Cristóbal Colón de Carvajal, 17th Duke of Veragua

The Duke of Veragua
Pictured in 1950
Personal details
BornCristóbal Colón de Carvajal y Maroto
(1925-01-29)29 January 1925
Madrid, Spain
Died6 February 1986(1986-02-06) (aged 61)
Madrid, Spain
Spouse
Anunciada de Gorosábel y Ramírez de Haro
(m. 1949)
Children
  • Cristóbal Colón de Carvajal, 18th Duke of Veragua
  • Diego Colón de Carvajal y Gorosábel
  • Alfonso Colón de Carvajal y Gorosábel
  • María de la Anunciada Colón de Carvajal y Gorosábel
  • Ignacio Colón de Carvajal y Gorosábel
  • Jaime Colón de Carvajal y Gorosábel
Parents
ProfessionNaval officer
Military service
Branch/serviceSpanish Navy
Years of service1943–86
RankVice admiral
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Vice admiral Cristóbal Colón de Carvajal y Maroto, 17th Duke of Veragua, GE (born 29 January 1925 – 6 February 1986) was a Spanish Navy officer, statesman and descendant of Christopher Columbus. He also held the titles of 16th Duke of la Vega, 17th Marquess of Jamaica, 20th Marquess of Aguilafuente and 20th Admiral and Adelantado of the Indies, positions that had been held by his father and all of his direct paternal ancestors up to Christopher Columbus, who took on the duties with the Discovery of America in 1492.

In 1986, Colón de Carvajal and his personal driver were killed by Basque separatist group Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA), which had opened fire at the car they were travelling in and tossed a hand grenade inside, near Paseo de la Castellana in Madrid, Spain. Along with the assassination of Carrero Blanco in 1973, he was the most prominent figure to have been assassinated by the organization.