It’s tough enough to get ahead these days without others taking credit for your work. But office politics is nothing new.

In the 15^th Century, English and European sea captains made their fortunes by traveling to the Far East and returning with valuable silks and spices. But it was an arduous journey, around the southern tip of Africa, up to China and Japan, then down and back again. Believing the earth was a small orb, Italian explorer Christopher Columbus thought he could sail straight across the Atlantic, around the globe, and arrive at Asia in record time.

Eventually, Columbus convinced Spain’s King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella to support his venture. And they tossed in an extra incentive: The first sailor to spot land would receive a lifetime pension of approximately $60 per year—a fine sum at the time.

Columbus set sail on August 3, 1492, with three ships—the caravels Niña and Pinta and the carrack Santa Maria—carrying a total crew of 90. Rations were scarce, seas rough, conditions harsh. And the journey took much longer than anticipated. As their time at sea stretched toward 10 weeks, the crew began threatening mutiny. Columbus persuaded them to give him three more days. If they didn’t sight land in that time, he’d turn back.

Fortuitous sighting

The third day proved lucky, not only for Columbus but for Rodrigo de Triana.

Born Juan Rodrigo Bermejo in Seville, Spain, Triana was a Marrano—a Jew converted to Catholicism. His father, a potter by trade, had some royal blood, but no inheritance. Thus the 23-year-old had become a sailor.

About 2 a.m. October 12, Rodrigo was high in the rigging of the Pinta, staring out at the horizon, when he spotted something in the distance. “Land!” he shouted. “Land! Land!”

They’d done it! Or so they thought. They’d reached their destination and Triana had secured a lifelong pension.

But nothing was as it seemed.

They’d reached the Bahamas … and knowing he was the first European to spot the New World since the Vikings was all the reward Rodrigo would ever get. Columbus came up with the story that he’d actually spotted a light shining from the land mass a few hours before the young sailor began shouting. But since he couldn’t be sure of his eyes, he didn’t want to make a big thing of it. So the Admiral claimed the annual pension.

And Rodrigo? According to the great Spanish historian Oviedo, he was so disgusted by the boss’s credit-grabbing that he left sailing and moved to Africa.