Cristóbal Colón de Carvajal y Gorosábel

Cristóbal Colón de Carvajal y Gorosábel, 18th Duke of Veragua, GE, (born 4 October 1949) is a Spanish nobleman, businessman and formerly a Spanish Navy officer.

He is a direct descendant of Christopher Columbus by way of Christopher's son, Diego. From Diego, Colón de Carvajal also holds the Duchy of Veragua since 1986. As the Duchy corresponds to the present-day Veraguas Province of the independent republic of Panama, the Duke maintains close connections with Panamanian society, and serves on the advisory board of Petaquilla Minerals, a mining company.

In 1986, he inherited from his father, the 17th Duke of Veragua, all of his titles after the 17th Duke was murdered by the Basque terrorist organization ETA.

In 2011, his additional title as Duke of La Vega was among many to be passed on to different successors, with the new Duke of la Vega being Colón's son, Ángel Santiago Colón de Mandalúniz.

In 1992, to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Columbus's landing on Hispaniola, Colón de Carvajal was co-designated Grand Marshal of the Tournament of Roses Parade, alongside US Congressman Ben Nighthorse Campbell.

From May 2002 to September 2006, he served as Spain's ambassador-at-large for the Commemorative Events of the 500th Anniversary (Quincentennial) of the Fourth Voyage of Columbus.

Titles, honours and styles In 1974, his father granted him the title of Marquess of Jamaica. After his father's death in February 1986, he inherited the rest of the family titles, becoming 18th Duke of Veragua (GE), 17th Duke of La Vega (GE), 18th Marquess of Jamaica and 20th Admiral of the Ocean Sea. In 2011, he granted his second son, Ángel Santiago, the Dukedom of La Vega.