Vasco Núñez de Balboa

c. 1475 – January 1519

Vasco Núñez de Balboa (c. 1475-1519) was a Spanish explorer, conquistador, and colonial governor who in 1513 became the first European to sight the Pacific Ocean from the Americas, crossing the Isthmus of Panama and claiming the sea for Spain. He co-founded Santa María la Antigua del Darién, the first stable European settlement on the American mainland. He was executed in 1519 after being convicted of treason by his rival, Governor Pedrarias Dávila.

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Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Vasco Núñez de Balboa.

Life events

Born in Jerez de los Caballeros, Spain
c. 1475

Balboa was born around 1475 in Jerez de los Caballeros in Extremadura to an impoverished noble family.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Sailed to the New World with Rodrigo de Bastidas
1500

Balboa joined Bastidas's expedition that explored the Caribbean coast of present-day Colombia and Panama.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Settled on Hispaniola as a planter
c. 1505

Balboa tried farming on Hispaniola but fell into debt, which he later fled by stowing away on a ship.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Stowed away on an expedition to the Gulf of Urabá
1510

Escaping his creditors, Balboa hid aboard a relief expedition led by Martín Fernández de Enciso and soon became a leading figure among the colonists.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Co-founded Santa María la Antigua del Darién
1510

On Balboa's advice the colonists founded Santa María la Antigua del Darién, the first enduring European settlement on the mainland of the Americas.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Became interim governor of Veragua (Darién)
1511

Balboa took control of the colony and was recognized as interim governor and captain-general by the Spanish crown.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Led an expedition across the Isthmus of Panama
1 September 1513

Balboa set out from Darién with Spaniards and indigenous guides to cross the isthmus in search of a great sea reported to the south.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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First European to sight the Pacific Ocean from the Americas
25 September 1513

From a peak in Darién, Balboa sighted the Pacific, which he named the South Sea and claimed for the Spanish crown days later.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Superseded as governor by Pedrarias Dávila
June 1514

The new governor Pedrarias Dávila arrived in Darién, beginning a rivalry with Balboa despite Balboa's betrothal to Pedrarias's daughter.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Arrested, convicted of treason, and executed at Acla
January 1519

Arrested by Francisco Pizarro on Pedrarias's orders, Balboa was tried for treason and beheaded in January 1519.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Death ✓