Christopher Columbus Named The Islands After Saint Ursula And Her Virgins

Upon discovering the islands in 1493, Columbus was struck by the multitude of small islands scattered across the sea. He named them "Las Islas Vírgenes" in honor of Saint Ursula and her 11,000 virgin martyrs, a legend popular in his time, hence the name Virgin Islands.

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Virgin_Islands

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Published: March 30, 2026
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British Virgin Islands History Culture Religion Christopher Columbus Exploration Naming Caribbean History Saint Ursula Virgins

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