History of Vasco Núñez de Balboa
Vasco Núñez de Balboa was a Spanish conquistador, explorer and a governor who is best known for crossing the Isthmus of Panama to the Pacific Ocean in the year 1513. Balboa became the first European leader to steer the expedition of Pacific from the new world. He was born in the year 1475 in Jerez de los Caballeros, a city in the impoverished Extremadura region of Spain. He came from a humble background; his father was believed to be a nobleman. His family was not wealthy enough like many of his class, and therefore, he decided to try his luck in the New World.
In 1500, Balboa joined a Spanish expedition that was exploring the coast of present-day Colombia. He then returned to Hispaniola Island and decided to start making his living as a farmer. While as a farmer, Balboa fell into many debts which forced him to ran away from his creditors, stowing away on an expedition, carrying the supplies to the coast of Urabá, which was the colony of San Sebastian (Castejón, 2019). The colony had been abandoned by the time Balboa and his crew arrived. This was after the local natives murdered many of the colonists. Under Balboa’s leadership, the crew decided to move to the western side of the Gulf of Urabá, on the coast of the Isthmus of Panama.
In 1511, Balboa was acting as the interim governor of Darien. Under his leadership, the Spaniards conquered the native inhabitants of the region to acquire mineral resources such as gold. Through his leadership, he established the first stable settlement on the South American continent. In September 1513, Balboa led an expedition of Indians and Spaniards across the Isthmus of Panama (Panchi & Guerra ). Late in that month, he climbed a mountain and discovered the Pacific Ocean. Balboa claimed that the ocean and its shores belonged to Spain, creating a way for another Spanish conquest and exploration along the western coast of South America.
As a reward for his explorations, Balboa was appointed as the governor of the provinces of Coiba and Panama. Still, he remained under the leadership of Pedrarias, the previous governor who arrived in Darién around 1514, soon after Balboa returned. Balboas’s achievement posed a threat to the Spanish governor of Darién, Pedro Arias Davila who falsely accused him of treason and took part in executing him in 1519.
Balboa’s contribution to the field of exploration and the republic of Spain in immense. He played a crucial role in steering great exploration visits through various coastal cities, and this earned him more recognition. His contribution as a governor, conquistador and explorer is significant and therefore, he deserves to be recognized as one of the greatest icons.
Reference
Castejón, F. J. I. (2019). Héroe o villano: Vasco Núñez de Balboa en El tesoro de Dabaibe de Octavio Méndez Pereira y en la Historia de las Indias de Bartolomé de las Casas. Cuadernos Nacionales, (24).
Panchi, W., & Guerra, S. Expedición de Vasco Núñez de Balboa 1513.