Christopher Columbus was Polish, not Portuguese: Historian

London, Nov 30 (ANI): A new book has suggested that the man credited with discovering America was actually the son of exiled Polish King Vladislav III and not the son of a humble craftsman from Italy.

The origins of Christopher Columbus have long been a subject of speculation. Academics have now concluded that the explorer was actually a Polish immigrant, reports the Daily Mail.

Manuel Rosa, an academic in Duke University, has revealed fresh evidence about the explorer's background in his new book.

He said the voyager was not from a family of humble Italian craftsmen as previously thought - but the son of Vladislav III, an exiled King of Poland.

"The sheer weight of the evidence presented makes the old tale of a Genoese wool-weaver so obviously unbelievable that only a fool would continue to insist on it," said Rosa.

The academic argued that the only way Columbus persuaded the King of Spain to fund his journey across the Atlantic Ocean was because he was royalty himself. He hid the true identity of his Polish biological father from most people during his lifetime.

Other historians first doubted Columbus' Polish roots, but Rosa's findings have been steadily gaining followers as the evidence comes to light.

"This book will forever change the way we view our history," said Portuguese historian Prof. Jose Carlos Calazans.

Until now, it was believed that Columbus, who was born in the Italian city of Genoa in 1451, was the son of Domenico Columbo, who was a weaver and had a cheese stall in a market in the city. (ANI)