The statement that California was named after “calida fornax” (hot furnace) and “cal y fornos” (meaning “lime and furnace”) is supported by certain historical documents. However, there is growing interest in an alternative explanation for the origin of the state’s name. According to this theory, California was named after a black queen named Queen Calafia.
According to historians, a Spanish writer named Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo penned a widely popular novel called Las Sergas de Esplandián (The Adventures of Esplandián) around the year 1500. In this novel, the story is set on the Island of California, which is located to the east of the Asian mainland. Montalvo provides a description of this fictional land.
“Know that on the right hand from the Indies exists an island called California very close to a side of the Earthly Paradise; and it was populated by black women, without any man existing there, because they lived in the way of the Amazons. They had beautiful and robust bodies, and were brave and very strong. Their island was the strongest of the World, with its steep cliffs and rocky shores. Their weapons were golden and so were the harnesses of the wild beasts that they were accustomed to taming so that they could be ridden, because there was no other metal in the island than gold”.
In the novel of chivalry, “The Exploits of Esplandian,” published in 1510, there is a reference to Montalvo’s island of California. This island was named after its ruler, Queen Califia, who was a beautiful Moorish woman of African descent and a follower of the pagan faith. According to the tale, Califia intended to gather an army of female warriors and set sail from California to join forces with Muslim fighters who were engaged in a battle against Christian defenders in Constantinople.
Although Queen Califia ultimately faced defeat, her character sparked widespread fascination, particularly in the mind of Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés, who would later explore and christen the territory of California.
This story holds significance because it highlights a lesser-known aspect of California’s history. As historian John William Templeton asserts, Califia’s presence serves as a reminder that when Cortés bestowed the name “California” upon the region, he was accompanied by around 300 black individuals.
Templeton, the curator of the Queen Califia exhibit at the African American Historical and Cultural Society Museum in San Francisco in 2004, highlights that it forms part of a larger narrative where Europeans recognized Africans as culturally advanced during the 15th century. Notably, Columbus even had a black navigator, as Templeton points out.
According to William E. Hoskins, the museum’s director, their objective is to provide people with further insights and appreciation for the contributions made by African Americans not only to the United States but specifically to the state of California. He emphasizes the significance of the Queen Califia exhibit, describing it as poignant.
Despite some people attempting to undermine the importance of Queen Califia, she continues to be celebrated as the embodiment of California in contemporary sculptures, paintings, stories, and films. In fact, the renowned African American actress Whoopi Goldberg portrayed Queen Califia in the Disneyland film, Golden Dreams.
The Mark Hopkins Intercontinental Hotel in San Francisco houses a seven-foot-tall panel featuring Califia alongside her Amazons. Another representation of Califia, titled “The Naming of California,” can be found on the 4th floor of the Senate Rules Committee Hearing Chamber in Sacramento. Despite some individuals challenging the significance of Queen Calafia, she continues to be featured in contemporary sculptures, paintings, stories, and films as the embodiment of the Spirit of California.
Notably, the renowned African American actress Whoopi Goldberg portrayed Queen Califia in the Disneyland film, Golden Dreams. Many view her as a symbol of a wild and prosperous land before European colonization forcibly took over.