Francisco de Bobadilla

Francisco de Bobadilla (*, ? † 1502) was a Spanish colonial administrator, coroner and governor of the West Indies. He sat from Christopher Columbus as Viceroy and left him, together with his two brothers Diego and Bartolomeo, put in chains and sent back to Spain.

Life and work

Early years

Date of birth and place of birth of Bobadilla are not known. However, he came from Aragon and was probably a long-time favorite of the royal family. In addition, there are many indications that he was a knight of Calatrava.

Mismanagement in the colonies

After the Second Voyage of Christopher Columbus, in the La Isabela with a settlement colony in the New World was first established, it was heaped to complaints about the authoritarian style of leadership of the brothers Columbus and the alleged mismanagement in the colonies. Several times risen armed colonists against the viceroy and forced concessions and more autonomy. Finally, even if unfounded, allegations of, Columbus had embezzled gold and pearls and findings -serviced in their own pockets.

However, the Catholic Monarchs had a strong interest in keeping the economic and political control over the newly discovered territories in the New World. They therefore decided to investigate the incidents in detail and - initially rather reluctantly - Columbus depose as governor and viceroy.

The coroner and governor

To this end, on May 21, 1499 Francisco de Bobadilla governor of the overseas territories (Las Indias ) and Coroner ( juez pisquisidor ) appointed and equipped with all the royal powers. However, the crown hesitated for one more year with the implementation of this decision, so that Bobadilla only on 23 August 1500 with two caravels, 500 soldiers and 14 originally enslaved by Columbus Taínos, who were sent by Queen Isabella I returned to their homeland, Santo Domingo reached on the island of Hispaniola. After trying one months vain Columbus to persuade them to resign as governor and viceroy voluntarily, he allowed Christopher Columbus and his two brothers, Bartholomew and Diego put in chains, confiscated their property, and sent them back to Spain. There, Columbus had to answer before the bishop and statesman Juan Rodríguez de Fonseca, who was to rise to the highest authority of all the affairs of the Spanish colonies overseas soon.

However, due to Bobadilla failed to pacify the newly discovered territories, and to bring the insurgent colonists within the meaning of the crown of the Spanish central government, he was replaced as governor in 1502 by Nicolás de Ovando.

Return to Europe and death at sea

On his return to Europe Bobadilla's ship ran into a hurricane; he drowned. Ironically, it was precisely the rehabilitated Christopher Columbus, who had warned as an experienced sailor in front of a looming hurricane and strongly discouraged by a phasing out of the fleet.

Bobadilla discovered the gold deposits of San Cristoforo and started their exploitation, which was continued by his successors.