The past is fascinating.
The likelihood that one may uncover numerous accounts and justifications for the same incident increases with depth of investigation.
Consider the story of how the state of California got its name.
There is growing interest in a different, possibly true, origin story for California: that it was named after a black queen by the name of Queen Calafia. Although some historical documents claim that the state was named after “calida fornax” (hot furnace) and “cal y fornos” meaning “lime and furnace,”
According to historians, Las Sergas de Esplandián (The Adventures of Esplandián), a widely read novel by a Spanish author by the name of Garci Rodrguez de Montalvo, was written around 1500.
The Island of California hosted the staging of Las Sergas believed to be east of Asia’s continent.
“Know that on the right hand from the Indies lies an island called California extremely near to a side of the Earthly Paradise; and it was filled by black women, without any man existing there, because they lived in the manner of the Amazons, Montalvo said.
They were courageous and extremely powerful, with lovely and solid physique. With its high cliffs and rugged shores, their island was the strongest in the entire world. Because there was no other metal on the island but gold, all of their weapons and the harnesses they used to tame wild animals so they could be ridden were made of gold.“
The name California was given to the island of Montalvo by its queen, Califia, who is thought to have been a beautiful black Moor and a pagan.
She set out on a mission to gather a force of female warriors and sail from California with them in order to fight alongside Muslims defending Constantinople against Christians.
Even though Queen Califia would eventually lose, she grabbed the attention of many people all over the world, particularly the Spanish adventurer Hernán Cortés, who would later discover and give the state of California its name.
Why is this crucial?
According to historian John William Templeton, “Califia is a part of California history, and she also underscores the idea that Cortes had 300 black people with him when he named this place California.”empleton, who curated the 2004 California Queens exhibit at the African American Historical and Cultural Society Museum in San Francisco, said it was part of a larger story of Africans being Europeans in the 15th century were regarded as culturally advanced people. Even Columbus had a black navigator, Templeton points out. As Museum Director William E. Hoskins explained, “One of the things we’re trying to do is raise awareness of the African-American contribution to this wonderful country, and California in particular. There is more understanding and appreciation.” The California Queen exhibit is particularly poignant,” he said. Although some would like to question the importance of Queen Calafia, she continues to be portrayed as the Californian spirit in modern sculptures, paintings, stories, and films. Famous African-American actress Whoopi Goldberg played Queen Califia in the movie Golden Dreams at Disneyland.
At the Mark Hopkins Intercontinental Hotel in San Francisco, a two-meter-high California plaque hangs with her Amazon. On the 4th floor of the Senate committee hearing in Sacramento, there is another portrait of California called “The Naming of California”. Although some have questioned the importance of Queen Calafia, she continues to be portrayed as the spirit of California in modern sculptures, paintings, stories, and films. Famous African-American actress Whoopi Goldberg played Queen Califia in the Disneyland film Golden Dreams. At the Mark Hopkins Intercontinental Hotel in San Francisco, a two-meter-high California plaque hangs with her Amazon. On the 4th floor of the Senate committee hearing in Sacramento, there is another portrait of California called “The Naming of California”. For many, it symbolizes “a lush and uncultivated land before the Europeans forcibly took it”.
