Christopher de Haro facts for kids
Cristóbal de Haro was a smart businessman and financier from Burgos, a city in Spain. He is most famous for helping to pay for the amazing Magellan-Elcano expedition, which was the first time anyone sailed all the way around the world!
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Who Was Cristóbal de Haro?
Cristóbal de Haro was born in Burgos, Spain. From 1505, he lived and worked in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. He was a very important merchant and financier, meaning he dealt with trade and money.
A Big Change
After 1513, Cristóbal de Haro became unhappy with the Portuguese government. He decided to return to Spain. There, he started working with some Portuguese people who had also left Portugal, like Ferdinand Magellan and Ruy Faleiro. He also teamed up with a Spanish minister named Juan Rodríguez de Fonseca.
Together, they planned a daring trip. They wanted to find a new way to reach the Spice Islands (which are now part of Indonesia) by sailing west, instead of east around Africa.
Funding the Great Voyage
Cristóbal de Haro was a representative for the Fuggers, a very rich and powerful banking family. Because of his connections and wealth, he provided a quarter (one-fourth) of all the money needed for Magellan's big trip in 1519.
The First Trip Around the World
Magellan's expedition didn't manage to take over the Spice Islands as planned. However, it achieved something even more incredible! One of the ships, led by Juan Sebastián Elcano after Magellan's death, completed the very first circumnavigation of the Earth. This meant they sailed all the way around the world!
Haro's Family and Legacy
Cristóbal had a brother named Diego de Haro. Diego ran a business in Antwerp, a city in Belgium. Diego's daughter, Frances, married a man named Maximilianus of Transylvania.
The First Story of the Voyage
Maximilianus Transylvanus wrote the very first book about Magellan's voyage. It was published in 1523. In his book, Transylvanus mentioned that Cristóbal de Haro had greatly helped Magellan and Faleiro present their ideas to the Spanish king's advisors.
More Expeditions
Cristóbal de Haro also helped pay for other Spanish trips to the Spice Islands. These included expeditions led by Estevao Gomes in 1524, Jofre de Loaysa in 1525, and Diego García in 1528.
His Final Resting Place
Cristóbal de Haro was buried in the church of San Lesmes in Burgos, Spain. His wife, Catalina de Ayala, was buried next to him. His tomb is special because it shows the coat of arms (a family symbol) that King Charles gave him. This coat of arms features Magellan's five ships, the pillars of Hercules (a symbol of strength), and spices.
See also
In Spanish: Cristóbal de Haro para niños
