Washington Irving Assessed 1506 Columbus Military Codicil as Authentic

Summary: Sleepy Hollow's Washington Irving assessed the 1506 Columbus Military Codicil as authentic in his 1828 best-selling biography of Christopher Columbus.

During his three-year continental tour (1827-1828), genre-scene Scottish painter Sir David Wilkie arrived in October 1827 in Seville, southwestern Spain, where he visited with his friend, American statesman and writer Washington Irving, until returning to the United Kingdom in June 1828; "Washington Irving in the Archives of Seville," 1828-1829 oil on canvas by Sir David (Nov. 18, 1785-June 1, 1841), recalls a visit by the two friends in 1828 to Seville's Archivo General de Indias (AGI; General Archive of the Indies); Leicester Museums & Galleries, East Midlands, central England: CarlosVdeHabsburgo, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Fictional and non-fictional writer Washington Irving assessed the 1506 Columbus Military Codicil as authentic in his January 1828-published best-selling biography, A History of the Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus.

In January 1828, American short-story writer and statesman Washington Irving (April 3, 1783-Nov. 28, 1859) published his four-volume biography of 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). The Rip Van Winkle (1819) and Sleepy Hollow (1820) author explained in his Preface that his initial project, suggested by Alexander Hill Everett (March 19, 1792-June 28, 1847), U.S. Minister Plenipotentiary at Madrid, entailed tackling Columbus by way of translating a forthcoming documental collection of Spain's 15th-century discovery voyages edited by Spanish historian Martín Fernández de Navarrete (Nov. 9, 1765-Oct. 8, 1844). Irving subsequently ascertained the need for a "history itself" rather than "a mass of rich materials for history" (page iv).

Irving explained: "On considering the matter more maturely, I perceived that, although there were many books, in various languages, relative to Columbus, they all contained limited and incomplete accounts of his life and voyages; while numerous valuable tracts on the subject existed only in manuscript, or in the form of letters, journals, and public muniments. It appeared to me that a history, faithfully digested from these various materials, was a desideratum in literature, and would be a more satisfactory occupation to myself, and a more acceptable work to my country, than the translation I had contemplated" (page iv).

Irving noted Spain's "great facilities" as encouraging his undertaking via their informatively valuable collections of "rare and valuable works" (page v). The May 1506 Columbus Military Codicil (Codicillus more militum Xfori Columbi) represents one of the rarities that confronted Irving. The codicil had been found in the late 18th century (ca. 1780 to 1785) in Rome's Baroque-styled Palazzo Corsini's library, Biblioteca Corsiniana.

Irving described the rarity as: "An informal codicil, executed by Columbus at Valladolid, May 4th, 1506, sixteen days before his death, was discovered, about 1785, in the Corsini library in Rome. . . . It was written on the blank page of a little breviary presented to Columbus by Pope Alexander VII" (pages 134-135).

Unfortunately for Irving's readers, the gifter is identified erroneously, whether as a publisher's misprint or as Irving's error. The Alexander-named pope during Columbus's lifetime was Pope Alexander VI (Jan. 1, 1431-Aug. 18, 1503), whose papacy began Aug. 11, 1492. Pope Alexander VII (Feb. 13, 1599-May 22, 1667) was a mid-17th century pope.

Irving's research strategy entailed a diligent collation of ". . . all the works that I could find relative to my subject, in print and manuscript; comparing them, as far as in my power, with original documents, those sure lights of historic research; endeavouring to ascertain the truth amid those contradictions which will inevitably occur, where several persons have recorded the same facts, viewing them from different points, and under the influence of different interests and feelings" (page vii).

"The authenticity of this paper has been questioned" (page 135), noted Irving. He traced claims of inauthenticity to the testament's format, handwriting, signature and Genoa focus.

"The objections are not cogent," Irving assessed (page 135). He particularly linked any contradictions with Columbus's standard practices to the document's creation in proximity to the explorer's death.

Irving dismissed concerns of the military codicil as an "unacquainted" usage for Columbus. Contrarily, "Columbus was accustomed to the peculiarities of a military life, and he repeatedly wrote letters, in critical moments, as a precaution against some fatal occurrence that seemed to impend" (page 135).

The explorer's closeness to death also accounted for handwriting anomalies. Also, Columbus suffered from gout, which sometimes so afflicted his hands that he was ". . . not able to write except at night" (page 136).

Irving found that the stress on the codicil's signature assumed a non-existent uniformity in the explorer's stylized signature. Also, the signature variation ". . . is a point to which any one who attempted a forgery would be attentive." With respect to forgery, Irving continued: "It does not appear likewise that any advantage could have been obtained by forging the paper, or that any such was attempted."

Finally, Irving associated the military codicil's Genoa focus with ". . . the filial tie which links the heart of a man to his native place, however he may be separated from it by time or distance, and however little he may be indebted to it for patronage" (page 137). Irving identified additional contexts for Genoa authored by Columbus as pre-fourth voyage letters. On March 21, 1502, he wrote ". . . to his friend, doctor Nicolo Oderigo, formerly ambassador from Genoa to Spain, and forwarded to him copies of all his grants and commissions from the Spanish sovereigns, authenticated before the alcaldes of Seville." In his letter of April 2, 1502, to Genoa's Bank of St. George (Italian: Casa delle compere e dei banchi di San Giorgio; informally: Ufficio di San Giorgio or Banco), Columbus assigned ". . . a tenth of his revenues to be paid to that city, in diminution of the duties on corn, wine, and other provisions" (page 136).

The May 1506 Columbus Military Codicil named Genoa as legal successor in the event of the demise of the explorer's male line. The explorer's directing of "a mingled sentiment of pride and affection . . . to his native place" culminated in his decision to execute the seemingly unusual May 1506 document (page 137). "These appear to be powerful reasons, drawn from natural feeling, for deciding in favour of Genoa," concluded Irving (page 138).

engraving by H.B. (Henry Bryan) Hall from a drawing of Washington Irving made April 23, 1828, in Seville, southwestern Spain, by genre-scene Scottish painter Sir David Wilkie; New York Public Library Digital Collections, Emmet Collection of Manuscripts Etc. Relating to American History: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Acknowledgment

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

Image credits:

During his three-year continental tour (1827-1828), genre-scene Scottish painter Sir David Wilkie arrived in October 1827 in Seville, southwestern Spain, where he visited with his friend, American statesman and writer Washington Irving, until returning to the United Kingdom in June 1828; "Washington Irving in the Archives of Seville," 1828-1829 oil on canvas by Sir David (Nov. 18, 1785-June 1, 1841), recalls a visit by the two friends in 1828 to Seville's Archivo General de Indias (AGI; General Archive of the Indies); Leicester Museums & Galleries, East Midlands, central England: CarlosVdeHabsburgo, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Washington_Irving_en_los_Archivos_de_Sevilla.jpg

engraving by H.B. (Henry Bryan) Hall from a drawing of Washington Irving made April 23, 1828, in Seville, southwestern Spain, by genre-scene Scottish painter Sir David Wilkie; New York Public Library Digital Collections, Emmet Collection of Manuscripts Etc. Relating to American History: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Washington_Irving_(NYPL_b13512827-420864).tiff

For further information:

Harrisse, Henry. Christopher Columbus and the Bank of Saint George (Ufficio di San Giorgio in Genoa): Two Letters Addressed to Samuel L.M. Barlow, Esquire. London: Privately Printed -- Chiswick Press, C. Wittingham and Co., MDCCCLXXXVIII [1888].
Available via Internet Archive @ https://archive.org/details/christophercolum00harr/

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

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