Why Was Christopher Columbus Arrested in 1500?
Christopher Columbus was arrested in 1500 during his third voyage when he returned to Hispaniola and found the colony of Santo Domingo in chaos and disorder. A government representative investigated the problems going on in Hispaniola, and Columbus was arrested for treating Spaniards and locals poorly.
Columbus was sent back to Spain, but he was able to dispute the charges successfully. His third voyage began on May 30, 1498, and took a southern route in search of China. Before returning to Hispaniola on Aug. 31, 1498, and eventually being arrested in 1500, Columbus found Grenada, Margarita and Trinidad and Tobago. Columbus embarked on a fourth and final voyage on May 9, 1502, finding Central America. He died on May 20, 1506, still not able to regain his governorship of Hispaniola.