Balboa's Childhood

I was born in 1475 in the town of Jerez de los Caballeros in the Spanish providence of Extremdura, near the border with Portugal. My father, Don Nuño Arias de Balboa, was an impoverished knight. I remember the days that my family was wealthy and powerful, but the times have changed and both our wealth and power are gone. Because I was born poor but of a noble family I was sent to serve as a page in a wealthy household. At the age of six I was answering to a nobleman by the name of Don Pedro Puertocarrero. The stories of he newly discovered lands sparked great interest in my young and ambitious mind.

Balboa's First Expedition

Every expedition that was made had to be approved by the endless underlings of the King. In the year of 1500 in June Rodrigo de Bastidas was granted a license to explore the coast of South American mainland, called the Venezuela. I immediately signed on the expedition as an escudero. During Bastidas' expedition we were allowed to explore wherever we desired as long as there  was not another explorer was there. We had to make sure that a quinto of what was traded with the natives was sent to the King. We set sail to the New World in early 1501. There were around fifty men including Bastidas partner, Juan de la Cosa, there were also a couple of women on the nao. We arrived in the New World on an island but Bastidas felt it held little fortune, so we quickly set sail once again.

Gulf of Urabá

It has been a couple of weeks now and we're sailing along the northern coast of Southern America. We do a lot of trading with the native americans. Not all the native americans are friendly, we have had occasional fights with them before being able to settle down on the eastern gulf of Urabá. They are willing to trade with us but at times become hostile. It has come to my attention that the natives on the western side of Darien the locals are much more friendlier then our neighbors. 

Left Standed

As we left Isthmus we came to the discovery that two of our vessels have been infested with all types of parasites that ate through the wooden hulls. It was decided to sail to the island Hispaniola, we hoped to reach the city of Santo Domingo before the ship sank underneath us. In February of 1502 our expedition was shortened and we fled to shore. Unfortunately the governor was not as friendly as we would have hoped for him to be. He accused Bastidas of trading illegally in the New World. He proceeded to confiscate what we had left of goods and money. They have left us stranded in the Americas and bankrupt. I don't know what we will do from now on.

Stowaway

My dreams of fast money have quickly vanished. I have settled in Salvatierra de La Sabana. I spend most of my time if not all of it hiding from the creditors rather then looking after my hogs. I have not yet planed a way to get out of debt but I have been pondering of way to get out of Santo Domingo. I have herd rumors of an explorer setting sail in the coming month. I have hidden myself and my dog Leoncido in a floor barrel. The nao is under the command of Martin Fernandez de Enciso. I later learned that he has been sent by the spanish government to relieve the town of San Sebastian. At the beginning Enciso was upset to find me and my companion on his vessel but he later saw I am a good leader. I also noticed the men on board also appreciated my earlier experience with the area and being a soldier.

San Sebastian

San Sebastian is a town that has been built by the Spanish near the gulf of Urabá. The governor has fled the town after a horrific battle with the locals. He has left the colony in the hands of Francisco Pizarro. Like Ojeda, Pizarro left the town and has now joined us near Cartagena. Tension has been growing between Pizarro and Enciso. Enciso has even accused Pizarro and his men of cowardice and treason. Although he has agreed to take them back with us to Panama. When we arrived what was left of the town were ruins. San Sebastian was no longer, everything was burned to ashes after Pizarro left. I have convinced both Enciso and Pizarro that the best thing to do is relocate the colony on the western side of Darien. I had remembered about the friendly locals that I had encountered before and mentioned it to them.

Arrival at Darien

As soon as we arrived at the area the natives american fled. We have moved into the houses. Enciso named the settlement El Guardia, but I have chosen to rename the town Santa Marta del Antigua del Darien. Because Enciso has been losing his admiration by the colonist they have been considering me a better leader. I have been elected as alcalde of Santa Marta, along with my friend Benito Palazuelos. Enciso's power is deteriorating and the people no longer wish for the colony to be under his command. He has accused me of rebelling against his authority. It is now the spring of 1511, and the people of Santa Marta are fed up with Enciso and have him arrested for a list of crimes. He will be shipped tomorrow morning to the island of Hispaniola. I will use the admiration the people have for me to make myself the Captain-General and Governor. So far the people have accepted being under my command and I have tried to keep a peaceful relationship with the native americans.

Interaction with Chima

It is May and I had planned an expedition oh one hundred men to accompany me on my exploration to Careta. I am hoping to find the local native chieftain Chima. I had herd interesting stories of him. We have arrived at that village but I have been informed by his people that he if off fighting with another chief named Ponca. To my surprise I have discovered other spaniards living with Chima's people after a being stranded there during an earlier expedition. I am extremely impressed by their kindness and hospitality toward my fellow countrymen. Chima and I have formed an alliance he has decided to convert to Christianity, and has been baptized with the name of Don Fernando. We have also agreed that Careta will claer land in order for us to farm. In return I have promised the support of my soldiers to fight Ponca.I will even wed with one of Chima's daughters.

Balboa's First Sight of The Pasific

We have reached a village called Comogre, and surprisingly the chief's name is also Comogre. I must admit it has made it somewhat hard to differentiate who they speak of. Comogre has hosted a large fast for us and the amount and quality of thefood and decorations that they have prepared for us has impressed me and my men very much. The son of Comogre, Ponquiaco, has brought to my attention where they get their gold from, Tubanamá. I have also been told of the land to the South called Birú. We have explored the area and I have found that there is also a large body of water. I will shortly return to Santa Marta with high hopes of making small expeditions to this land full of gold. 

Return to Santa Marta

On my return to Santa Marta I came across a fleet that has arrived from Spain with a royal representative. His name is Juan de Valdivia and he has come to collect the Crown's quinto. To the best of my interest he has announced that I have been approved as the leader of the Spanish colony here in Panama. I will request that the King send one thousand men and weapons to make our voyage to the Southern Ocean. I know that we will find a shorter route to these spices of the Indies. 

The Local Natives Turn On Balboa

The local natives have been rebelling and are now planing to burn Santa Marta down. The residents have also rebelled against me. They have accused me of being a bullying, despotic leader. I feel as though my time here is up , but I do not seem to comprehend the peoples' rebellion. They have sent Juan de Quicedo and Rodrigo de Colmensres to Hispaniola for they fear not to hear from Spain. Most of the people in the colony have turned against me, and it has been brought to my attention that I will have to answer to my treatment to Enciso. I have made plans to set out for the Southern Sea on my own before Quicedo and Colmensres arrive to arrest me.

Balboa Leaves Santa Marta

I have chosen a couple of my most loyal soldiers and we will be setting sail in September. My great friend Chima has provided me with some of his guides. We are sailing along the cost of Darien. It seems as if we have come to a slow stop, the Isthmus is the narrowest part. It has taken us about five full days to advance thirty miles. It is September 27, 1513 and I have seen a vast body of water. With my sword and banner at hand I will claim Mar del Sur in Spain's name. The walk back to Santa Marta has been as bad as the march through the ocean. My men are fatigued and their spirits are low. 

Balboa's End

I'm a man of my word therefore I am engaging in a fight with Tubanamá. I have promised Ponquiaco that I would do so. We have been victorious in the battle with Tubanamá and we will ransom the chief for a large amount of gold. I am coming down with a high fever and my health has been weakened. My men are forced to carry me back to Santa Marta. We have returned and to Santa Marta and it has been brought to my attention that I am being accused of usurping command of the colony and being disloyal to the Crown. I have tried my hardest to work with Pedrarias but it has been useless, we simply don't might eye to eye. There are new accusations being brought against me. This time I am being accused of starting a rebellion and treason. I refuse to believe that I will be put on trail unjustly. I have insisted that I am innocent of what they accuse me but it has all been in vain. Therefore I accept my sentence. It is the morning of January 21, 1514 and the guard will be escorting me to the public square of Santa Marta to be beheaded.