A Document from 1504, Signed by Queen Isabella and the Man Credited by Christopher Columbus for His Discovery of America

In the Middle Ages, Spain was not a unified nation, but a group of separate states. Castille and Leon ran down the middle of the Iberian Peninsula and over atop Portugal to the west. Aragon was to the northeast, while the Moorish kingdom of Granada remained in the southeast. In 1469, Princess Isabella (1451-1504), sister of King Henry IV of Castille and Leon and heir to its throne, married Prince Ferdinand (1452-1516), son of King Juan II of Aragon and heir to its throne. Ferdinand and Isabella would one day inherit and join together their two kingdoms, which composed some 90% of Spain. Then, once the Moors were driven out, Spain would be united under their rule.

Although in a sense this marriage was arranged, Isabella and Ferdinand were cousins who chose each other over alternative suitors. Theirs was an important relationship, one that resulted in Spain’s becoming the greatest power in the world in its day. Each of the Catholic Monarchs had their own chamberlain to take care of household and personal matters.  Isabella employed Sancho de Paredes, while Ferdinand used Juan Cabrero.

Cabrero was the confidential friend and constant companion of Ferdinand, and he was also close to Christopher Columbus. He played a crucial role in Columbus’s voyages, as it was Cabrero and a colleague who, at Columbus’s urging, at the last moment interposed on behalf of Columbus, whose pleas had already been rejected by the Catholic Monarchs. But the monarchs changed their minds after listening to Cabrero plead Columbus’s case. Cabrero represented to them the advantages that would accrue to the crown and to Spain from the discovery of a sea-route to the Indies – immeasurable riches, accession of lands, and immortal fame. Under the influence of such glowing representations, they consented to Columbus’ undertaking, and, since the state treasury was exhausted, the Queen was ready to pawn her jewels to procure the necessary funds to fit out his expedition. In a 1504 letter, Columbus linked Cabrero to his discovery of the Indies. Indeed Cabrero and others invested 17,000 ducats, which would be well over $100,000 today. Cabrero’s nephew, in a memoir written in 1517, wrote, “That he was the principal cause of the undertaking of the affair of the Indies and their acquisition and if it were not for him, the Indies would not have been discovered at least for the benefit of Castile.”  It was also to Cabrero that was given implementation of the royal grant made in 1508 to Amerigo Vespucci. Cabrero was of Jewish stock, the son of Martin Cabrero and Isabel Paternoy, both of Jewish lineage and whose kinsmen were victims of the inquisition. He is listed in the “Jewish Encyclopedia”.

Letter signed, Medina del Campo, March 9, 1504 to her chamberlain, Sancho de Paredes, and also signed by Cabrero.  “I command that the four decorated valances in your possession, which were bought of Alonso de la Torre, dealer in the said valances, be now handed to Juan Cabrero, Chamberlain to my Lord the King….” She orders that payment be made appropriately.  Cabrero himself has counter-signed it, writing that he “acknowledges that I have received from you, Sancho de Paredes, chamberlain to our lady the Queen, the four valances mentioned in the warrant of Her Highness.”

A valance is part of the canopy that hangs over a bed, and is often decorated with ornate or biblical scenes.  De la Torre played an important role in the fall of Granada by bribing the Moorish chieftains with rich imported cloths.