Melissa’s Soapbox

On the main highway in Panama City, a monument of Balboa looks out over the Pacific Ocean, old town, and the skyline. 

Born to a middle class family, Balboa was 17 years old when Columbus reached America in 1492.  Inspired by exploration as well as tales of fame and wealth, Balboa joined an expedition to the New World in 1501 to the northern coast of modern day Colombia.  After failing to start a settlement due to a lack of food and resources, the expedition headed to Hispaniola where Balboa raised pigs without real success or personal fulfillment.

Balboa’s debtors prevented him from joining a Spanish expedition to mainland South America in 1509, but in 1510, he secretly stowed away on a cargo ship.  Upon arrival, the settlers reported a lack of food and hostile Indians, so Balboa suggested a move to the western side of the gulf which eventually became the city of Darién, Panama.  Balboa became the unofficial governor, led expeditions, and conquered the Indians.

Balboa’s claim to the governorship was weak since the King of Spain had not approved the title, and Balboa sought a spectacular success to impress King Ferdinand and win his approval.  Thus, Balboa led an expedition of about 90 Spaniards and many Indians to find the sea on the other side of the Isthmus of Panama along with gold, and other riches to the south (referring to the Incas of Peru) as told by local Indian lore.  After significant hardships trekking through the Panamanian jungle, Balboa instructed the group to stay behind as he climbed a mountain peak.  On September 13, 1513, after reaching the peak, Balboa became the first European to see the Pacific Ocean claiming it and everything it touched for the King of Spain.  (The Pacific was actually named by the Portuguese explorer, Magellan.)

However, before news of Balboa’s accomplishment reached the King, Ferdinand appointed an elderly nobleman named Pedro Arias Dávila to be the new governor of Darién.  Once the King learned of Balboa’s discovery of the Pacific Ocean, he appointed Balboa to serve under Dávila as governor of Panama.  Unfortunately for Balboa, Dávila was a jealous man who did not like seeing the growing popularity and influence which Balboa was developing.  In 1518, Governor Dávila falsely accused Balboa of treason, arrested him, ordered a speedy trial and sentenced Balboa to death.  In January 1519, Balboa and four friends were beheaded.

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