瓦斯科·努涅斯·德·巴尔沃亚

生平

巴尔沃亚出身低级贵族家庭。1500年去美洲探险。在伊斯帕尼奥拉岛垦荒失败后，随探险队到今哥伦比亚乌拉巴湾。在他的建议下，探险队穿过乌拉巴湾去到巴拿马地峡的达连，建立新大陆第一个永久性殖民地－圣玛丽亚-拉安蒂瓜德尔达里恩。1511年西班牙国王费南多二世正式任命他为圣玛丽亚-拉安蒂瓜德尔达里恩临时总督和军事指挥官。他分化印第安人，软硬兼施，掠夺、剥削和欺诈印第安人。他从印第安人得知，南方有大海，大海之滨遍地黄金。巴尔沃亚派密使回西班牙，要求派遣援军远征。但当时西班牙国王听信谗言，不再信任他，于是任命佩德罗·阿里亚斯·达维拉为舰队司令兼任总督。巴尔沃亚未待援军到达，于1513年9月1日率队出发，于9月25日（一说27日）登上丘库纳克河沿岸的山顶，见到了太平洋，当时称为“南海”（相对于北海，即加勒比海）。几天后到达太平洋沿岸的圣米格尔湾。这个巨大发现使得他重新获得国王的信任，被任命为南海地区和巴拿马与科伊瓦省的总督，但仍受佩德罗·阿里亚斯·达维拉管辖。巴尔沃亚与其长期不和，1519年被后者以叛乱、卖国等罪名斩首。

Vasco Núñez de Balboa (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈbasko ˈnuɲeθ ðe βalˈβo.a]; c. 1475 – around January 12–21, 1519) was a Spanish explorer, governor, conquistador, adelantado, and a pirate. He is best known for being the first European to discover the Pacific Ocean while crossing the Isthmus of Panama in 1513.

He traveled to the New World in 1500 and, after some exploration, settled on the island of Hispaniola. He founded the settlement of Santa María la Antigua del Darién in present-day Colombia in 1510, which was the first permanent European settlement on the mainland of the Americas (a settlement by Alonso de Ojeda the previous year at San Sebastián de Urabá had already been abandoned).

Early life

Balboa was born in Jerez de los Caballeros, Spain. He was a descendant of the Lord mason of the castle of Balboa, on the borders of León and Galicia. His mother was the Lady de Badajoz, and his father was the hidalgo (nobleman) Nuño Arias de Balboa.……

Early career

In 1500, motivated by his master after the news of Christopher Columbus's voyages to the New World became known, he decided to embark on his first voyage to the Americas, along with Juan de la Cosa, on Rodrigo de Bastidas' expedition.……

The founding of Santa María

Balboa suggested that the settlement of San Sebastián be moved to the region of Darién, to the west of the Gulf of Urabá, where the soil was more fertile and the natives presented less resistance.……

Mayor of Santa María

The victory of Balboa and his army over the natives and the founding of Santa María la Antigua del Darién, now located in a relatively calm region, earned Balboa authority and respect among his companions.……

Governor of Veragua

Enrique de Colmenares found Nicuesa near the town of Nombre de Dios, badly wounded and with few men remaining, on account of a skirmish with local natives. After his rescue, Governor Nicuesa heard about Balboa's exploits, the chieftain Cémaco's bounty, and Santa María's prosperity.……

Conquistador

With the title of governor came absolute authority in Santa María and all of Veragua. One of Balboa's first acts as governor was the trial of Fernández de Enciso, accused of usurping the governor's authority. Fernández de Enciso was sentenced to prison and his possessions were confiscated.……

European discovery of the Pacific Ocean

Balboa received the unexpected news of a new kingdom – rich in gold – with great interest. He returned to Santa María at the beginning of 1513 to recruit more men from Hispaniola. There he learned that Fernández de Enciso had told the colonial authorities what had happened at Santa María.……

Possession and conquest of the South Sea

After the moment of discovery, the expedition descended from the mountain range towards the sea, arriving in the lands of cacique Chiapes, who was defeated after a brief battle and invited to join the expedition. From Chiapes' land, three groups departed in the search for routes to the coast.……

Disputes with Pedro Arias

The accusations of Fernández de Enciso, whom Balboa had deposed, and the removal and disappearance of Governor Ojeda, forced the king to name Pedro Arias de Ávila as governor of the newly created province of Castilla de Oro.……

Downfall and death

At that point, the rivalry between Balboa and Pedrarias ceased abruptly, due in large part to the intercession of Bishop de Quevedo and Isabel de Bobadilla, who arranged for Balboa's marriage to María de Peñalosa, one of Pedrarias' daughters, who was in Spain.……

Legacy

Although Balboa was executed by Spanish authorities, operated as a pirate, and is alleged to have used dogs to commit brutal executions against indigenous people, his actions and deeds are remembered by history as the first European to cross America.……