Christopher Columbus married Felipa Moniz Perestrelo in 1477. She died approximately two or three years later giving birth to their son, who was christened Diego.
Columbus's wife was from a fairly well-placed family with some maritime connections, which were useful to the explorer. Five or six years following the death of his wife, Columbus began living with Beatriz Enríquez de Trasierra. She bore the explorer a second son, Fernando. Columbus began his first, and perhaps best known, voyage in 1492. King Ferdinand of Aragon and Queen Isabelle of Castille, were the patrons of this voyage, which was intended to find a shorter route to eastern Asia.
