Background
Diego Columbus was born in Portugal, either in Porto Santo in 1479/1480, or in Lisbon in 1474.
Diego Columbus was born in Portugal, either in Porto Santo in 1479/1480, or in Lisbon in 1474.
In 1492 he was chosen by Ferdinand and Isabella as page of their son, Don Juan. Immediately upon the death of his father, he sought the restoration of the honors, reputation, and property of the great discoverer. He was named admiral and governor of the Indies in 1509. In Santo Domingo he tried in vain to abolish the repartimientos (land grants worked by slaves). Repeated efforts to dislodge him failed because he retained the confidence of the king, Charles I, although he was never able to secure the appointment as viceroy of the Indies which had been conferred on his father. He died at Montalbán, near Toledo, Spain, Feburary 23, 1526.
Initially planned to marry Mencia de Guzman, daughter of the Duke of Medina Sidonia but was forced by King Fernando to marry the king's cousin María de Toledo y Rojas. They had five children.