Rodrigo de Bastidas

Rodrigo de Bastidas Galván (* 1460 in Triana, Seville, † July 28, 1527 in Santiago de Cuba; alternative birth years: 1445, 1475 ) was a Spanish conqueror.

Life

On June 5, 1500 Rodrigo de Bastidas was granted a license from the Spanish crown, with which he could explore the coast of the New World. In October 1500 he sailed from Spain with two ships going on. He collaborated with Juan de la Cosa. Under his crew also Vasco Núñez de Balboa were a sailor and Andrés Morales. Rodrigo de Bastidas sailed the northern coast of South America to 1501 by the Cabo de la Vela in northern Colombia (west) to the Gulf of Urabá (Gulf of Darien ). He discovered the Isthmus of Panama.

Rodrigo de Bastidas in 1512 was made ​​an honorary citizen of Santo Domingo. On July 29, 1526, he founded the first Spanish city on the South American mainland to Santa Marta. Rodrigo de Bastidas banned the exploitation and pillaging of the Indians. His men did not like this and so Pedro de Villafuerte and other men surprised him during the night and wanted to stab him. Since there was no doctor on the mainland, he had seriously injured sail with his remaining crew to Santo Domingo. Because of bad weather they had on the island of Fernando (now Cuba) land. Catholic priest in Santiago de Cuba took them on and treated him, but still he died on 28 July 1527th Rodrigo de Bastidas was buried in the cathedral in Santiago. His son had him later to Santo Domingo, in whose cathedral he still is today.

Discoveries (selection)

• Gulf of Darién
• Río Magdalena
• Isthmus of Panama