I've traveled to some amazing Countries but sailing along the Sea of Cortes through Baja California peninsula to snorkel, eat fresh ceviche and do sun salutations at the tropic of cancer was my most intriguing trip. I could feel the magical vortex traveling to the Islands of La Paz, Espiritu, Belandre and La Partida, where the story of Queen Califia began. Since visiting some of the private islands where access is limited to only a few each year for preservation of its eco-system, it inspired me to do months of research to bring you her story.
The evidence I've found from the copper colored complexion of its aboriginals who resembled Melanesians that Anthropologist as well as Ethnographers concluded to the historical context of what was going on at the time Montalvo's famed Book was trending. The months of extensive research I've done studying the reign of other real life warrior Queens and rise of Conquistadors going out with the soul purpose of claiming native territories and treasures makes it very likely this legend was not just a passing figure in a romance novel. There were many seamen outside of they mythical story who documented similar descriptions of Amazonian tribes as well as the brutal realities of their agenda to erase and enslave all indigenous Peoples.
Go with me for a moment to the 1500’s of Spain. It was the Moors, Italians and Christian wars that inspired the rise of Conquistadors. They were raising venture capital to explore new lands, claim those territories in pursuit of returning with riches to build generational wealth that did not include them in the economic structure of society. Many of whom were military veterans.
It was after Christopher Columbus had sent a letter back to Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain who financed the ships that Afro Spanish Explorer, Pedro Alonso Nino navigated. He piloted their first and third voyages to America, before independently seeking other lands outside of the ones with Columbus. Governed by the council of castile, he reported immeasurable riches. Also a letter was sent from Spain then translated into Latin and sent to Rome. It basically stated that the Indigenous Tribes in the West Indies (they thought was Asia) were peaceful People who didn't own weapons, timid and fearful that did not bother them when they were taking gold and collecting plants, birds as well as other exotic things they could show where they had toured.
A few years later after they were sailing towards the Americas, the 5th Novella written by Garcia Rodriquez de Montalvo, in Las Sergas de Esplandian (The Adventures of Esplandian) went viral in the popular published Journal about a mythical Black Queen named Califia, who ruled California. His writings told of many treasures which set off an unprecedented number of military vets going after her who wanted economic stability.
The separation of the have not's from the have mores in their countries were very extreme. They knew the higher society elites were not going to risk their lives going out to sea for months which set up the perfect storm for this new capitalism. So the sea crews being recruited to go was a mix of the uneducated and the unruly who were willing to do any and everything to get to the gold coins. This story fueled their curiosity and hunger for power because they were financially excluded in their homeland . The Men who came from various parts of the country looked at women as second class citizens who were meant to be taken advantage of so this fueled their desire.
Thus, the Terrestrial Paradise they heard about was the motivation. Populated by Black Women described in the book as strong with hardy bodies of ardent courage and great force. Their Island being the strongest in all the World, with it's steep cliffs and rocky shores. Queen Califia was said to be a woman of virtue with a passionate heart. Gold adorned on her arms and the hardness of the wild beast the women rode and tamed.
Now although this was considered to be a "fabled story", it was also common knowledge that these myths were rooted in real life truths that were just sensationalized to make them more engaging for their readers. Books were a big deal back then to get to the top as an Influencer. It was a way to be apart of the higher society events and entertain them in conversation.
Brief history of Legendary Warrior Queens, Pharaohs and Empresses
For some context, It was not unusual for the possibility of a fierce, female Ruler. In the typical history of many Indigenous cultures. Queens ruled along side Kings as equals in leadership roles called consorts, like a yin and yang dynamic, a power couple situation. There were many powerful women Pharaoh's as well as other African, Mayan, Incan, Aztec Queens, Chinese, Japanese Empresses and Indian Warrior Queens who grew to notoriety during their reigns for being great Leaders and some powerful military strategist.
Even with the mission of their enemies to erase their memory, some have been so legendary it has been impossible to deny their popularity. Queens like Kandace, the Empress of Ethiopia, Makeda, the Queen of Sheba, Hatshepsut; Queen of Kemet, Nefertiti, 7 different Cleopatra's, Incan Queen Cura Ocllo (Coya), along with Mayan Queen consorts; Lady Kan IK; Lady Chab Ahab, Lady Pacal, Lady Xoc; Yaxchilan Mayan Civilization, Lady Eveningstar (IK Skull), Lady K'abel, Wu Ahao, Empress of China, and the Razia Sultan, warrior Queen of the Delhi Sultanate, Chan Bibi of Bijapur of India, Fujiwara No Tashi called the Empress of two Generations an empress consort of Japan.
The reign of Warrior Queens around the continents during that period made Califia's existence very relatable...
When these explorations were setting sail to the Americas and the West Indies but to African and Indian countries collecting captives (mostly young teen girls, boys and children) near the Cost to enslave was the new currency. Many were beaten, raped and thrown overboard with shackles on in front of the other victims to mentally subdue them. I believe these conditions created women having to defend themselves like Queen Hangbe of the Agogie in the Dahomey Kingdom of southern Benin who were fighting many battles in their region.
Another woman who was not having it was the African Queen Njinga (Nzinga) Mbandi of Angola noted for her excellent military leadership skills defeating the Portuguese machismo's who had tried her many times but her brilliance was unmatched with making alliances with the Dutch. She had numerous victories and they couldn't stand here because she was a blow to their ego. Both Queens were under scrutiny by the European countries for not having the "traditional roles" of their customs.
Meanwhile in India during the same period, the Warrior Queens was not to be played with either! Rudrama of Devi, Ruler of the Kakatiya Dynasty (Marco Polo described as a lady discretion justice and equity). Rani Durgavati of Gondwana as well as Rani Abbakka Chowta of Tuluva who rose to the thrown after her King husbands death, is portrayed as dark complexioned, good looking and dressed low key in commoners clothing defeated the Portuguese repeatedly along side her daughters. Imagine that, this is real life history right here.
Then Queen Lenora in Portugal was handling things alongside Ferdinand, Isabella in Spain had succeeded to the throne of Castile. Italian Cathern Cornaro, was Queen of Cyprus, cedes the Island to the Venetians and Joan of Arc who led the French Army into battle defeating the English. *Sidenote - I believe this uprising was an empowerment movement to protect and position themselves in more favorable aspects of their respective communities to escape the harsh treatment many were subjected to endure.
Setting Sail to the Americas
So between the wars in Portugal and Spain with the Moorish Kingdoms, them being pissed at the ruling women who were kicking their butts, the travel into the unknown was a welcomed change. The pursuit of establishing ownership, names for themselves, and/or wealth in their countries was the guiding force.
When Columbus reports got back with tangible evidence he brought, made it an easy value proposition to raise capital from Investors who wanted to flip their money. Thus, the Conquistador was born, meaning conquer and explorer. Fortun Ximenes, Magellan, Pizzaro, Ferdinand Columbus, Hernan Cortes, Gomora, Bernal Diaz, Herrera and many hidalgos had gathered crews, navigators and armies with promises of treasures where the People were timid, fearful and would "be happy" he wrote to give them all their possessions. Now I didn't go into extreme detail here of how savage the behavior of these sailors were on their quest. Their victims were raped, beaten and made to endure very grotesque conditions.
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Getting back to the search for the exotic valuables of Queen Califia who's story went viral in 1510, the 5th romance novel written by Garci Rodriquez de Montalvo. From Hernan Cortez to Magellan to Ferdinand Columbus all had copies of this book and let me tell you, it was no shortage of them trying to sabotage and murder each other to get to the bag.
This Black Queen who ruled a kingdom of Women on an Island called California located on the right hand of the Indies was without any man among them, living in the manner of Amazons. Along with her army of women set sail on explorations that joined alliances with the Muslims (possibly the Moors at the time) against the Christians. It described her having a large flock of birds they called Griffins..
Now although griffins were a mythical bird, the symbolism and statues they built were known to guard possessions and treasures. It was a mythological decorative motif in the 2nd Millennium BCE that spread throughout Asia and Greece from Levant. A creature with a lion's body and the face of an Eagle. They are protectors from evil, slander and witchcraft. In Christianity, griffins became symbolism of divine power and a guardian of the divine. Representing Griffith, it is known to embody leadership, courage and strength. They were used in Ancient Crete called the Minoan Genius. In Hindu, it was the Gurudas, it's also the constellation Aquila. Griffins were also widely used in Persian poetry.
Evidence that proves there was a community of darker complexioned Indigenous People in the Gulfo of California region..
The majority of the Captains and some of the crew documented their travels and wrote very detailed accounts in their Journals to what eventually they published as books. At the time, many had mistakenly thought that the West Indies was apart of Asia which caused the maps of the time to be changed throughout the period. Peter Martyr, Columbus and Guzman all repeat what was in the book except different details of a place where Amazon Women lived without Men in this region of Gulfo de California which was called many names like Vermillion Sea before it was Sea of Cortes, (Sea of Cortez). Here we have documentation of them discovering the Americas was not apart of Asia.
When an English Sea Captain, Shelvoke wrote a book called "A Voyage round the World by the way of the great South Sea" where he described the hair of the Men as thick and coarse barely touching their shoulders. "The Women's hair was much longer and covered their faces. They were of much darker complexion than any of the other Indians they saw in the area, a dark copper color".
His book is very interesting but can be difficult to read because of the translation. There seemed to be a language or education barrier there with his annunciations but his details and drawings throughout were very descriptive explaining the different hues of Indigenous he encountered along his travels which helps distinguish a true depiction of what were the cultures like pre-slavery.
An English Privateer named Captain Woods Rodgers who was not very fond of the indigenous wrote mostly denigrating accounts about them in a book called "A cruising voyage around the world" where he said their language was harsh and unpleasant sounding like their words would choke them as they pronounced words in their throat. Different from the neighboring Natives on other Islands. Although his book is quite interesting, it is told from a very brutal narrative of treating the darker skinned People really horrible. So if you read it which there is a copy on the public library I'll have linked below.
Shelvoke described them as leading carefree lives in the simplest and purest natural way, having everything in common among themselves. Some of the Sailors said the Pericú's made bread with black seeds and ate them by the handfuls after grinding them. The Sailors used them in their broths.
Few aboriginal groups like the Pericú had watercrafts along the Coastline. According to Wikipedia the Pericú was known for their maritime harvesting shellfish and marine mammals. They lived off the Island Coast and used the caves, rock shelters, branches and reeds to make their dwellings. I could definitely picture them using their natural environment as their homes because the rocks on a close by neighboring Island were very smooth, they looked like they had once been beds and chairs.
The Pericú's were good sailors and fisherman
He also wrote he was more impressed by the moral qualities the Pericú had than the Jesuit Missionaries who had founded the first missions in the area after being expelled ran from Spain and Portugal. There agenda was to make a national education out of their religion.
They too wrote derogatory things about the inhabitants so they weren't fond of the Pericú's Shamanistic religion with their supernatural cures and particular burial practices.
The missionaries believed them to be anti-ethical to what they wanted them to practiced. You can find many of these still in the Catholic encyclopedia. James Mooney an ethnographer of many tribes in the Americas wrote that they were two Chiefs from Negro origins and he referenced them as rude and savage. They were from the extreme southern peninsula of California.
The Southern part of Cabo San Lucas to La Partido, Espiritu Santo to Cerravlo and San Jose have all been recognized as the Pericú's Territory. La Paz was also a their region but was disputed with a nearby Tribe who were given the land by the missionaries.. In 1535 Hernan Cortes named it Isla de Las Perlas (Island of the Pearls) with its rich pearl oyster beds. The aboriginal inhabitants that lived along the Coast were the Guaycura known as the Cora, Aripe, Cochimi and the Pericú.
The erasure of the Pericú
So what do the Pericú People and Queen Califia have in common? The Pericú People became culturally extinct in 50 years after contact with missionaries and explorers. The diseases they brought with them wiped out 80% of the tribes with all their treasures that were buried with them or in their scared caves they used for spiritual purposes. Queen Califia's story also disappeared and was never mentioned again after 50 years as well. What an interesting coincidence, right?
I mentioned in a previous blog that the Pericú People were believed to have come by sea to America from Melanesia, written by Anthropologist Frenchmen Quarterages De Breau. In the 19th century various craniums were found and noted by legendary Dutch Anthropologist Herman Frederik Carrel Ten Kate visiting lower California where he said that they had very noticeable features to the resemblance to the Melanesians and to the Lagoa Santa.
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