Columbus Makes Landfall In Portugal, March 4, 1493

From chapter 40 in The Life of the Admiral By His Son:

"On 3 March they encountered such a fierce storm that shortly after midnight their sails were torn away. Then in great danger of their lives, they made a vow to send a pilgrim barefoot and in his shirt to the Virgin of the Girdle, whose church is at Huelva. The lot once more fell on the Admiral.... in addition... many private vows were made also.

As they ran before the wind without an inch of sail and with bare masts, in a terrible sea and high winds, the whole sky was rent with thunder and lighting. Any one of these horrors seemed likely to send the ship to destruction. But the Lord was pleased to show them land just before midnight.... To avoid running on a reef ... they had to raise a little sail, saving themselves in this way.... When God was pleased to show them day and dawn broke, they saw that they were near the rock of Cintra, on the coast of the Kingdom of Portugal.

Here the Admiral found himself compelled to come to land, in great fear and dread of the local inhabitants and the sailors of that coast, who ran up from all directions to see this ship which had miraculously escaped from the cruel storm....

Sailing up the Tagus on 4 March, the Admiral anchored near Restalo and very quickly sent a message to the Catholic sovereigns.... He also wrote to the King of Portugal requesting permission to anchor near the city, for the place where he then lay was not safe against anyone who might decide to attack him ... in the belief that by harming the Admiral he could impair the victory of the King of Castile." [pp 109-10]

From chapter 41:

"On Tuesday, 5 March, the master of the large ship which the King of Portugal kept at Restalo to guard the harbour came in his armed boat to inform the Admiral that he must accompany him to give an account of his presence to the ministers of the King, as was the custom for any ship reaching Lisbon. " [pp 110-11]

This master of the large ship was Bartolomeo Diaz, who is credited with discovering the Cape of Good Hope five years previously. Not a small feat for those times. There is no mention here if Columbus knew this. Columbus refused to be led anywhere on principle and told Diaz that it would be the same if he sent a steward to be summoned around by anyone. The officer said he could then at least show his patents, the letters of commission from the King and Queen of Castile. This Columbus thought this was reasonable and did so. Then the captain's superior came back when the message was delivered,

"... to the Admiral's caravel to the accompaniment of trumpets, fifes and drums and with a grand escort and greeted the Admiral ceremoniously, making him many offers of service.

Next day, when the Admiral's arrival from the Indies had become known in Lisbon, so many people came to the caravel to see the Indians he had brought back and so learn the news that there was not room for them all, and the sea could not be seen for the great number of Portuguese boats and launches. Some of the Portuguese gave thanks to God for this great victory but others were unhappy and greatly disappointed that this triumph had slipped out of their hands owing to their King's doubts and under-estimation of the enterprise. The day passed amidst a crowd of visitors." [p. 111]

The next day Columbus got an invite from the King of Portugal offering congratulation and that if he might wish for anything, that it should be provided for him. Columbus thought it prudent to see this King in the event that there ever was a conflict over state rights over these discovered lands, then he should at least state his case to that King. To prove the case before the King that he had discovered lands that were not under the jurisdiction of Portugal, seemed, for Columbus, the honorable thing to do, according to his charge.

quotes and stories from:"The Life of the Admiral By His Son"  in  The Four Voyages, Christopher Columbus, edited, translated and with an introduction by JM Cohen, for The Penguin Group, London, 1969