Balboa had first sailed to the New World in 1500, and in September 1510 established the first European settlement in the mainland Americas. Within a year he had expanded his power and become the governor of the province of Veragua by usurping his rivals.
Over the next few years Balboa added to his territory and built up significant stores of gold. It was during an argument between his men over the size of their share that Balboa heard of a kingdom on ‘the other sea’ that was rich in the precious metal.
In order to find what was then known as the ‘South Sea’, Balboa and his men first needed to cross the Isthmus of Panama – the narrow strip of land between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean.
The expedition departed the settlement of Santa Maria on 1 September 1513. Having sailed along the coast to find a good landing point, Balboa and his men began the land crossing on 6 September. The journey involved battling with native tribes and forging a way through thick jungle, before reaching the mountain range along the Chucunaque River.
It was from this summit that Balboa first saw the Pacific Ocean on the morning of 25 September. It then took the expedition another four days to descend to sea level, where Balboa claimed it for the Spanish sovereigns.
