Diego Columbus (the son of Christopher Columbus) was the Admiral of the New World and Governor of Santo Domingo since 1508. He had spent the last five years in Spain in an attempt to have all the powers promised to his father re-established. Diego had gained some concessions (becoming Viceroy) and was preparing for his return to the New World when word first reached him of the epidemic there. He hastened his return, still not fully aware of the scope of the crisis. When he reached the Indies he faced several crisis at once: