largely owing to the prao-
tice of using the mothers name as we'll
as the father's, and in some instances
preferring the female name and arms to
the male. 1t is known that great diff
culties and vast litigation attended the
settlement OF the claims OF various per-
sons to legal descent from Columbus,
but it Is less known that the only egiti
mate descent proved is one by the female
side. Indeed, among the notabilities
from abroad who are expected to be
present at the opening of the Worlds
Fair in Chicago no one excites more in
terest and curiosity than this Spanish
nobleman, who represents, as the lineal
legitimate descendant of Columbus, the
dignities which rewarded the discoveror
of America with tardy and insufficient
justice.
Columbus, the founder Of the family,
was the son of poor Genoese tradesman,
but in the VEINS of the Duke of Veragua,
mixed with the blood Of the most re-
markable man of his sge runs the sau-
gre azul of the great family of Alva or
Alba of the Portuguese house of Bragan-
"a, which gave royal line to the princi-
pal maritime rival of Spain and Of other
great families of the peninsula. The
circumstances under which the success
sors of Columbus acquired the title, it's
significance and the facts of the remark
able lawsuit by which the title and hon
ors were finally diverted to the female
succession, through which the Duke of
Veragua holds his hereditary honors, will
bear review.
The eapitulation with Ferdinand and
Isabella under which the Genoese sailed
on his great adventure gave him the rank
cf admiral of the Western seas and the
Office of viceroy over all the lands dis
covered by him, subject. of course, to
the bull of Pope Alexander VI, which
divided the seas between Spain and Por-
tugal, with one-tenth of the gold, silver,
precious stones, pearls, spices, and all
other articles of value yielded by the new
dominion. As he furnished one-eigbth
of the value of the equipment of the ex-
pedition, it was also agreed that he
should have one eighth part of the pro-
fits of all the voyages made either by
himself OF by others to any lands opened
by him to the knowledge of the world.
The result of all this magnificent promise
was nearly nil at the end of the four
voyages, in spite Of the fact that his ac-
tual gains must have been great during
a considerable portion of twelve years.
He was betrayed by royalty, robbed al
most to the last maravedl by it's crea
lures, deprived Of rank and dignity, and
he finally died in absolute poverty after
clamoring in vain at the court of the
kingly hypocrite.
Columbus made proper provision for
his brothers Bartholomew and Diego
and his son Ferdinando, and certain
others who had claims on him, and he
also left bequest which did honor to
the city of Genoa. But with these and
such legacies as he gave to the interests
Of religion this article need not concern
itself. It was at least six years after the
death OF the great navigator when Diego
managed to OK ort recognition OF his
own and his fathers rights from the re-
luctant king. Indeed, his final success,
even after his claims had been conceded
by the council Of the Indies would have
been doubtful had he not espoused Dona
Maria dc Toledo, niece of the Duke of
Alva and q cousin Of the great duke, who
was afterward the scourge Of the Neither