Alonso Sánchez facts for kids
Alonso Sánchez de Huelva was a sailor and merchant from Huelva, Spain, in the 1400s. People say he reached America many years before Christopher Columbus. This is a famous legend that has been told for centuries.
After Europeans found America, many rumors spread. Some people, especially the Spanish conquerors, said that America was known about even 20 years before Columbus's famous trip in 1492. Bartolomé de las Casas, a writer from that time, heard these stories. But it was Inca Garcilaso de la Vega who first named Alonso Sánchez de Huelva in 1609 as the person who supposedly discovered America first.
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The Legend of Alonso Sánchez
The most well-known story comes from the Duchess of Medina Sidonia. She believed Columbus's journey was just an official way for the Spanish rulers to announce a discovery that had already happened. She thought the rulers kept it secret because other countries like Portugal and France might have tried to claim the new lands.
Many historians believe these stories are not true. They think the legend of Alonso Sánchez might have been spread by the Pinzón brothers. They may have wanted to make Columbus look less important later in his life. Or perhaps political enemies of Columbus's family started these rumors.
The Storm-Blown Voyage
Inca Garcilaso de la Vega wrote about Alonso Sánchez in his 1609 book, Comentarios Reales de los Incas. According to this tale, Alonso Sánchez often sailed between the Canary Islands, Madeira, and Spain. He was involved in trading goods.
Around 1484, while sailing from the Canary Islands to Madeira, a huge storm hit his ship. The storm blew his ship far off course into unknown parts of the Atlantic Ocean. The small ship was damaged. Strong winds and currents pushed it even further southwest.
After about 28 or 29 days, Sánchez and his scared crew finally saw land. It was probably the island of Hispaniola (now Santo Domingo). They landed there to figure out where they were and to get fresh water and wood. Then they started their long journey back to Spain.
A Difficult Return
The return trip was very hard. The ship ran out of fresh water and food. Many of the men became very sick. Only five of the original 17 sailors, including Sánchez, survived.
The story says these survivors met Christopher Columbus. They told him all about their amazing adventure. Sadly, all of them, including Sánchez, died from exhaustion soon after.
Later writers added more details to the story. They said Sánchez and his crew continued along the unknown coast. They found signs of people and landed in a village. The native people welcomed them kindly. The natives were impressed because the sailors were taller and had beards. The natives believed their gods would one day come from the sea. They gave the "divine" visitors food and gold.
After a short stay, the sailors prepared to leave. Sánchez used his ship's log to figure out his course. The return trip took about a month. They barely made it to Porto Santo Island in Madeira.
Meeting Columbus
It was while recovering in Porto Santo that Alonso Sánchez supposedly met Christopher Columbus. Columbus lived in Porto Santo during the 1480s. Sánchez told Columbus the whole story of his incredible journey.
Some people think the information Sánchez gave Columbus, like directions and distances, helped Columbus plan his own voyages. Others believe Alonso Sánchez never existed. They think he was just part of a plan by the Pinzón brothers to make Columbus seem less skilled as a navigator.
Historical Doubts
There are no official documents from that time that mention an Alonso Sánchez from Huelva. Everything we know about him comes from writers who told his story long after Columbus had died. Also, some writers have claimed Sánchez was from Portugal, Biscay, or other parts of Spain.
However, a few historians, starting with José Ceballos in 1762, have said that Inca Garcilaso de la Vega's story might be true.
Memorials in Huelva
In the city of Huelva, where Sánchez supposedly was born, there are several memorials to him. There is a statue of Sánchez in 12 October Park, which honors Columbus's voyages. This statue was made by the sculptor León Ortega. There is also a smaller park in Huelva named after him, and a public high school.
See also
In Spanish: Alonso Sánchez de Huelva para niños
