Bastidas, Rodrigo de

Bastidas, Rodrigo de

(rôthrē`gō dā bästē`thäs), c.1460–1526, Spanish conquistador in Colombia. In 1501, accompanied by BalboaBalboa, Vasco Núñez de
, c.1475–1519, Spanish conquistador, discoverer of the Pacific Ocean. After sailing with Bastidas in 1501, Balboa probably went to Hispaniola. In 1510, fleeing from creditors, he hid on the vessel that took Enciso to Panama.
..... Click the link for more information.
 and Juan de la CosaCosa, Juan de la
, c.1460–1510, Spanish navigator. He sailed with Columbus in 1492 (as pilot of the flagship Santa María) and again in 1498. After accompanying Alonso de Ojeda in 1499, he drew (1500) a world map (a manuscript copy exists in Madrid) that seems
..... Click the link for more information.
, he discovered the mouths of the Magdalena River. Because of difficulties with the Spanish crown, it was 1525 before he returned to found Santa MartaSanta Marta
, city (1993 pop. 270,253), capital of Magdalena dept., N Colombia, a port on the Caribbean Sea. The city's banana industry, operated by the United Fruit Company, is one of the most important in South America. Santa Marta also has fine beaches and is a tourist center.
..... Click the link for more information.
. He prohibited exploitation of Native Americans and so dissatisfied his followers that they tried to murder him. Wounded, he fled to Santo Domingo, but bad weather forced him to land in Cuba, where he died.