Is May 1506 Columbus Military Codicil in Prayer Book Found 1780 Fake?

Summary: Is May 1506 Columbus Military Codicil in a prayer book discovered circa 1780 by Spanish Jesuit priest Juan Andrés in Rome's Corsiniana Library a fake?

portrait of Spanish Jesuit priest Juan Andrés y Morell (Feb. 15, 1740-Jan. 12, 1817) by Valencian painter Andrés Crua (1780-1823) and Valencian engraver Manuel Peleguer y Tossar (1759-1831); "P. Juan Andres de la Comp.a. de Jesus. Director por el Emperador de Austria de la Universid.e de Pavia y Prefecto por el Duque de Prama y el Rey de Napoles de sus Bibliotecas sumam.te celebrado por los sabios por su universal instruccion y excelencia de sus obras. Nacio en Planes R.no de Val.a en 1740 y murio en Roma 1817" ("Fr. Juan Andrés of the Society of Jesus. Director by the Emperor of Austria of the University of Pavia and Prefect by the Duke of Prama and the King of Naples of their Libraries, highly celebrated by scholars for his universal instruction and excellence of his works. He was born in Planes Reino de Valencia in 1740 and died in Rome in 1817"): Public Domain Mark 1.0, via Biblioteca Valenciana Digital

Is the May 1506 Columbus Military Codicil written in a prayer book discovered circa 1780 by Spanish Jesuit priest Juan Andrés in Rome's Corsiniana Library a fake?

Spanish Jesuit priest and scholar Juan Andrés y Morell (Catalan: Joan Andrés i Morell; Italian: Giovanni Andrés; Spanish: Juan Andrés y Morell; Feb. 15, 1740-Jan. 12, 1817) was exiled to Italy with Spain's 1767 expulsion of the Society of Jesus (Catalan: La Companyia de Jesús; Italian: La Compagnia di Gesù; Latin: Societas Iesu S.I.; Societaas Jesu S.J.; Spanish: La Compañía de Jesús). The Italianized Spanish exilee discovered a breviary in the Corsiniana Library (Italian: Biblioteca Corsiniana), housed in Rome's late-baroque Palazzo Corsini (Catalan: El Palau Corsini; Italian: Palazzo Corsini alla Lungara; Spanish: El Palacio Corsini). The princely Florentine Corsini family's palatial Roman estate is located in the city's 13th rione (administrative unit; R. XIII), the multicultural Trastevere section.

A military codicil, dated May 4, 1506, seemingly was entered on the back of page 63 in the breviary by late 15th-century to early 16th-century explorer and navigator Christopher Columbus (Catalan: Cristòfor Colom; Italian: Cristoforo Colombo; Portuguese: Cristóvão Colombo; Spanish: Cristóbal Colón; ca. 1446/1451-May 20, 1506). Padre Andrés made his discovery circa 1780, according to Catalonian historical researcher Francesc Albardaner (born June 30, 1949) in "The Columbus Will of 1502 and Three Additional Wills, Of Which Some Are Legal and Others Fake" (page 7), published in English via ResearchGate in January 2020. (This article's Catalan original, “Luis Ulloa i els testaments de Colom," was published in the març 2008 [March 2008] issue of Butlletí del Centre d’Estudis Colombins, núm. 42).

The exiled Jesuit's find of the military codicil (Codicillus more militum Xfori Columbi) dated to about 1785, according to American short-story writer, historian and statesman Washington Irving (April 3, 1783-Nov. 28, 1859) in his 1828-published, best-selling biography, A History of the Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus (vol. IV, page 134). "An informal codicil, executed by Columbus at Valladolid, May 4th, 1506, sixteen days before his death, was discovered about 1785, in the Corsini library at Rome," the Rip Van Winkle (1819) and Sleepy Hollow (1820) author noted. He explained the designation of "military codicil" as derived from civil law's allowance of executing "such an instrument" to a soldier "on the eve of battle, or in expectation of death."

Padre Andrés appreciately described his find in a letter, dated Dec. 8, 1785, from Mantua in north central Italy's Lombardy province, to his brother, Valencian lawyer and politician Carlos Andrés y Morell (Catalan, Valencian: Carles Andrés i Morell; 1753-Jan. 5, 1820). Carlos Andrés published the letter as "Carta VI Carta Sexta" (pages 153-189) in the first (1786) of five volumes of Cartas Familiares del Abate D. Juan Andrés a su Hermano D. Carlos Andrés.

Padre Andrés praised the Corsini Library for the rich uniqueness of its holdings ("Varios libros que no habia podido hallar en las bibliotecas mas ricas tuve el gusto de verlos en ésta"; page 178). He enthused about the breviary with its codicil. "Vi con gusto un oficio de la Virgen que usó Colon, y en él un codicilo que escribió de su propio puño, usando del privilego militar" (page 179; "I saw with pleasure a Divine Office of the Virgin that Columbus used, and in it a codicil that he wrote with his own hand, using the military privilege").

Irving erroneously identified "Pope Alexander VII" (page 135) as the gifter of the breviary to Christopher Columbus. Pope Alexander VII (Italian: Alessandro VII; Spanish: Alejandro VII; born Fabio Chigi; Feb. 13, 1599-May 22, 1667). The Sienese House of Chigi descendant was born almost 92 and three-fourths years after Columbus's death, and his papacy (April 7, 1655-his death) began almost 148 years 11 months after the explorer's death.

The codicil commences with acknowledgment of Pope Alexander VI as the source of the breviary. Pope Alexander VI (Italian: Alessandro VI; Spanish: Alejandro VI; Valencian: Alexandre VI; born Rodrigo de Borja; Jan. 1, 1431-Aug. 18, 1503) began his papacy Aug. 11, 1492, eight days after Columbus set sail, Aug. 3, 1492, from southwestern Spain's Andalusian port of Palos de la Frontera on his first westerly trans-Atlantic voyage of discovery.

Written in Latin, the codicil's text is arrayed over 17 lines (see image below). A space intervenes between the text and Columbus's three-line signature. Italian historian and librarian Francesco Girolamo Cancellieri (Oct. 10, 1751-Dec. 29, 1826) published the codicil in 1809 as the first entry in Notizie Storiche e Bibliografiche di Cristoforo Colombo di Cuccaro nel Monferrato Discopritore dell'America.

The codicil's author expresses gratitude for the great comfort provided to him by the Pope Alexander VI-gifted prayer book ("Precum Libello") during his captivity, battles and adversities ("summum mihi prebente solatiumin captivitate, prelijs et adversitatibus meis"). He recalls the Republic of Genoa (Italian: Repubblica di Genova; Latin: Res Publica Ianuensis; Ligurian: Repúbrica de Zêna; 11th century-June 14, 1797) as his most beloved fatherland ("amantissimae meae Patriae Reipublicae Genuensi") and directs building of a new hospital, for better support of the poor in his fatherland, from his revenues ("volo ex annuis meis redditibus erigi ibidem novum Hospitale, ac pro pauperum in patria meliori sustentatione"). The codicil ends with designating, as legal successor in the absence of a male successor in the author's lineage, Genoa, under the epithet of the Republic of Saint George, in reference to the city's patronage of Saint George ("deficiente linea mea masculina, in Admiralatu meo Indiarum et annexis, iuxta privilegia dicti Rectis, in successorem declaro et substituo eandem Rempublicam Sancti Georgii"; page 3).

Is the May 1506 bequeathal, written as a military codicil in a prayer book found circa 1780 to 1785 in Rome's Corsini Library, fake or genuine? Francesc Albardaner considers the codicil as part of the questionably continuous "crescendo" of Genoa-promoting documents and letters (page 9). Washington Irving noted the questioning of the codicil's authenticity but dismissively assessed: "The objections are not cogent" (page 135).

representation (not original) of May 1506 Columbus Military Codicil (Codicillili more Militari Xfori Columbi); F. Cancellieri, Notizie Storiche e Bibliografiche di Cristoforo Colombo (1809), page 3: Public Domain Mark 1.0, via Internet Archive

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

portrait of Spanish Jesuit priest Juan Andrés y Morell (Feb. 15, 1740-Jan. 12, 1817) by Valencian painter Andrés Crua (1780-1823) and Valencian engraver Manuel Peleguer y Tossar (1759-1831); "P. Juan Andres de la Comp.a. de Jesus. Director por el Emperador de Austria de la Universid.e de Pavia y Prefecto por el Duque de Prama y el Rey de Napoles de sus Bibliotecas sumam.te celebrado por los sabios por su universal instruccion y excelencia de sus obras. Nacio en Planes R.no de Val.a en 1740 y murio en Roma 1817" ("Fr. Juan Andrés of the Society of Jesus. Director by the Emperor of Austria of the University of Pavia and Prefect by the Duke of Prama and the King of Naples of their Libraries, highly celebrated by scholars for his universal instruction and excellence of his works. He was born in Planes Reino de Valencia in 1740 and died in Rome in 1817"): Public Domain Mark 1.0, via Biblioteca Valenciana Digital @ https://bivaldi.gva.es/es/consulta/registro.cmd?id=1797; Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Juan_Andrés_(1740-1817).jpg

representation (not original) of May 1506 Columbus Military Codicil (Codicillili more Militari Xfori Columbi); F. Cancellieri, Notizie Storiche e Bibliografiche di Cristoforo Colombo (1809), page 3: Public Domain Mark 1.0, via Internet Archive @ https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_rSCnvSdfkqcC/page/n4/mode/1up

For further information:

Albardaner, Francesc. "The Columbus Will of 1502 and Three Additional Wills, Of Which Some Are Legal and Others Fake." ResearchGate. January 2020.
Available via ResearchGate @ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339513424_THE_COLUMBUS_WILL_OF_1502_AND_THREE_ADDITIONAL_WILLS_OF_WHICH_SOME_ARE_LEGAL_AND_OTHERS_FAKE

Albardaner i Llorens, Francesc. "Luis Ulloa i els testaments de Colom." Butlletí del Centre d’Estudis Colombins, Any XV, núm. 42 (març 2008): 6 pages.
Available via Centre d'Estudis Colombins de Barcelona @ http://www.colomcatala.cat/documents/butlleti42.pdf

Andrés, Juan. Cartas familiares del Abate D. Juan Andrés a su hermano D. Carlos Andrés dándole noticia del viage que hizo a varias ciudades de Italia en el año 1785, publicadas por el mismo D. Carlos. Tomo I. Madrid: Don Antonio de Sancha, MDCCLXXXVI [1786].
Available via HathiTrust @ https://hdl.handle.net/2027/ucm.5314295360?urlappend=%3Bseq=7%3Bownerid=22279950-11

Andrés, Juan. "La biblioteca de casa Corsini tambien es pública, y en mi concepto la mas abundante de libros entre todas las bibliogtecas de particulares. Varios libros que no habia podido hallar en las bibliotecas mas ricas tuve el gusto de verlos en ésta. . . ." Page 178; Mantua á 8 de Diciembre de 1785. Cartas familiares del Abate D. Juan Andrés a su hermano D. Carlos Andrés dándole noticia del viage que hizo a varias ciudades de Italia en el año 1785, publicadas por el mismo D. Carlos. Tomo I, Carta VI Carta Sexta, pages 153-189. Madrid: Don Antonio de Sancha, MDCCLXXXVI [1786].
Available via HathiTrust @ https://hdl.handle.net/2027/ucm.5314295360?urlappend=%3Bseq=190%3Bownerid=22279950-2267

Andrés, Juan. ". . . . Vi con guesto un oficio de la Virgen que usó Colon, y en él un codicilo que escribió de su propio puño, usando del privilego militar; y lo tuve mayor de ver las muchas y buenas estampas, que forman algunos centenares de gruesos tomos en folio." Page 179; Mantua á 8 de Diciembre de 1785. Cartas familiares del Abate D. Juan Andrés a su hermano D. Carlos Andrés dándole noticia del viage que hizo a varias ciudades de Italia en el año 1785, publicadas por el mismo D. Carlos. Tomo I, Carta VI Carta Sexta, pages 153-189. Madrid: Don Antonio de Sancha, MDCCLXXXVI [1786].
Available via HathiTrust @ https://hdl.handle.net/2027/ucm.5314295360?urlappend=%3Bseq=191%3Bownerid=22279950-227

Cancellieri, Francesco. "§ I. Preteso Codicillo Militare di Colombo, conservato nella Biblioteca Corsini, copiato da Monsig. Onorato Gaetani, e trasmesso a Guglielmo Robertson, circa il 1780." Pages 2-4. Notizie Storiche e Bibliografiche di Cristoforo Colombo di Cuccaro nel Monferrato Discopritore dell'America. Roma: Francesco Bourlie, MDCCCIX [1809].
Available via Google Books Read Free of Charge @ https://www.google.com/books/edition/Notizie_storiche_e_bibliografiche_di_Cri/LvRUSiPWgVkC?hl=en&gbpv=1
Available via Internet Archive @ https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_rSCnvSdfkqcC/page/n3/mode/1up

Cancellieri, Francesco. "§ II. La Sottoscrizione di XPOFERENS, in luogo di CHRISTOPHORVS, ne dimostra la falsità, provata con altre ragioni. Scrittori sopra San Cristoforo. Esempj delle parole Christifer, Christiferus, e Chrestiger." Pages 4-7. Notizie Storiche e Bibliografiche di Cristoforo Colombo di Cuccaro nel Monferrato Discopritore dell'America. Roma: Francesco Bourlie, MDCCCIX [1809].
Available via Google Books Read Free of Charge @ https://www.google.com/books/edition/Notizie_storiche_e_bibliografiche_di_Cri/LvRUSiPWgVkC?hl=en&gbpv=1
Available via Internet Archive @ https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_rSCnvSdfkqcC/page/n5/mode/1up

Cancellieri, Francesco. "§ III. Se il Colombo fusse in circostante di usare il Privilegio Militare, di fare il suo Codicillo, senta Legalità? Se sieno più nobili le Armi, o le Lettere? Scrittori sopra il Testamento Militare, ed Olografo." Pages 7-8. Notizie Storiche e Bibliografiche di Cristoforo Colombo di Cuccaro nel Monferrato Discopritore dell'America. Roma: Francesco Bourlie, MDCCCIX [1809].
Available via Google Books Read Free of Charge @ https://www.google.com/books/edition/Notizie_storiche_e_bibliografiche_di_Cri/LvRUSiPWgVkC?hl=en&gbpv=1
Available via Internet Archive @ https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_rSCnvSdfkqcC/page/n8/mode/1up

Cancellieri, Francesco. "§ IV. Qual sia il vero, e legittimo Codicillo di Colombo? Falsità di un supposto Testamento, e di una Lettera, scritta agli Ufficiali di S. Giorgio." Pages 9-10. Notizie Storiche e Bibliografiche di Cristoforo Colombo di Cuccaro nel Monferrato Discopritore dell'America. Roma: Francesco Bourlie, MDCCCIX [1809].
Available via Google Books Read Free of Charge @ https://www.google.com/books/edition/Notizie_storiche_e_bibliografiche_di_Cri/LvRUSiPWgVkC?hl=en&gbpv=1
Available via Internet Archive @ https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_rSCnvSdfkqcC/page/n10/mode/1up

Cancellieri, Francesco. Notizie Storiche e Bibliografiche di Cristoforo Colombo di Cuccaro nel Monferrato Discopritore dell'America. Roma: Francesco Bourlie, MDCCCIX [1809].
Available via Google Books Read Free of Charge @ https://www.google.com/books/edition/Notizie_storiche_e_bibliografiche_di_Cri/LvRUSiPWgVkC?hl=en
Available via Internet Archive @ https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_rSCnvSdfkqcC

Irving, Washington. "An informal codicil, executed by Columbus at Valladolid, May 4th, 1506, sixteen days fore his death, was discovered about 1785, in the Corsini library at Rome. It is termed a military codicil, from being made in the manneer which the civil law allows to the soldier who executes such an instrument on the eve of battle, or in expectation of death. It was written on the blank page of a little breviary presented to Columbus by Pope Alexander VII. Columbus leaves the book 'to his beloved country, the Republic of Genoa.' He directs the erection of a hospital in that city for the poor, with provision for its support; and he declares that republic his successor in the admiralty of the Indies, in the event of his male line becoming extinct." Pages 134-138. A History of the Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus. Vol. IV. Appendix: No. V Birthplace of Columbus, pages 123-138. London: John Murray, MDCCCXXVIII [1828].
Available via Internet Archive @ https://archive.org/details/historyoflifevoy04irvi/page/134/mode/1up

Irving, Washington. "An informal codicil, executed by Columbus at Valladolid, May 4th, 1506, sixteen days before his death, was discovered about 1785, in the Corsini library at Rome. . . . He directs the erection of a hospital in that city for the poor, with provision for its support; and he declares that republic his successor in the admiralty of the Indies, in the event of his male line becoming extinct." Page 384. The Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus; To Which Are Added those of His Companions. Author's Revised Edition. Vol. III. Appendix: No. VI Birthplace of Columbus, pages 376-386. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott & Co., 1871.
Available via Google Books Read Free of Charge @ https://www.google.com/books/edition/Works_of_Washington_Irving_Columbus/OW9gn73htKkC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=washington+irving+An+informal+codicil,+executed+by+Columbus+at+Valladolid,+May+4th,+1506,&pg=PA384&printsec=frontcover

Irving, Washington. "The authenticity of this paper has been questioned. It has been said, that there was no probability of Columbus having resort to a usage with which he was, most likely, unacquainted. The objections are not cogent. Columbus was accustomed to the pecualiarities of a military life, and he repeatedly wrote letters in critical moments, as a precaution against some fatal occurrence that seemed to impend The present codicil, from its date, must have been written a few days previous to his death, perhaps at a moment when he imagined himself at extremity. This may account for any difference in the handwriting, especially as he was, at times, so affected by the gout in his hands as not to be able to write except at night. Particular stress has been laid on the signature; but it does not appear, that he was uniform in regard to that, and it is a point to which any one who attempted a forgery would be attentive. it does not appear, likewise, that any advantage could have been obtained by forging the paper, or that any such was attempted. In 1502, when Columbus was about to depart on his fourth and last voyage, he wrote to his friend, Doctor Nicolo Oderigo, formerly ambassador from Genoa to Spain, and forward to him copies of all his grants and commissions from the Spanish sovereigns, authenticated before the alcaldes of Seville. He, at the same time, wrote to the bank of San Giorgio, at Genoa, assigning a tenth of his revenues to the paid to that city in diminution of the duties on corn, wine, and other provisions. . . ." Page 135-138. A History of the Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus. Vol. IV. Appendix: No. V Birthplace of Columbus, pages 135-138. London: John Murray, MDCCCXXVIII [1828].
Available via Internet Archive @ https://archive.org/details/historyoflifevoy04irvi/page/135/mode/1up

Irving, Washington. "The authenticity of this paper has been questioned. . . . He, at the same time, wrote to the bank of San Giorgio, at Genoa, assigning a tenth of his revenues to the paid to that city in diminution of the duties on corn, wine, and other provisions. . . ." Page 384-386. The Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus; To Which Are Added those of His Companions. Author's Revised Edition. Vol. III. Appendix: No. VI Birthplace of Columbus, pages 376-386. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott & Co., 1871.
Available via Google Books Read Free of Charge @ https://www.google.com/books/edition/Works_of_Washington_Irving_Columbus/OW9gn73htKkC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=washington+irving+An+informal+codicil,+executed+by+Columbus+at+Valladolid,+May+4th,+1506,&pg=PA384&printsec=frontcover

Irving, Washington. A History of the Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus. Vol. IV. London: John Murray, MDCCCXXVIII [1828].
Available via Internet Archive @ https://archive.org/details/historyoflifevoy04irvi/

Irving, Washington. The Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus; To Which Are Added those of His Companions. Author's Revised Edition. Vol. III. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott & Co., 1871.
Available via Google Books Read Free of Charge @ https://www.google.com/books/edition/Works_of_Washington_Irving_Columbus/OW9gn73htKkC

Marriner, Derdriu. "Christopher Columbus's Wife Was Madeiran But Was He Really Genoese?" Earth and Space News. Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/10/christopher-columbuss-wife-was-madeiran.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Columbus's Ombu Tree From Indies Flourishes at La Cartuja in Seville." Earth and Space News. Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/12/columbuss-ombu-tree-from-indies.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Ferdinand Columbus Biographized His Father as Italian But Born Where?" Earth and Space News. Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/10/ferdinand-columbus-biographized-his.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Lombardy Associates With Columbus and His Wife's Great-Grandparents." Earth and Space News. Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/10/lombardy-associates-with-columbus-and.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Missing Half or Third of Columbus's Personal Papers Includes 1502 Will." Earth and Space News. Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/12/missing-half-or-third-of-columbuss.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Possible Columbus Grandfather João Gonçalves Zarco Discovered Madeira." Earth and Space News. Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/11/possible-columbus-grandfather-joao.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Second of Four Columbus Wills Likely Was Genuine But Has Disappeared." Earth and Space News. Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/11/second-of-four-columbus-wills-likely.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Secrets & Lies Finds Duke of Beja Perhaps Fathered Christopher Columbus." Earth and Space News. Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/11/secrets-lies-finds-duke-of-beja-perhaps.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Statue in Cuba, Portugal, Honors Columbus as Salvador Fernandes Zarco." Earth and Space News. Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/11/statue-in-cuba-portugal-honors-columbus.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Trail of 1502 Columbus Will Confuses After 1578 Removal From Monastery." Earth and Space News. Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/12/trail-of-1502-columbus-will-confuses.html

PARES Portal de Archivos Españoles. "Testamento de Cristóbal Colón: codicilo. Supplied title: Testamento de Cristóbal Colón: codicilo. Reference number: PATRONATO,8,R.4 Date of creation: 1506-05-04. Scope and content: Codicilo de Cristóbal Colón por el cual instituye por única y universal heredera de sus rentas y bienes que posee en Italia, a su patria, la República de Génova, y añade que por falta de su línea masculina, nombra a esta República como heredera de su almirantazgo de las Indias y sus anejidades. Valladolid, 4 de mayo de 1506. Es una copia en latín y castellano. [S.F.-Siglo XVIII]." PARES Portal de Archivos Españoles > PARES Busquedas. Archivo General de Indias.
Available via PARES Portal de Archivos Españoles @ http://pares.mcu.es/ParesBusquedas20/catalogo/description/121320

Scotti, Ángelo Antonio. Elogio Histórico del Padre Juan Andrés de la Compañía de Jesús, Secretario de la Academia de Antiguedades y Bellas Letras y Prefecto de la Real Biblioteca de Nápoles. Valencia: Imprenta de D. Benito Monfort, 1818.
Available via Biblioteca Valenciana Digital @ https://bivaldi.gva.es/es/consulta/registro.cmd?id=1797