kids encyclopedia robot

Vasco Núñez de Balboa facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Balboa südsee
Vasco Núñez de Balboa claims the South Sea. 19th century engraving by unknown artist

Vasco Núñez de Balboa (1475–1519) was a Spanish explorer and conquistador. He was the first European to see the Pacific Ocean. Balboa was one of those who established the settlement at Darién in what is now Panama. He was elected mayor, then governor. In 1513, he claimed the Pacific Ocean and all of its shores for Spain. He was searching for gold at the time. In Darién, he had been replaced by a new governor, Pedro Arias Dávila. On orders from Spain, Dávila was to investigate Balboa. On Balboa's return to Darién in 1519, Dávila had him placed on trial, then executed for treason.


Images for kids

  • Indias 1513

    Tierra Firme 1513 - Castilla de Oro

  • Balboa Voyage 1513

    Balboa's travel route to the South Sea, 1513

  • Monumento a Vasco Núñez de Balboa - Flickr - Chito (3)

    Monument of Vasco Núñez de Balboa in Panama City

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
Vasco Núñez de Balboa Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.