Primary Source

“First Voyage Around the World”

Antonio Pigafetta

1. Author’s background
o Antonio Pigafetta was born into a wealthy Vicenza family, and studied navigation among
other things.
o He served on board the galleys of the Knights of Rhodes, and accompanied papal nuncio,
Monsignor Chieregati, to Spain.
o Joined the Portuguese captain Ferdinand Magellan and his Spanish crew on their trip to the
Maluku Islands.
o While in the Philippines Magellan was killed, and Pigafetta was injured. Nevertheless, he
recovered.
o He was one of the 18 of Magellan’s original crew who, having completed the first
circumnavigation of the world, returned to Spain on board another vessel, the Victoria.
o He kept a detailed and comprehensive journal of his journey with Ferdinand Magellan.
o Pigafetta is also known as Antonio Lombardo
o Antonio Pigafetta was an Italian navigator. He was one of the few people that completed the
entire journey around the world. He kept a journal in which hearsay evidence is largely
mixed with personal experience, but which gives by far the best and fullest account of the
expedition

2. Historical background of the document

o Spices were in-demand commodities among the Europeans because of its numerousbenefits
such as food preservation, flavor enhancement, and medicine (Torres 2018,14).
o Treaty of Tordesillas was effective at that time. According to Britannica Encylopaedia,it is
an agreement between Spain and Portugal aimed atsettling conflicts over landsnewly
discovered or explored by Christopher Columbus(2018).
o In search for spices, the Spaniards financed Magellan’s plan to go to East via awestward
direction after his plan was turned down by Portugal (Torres 2018, 15).
o Through going westward, the treaty between Spain and Portugal was not violated.
o Five boats were given to Magellan but only one remained after the expedition.

By: Salvie Angela Clarette Utana BABA 1-H

 Primary Source

“First Voyage Around the World”

Antonio Pigafetta

o Of the two hundred and seventy men at the beginning of the expedition, there were only
eighteen survivors including Antonio Pigafetta who kept a journal about the journey.
o The voyage via westward to Spice (Maluku) Islands took place in the early 16th century.
o Their assignment was to reach the Spice Islands, thereby proving they belonged to Spain.
o The issue between Islam vs. Christianity was still present at the time. There was one scene
in the account of Pigafetta where Magellan explicitly asked the natives if their religion were
Islam, as it would have been harder to convert them.

3. Analysis and understanding of historical information

Identify (describe) and analyze the following:
A. Customs and traditions
1. Socio-Cultural
o Thanksgiving
o Friendship – a ritual of friendship wherein one has to shed a drop of his blood from
his right arm and the other will do the same and partake each other’s blood.
o Marriage – one can have many wives as they wish but one of them is the principal
wife.
o Festivities – our ancestors are heavy drinkers. Sometimes they have a meal that
would last for six hours.
o Religion – Magellan’s voyage was the instrument in introducing Christianity in the
Philippines but it also cost his life after the Spaniards lost in the Battle in Mactan.
o Spices – became the most expensive and in demand commodity among Europeans
because of their numerous uses.

2. Political
o The rivalry between Spain and Portugal in the Iberian Peninsula was exacerbated by
trade as both were interested in exploring and developing trade.

By: Salvie Angela Clarette Utana BABA 1-H

 Primary Source

“First Voyage Around the World”

Antonio Pigafetta

o The competition between Spain and Portugal became heated enough that the two
countries had to get the pope to divide up the New World into parts that would be
Spanish and parts that would be Portuguese.
o The Royal crown of Spain supported the plan of Ferdinand Magellan to go to the east
by sailing westward, a proposal that was not supported by Portugal.
3. Economic
o Trade – our ancestors have a custom that all ships that will enter their port should pay
tribute.

B. Dates, places and personalities

Dates:
o October 21, 1520 - the discovery of the strait, named after, Magellan himself
o March 17, 1521 - Arrival in Zamal (Samar at present)
- The island was called Humunu (now Homonhon)
- Magellan and his men called it Acquada da li buoni Segnialli (“the Watering-place of
Good Signs”)
- There are many islands in that district, and therefore they called them the archipelago
of San Lazaro, as they were discovered on the Sunday of St. Lazarus
o March 18, 1521
- Their captain-general desired to land at Humunu (Homonhon) and which he named. The
Watering place of Good Signs and later the entire group island as Archipelago.
o March 25, 1521
- Pigafetta recounted that they saw two balanghai (balangay), a long boat full of people
in Mazzava/Mazaus. The leader whom he referred to the king became closely bonded
with Magellan as they both exchanged gifts to one another.
o March 28, 1521
- they met and exchanged goods with our ancestor from the island of Zuluan

By: Salvie Angela Clarette Utana BABA 1-H

 Primary Source

“First Voyage Around the World”

Antonio Pigafetta

o March 31, 1521 (Easter Sunday),

- Magellan ordered the chaplain to preside a Mass by the shore. This was the first
Mass in the Philippines, and the cross would be famed Magellan’s Cross which is still
preserved at present day. This was the same cross which Magellan explained to the kings
as a sign of his emperor who ordered him to plan it in the places where he would reach
and further explained that once other Spaniards saw this cross, then they would know
that they had been in this island and would not cause those troubles.
o April 7, 1521
- Magellan and his men reached the port of Zzubu (Cebu) with the help of Raia
Calambu who offered to pilot them in going to the island. The kind of Cebu
demanded that they pay tribute as it was customary but Magellan refused. By the
next day, Magellan’s men and the king of Cebu, together with other principal men of
Cebu, met in an open space.
- Magellan spoke to the kind and encouraged him to be a good Christian by burning
all of the idols and worship the cross instead. The king of Cebu was then baptized as
a Christian.
o April 14, 1521 – they baptized our ancestors from Zubu and few from neighboring
islands.
o April 26, 1521 – Raia Zula came to seek help to fight the other chief of Matan,
Cilapulapu.
o April 27, 1521 – the Spaniards wave ashore in the island of Mactan and fighting
commenced between them and men of Raia Cilapulapu and led to the death of
Magellan.
o May 1, 1521 – 21 Spaniards massacred by the Zubuanos thus forcing the remaining
Spaniards to depart Zubu immediately.

By: Salvie Angela Clarette Utana BABA 1-H

 Primary Source

“First Voyage Around the World”

Antonio Pigafetta

Places:

o The Ladrones Islands is presently known as the Marianas Islands. Known as “Islands of the
Thieves.”
o Isle of Zamal (Samal) - Ten days after they have reached Ladrones Islands, Pigafetta
reported it.
o Humunu Island (Homonhon)
- They found what he referred to as the “Watering Place of Good Signs.” for it is in this
place that they found the first signs of gold in the island. They named the island together
with a nearby island as the archipelago of St. Lazarus.
o Zulu an and Colgan – the island of the kingsp
o Barcelona - Pigafetta tells how, being in Barcelona in 1519, he heard about Magellan’s
expedition, and being wishful to learn about the world, he asked for and obtained the
permission to join in the voyage.
o Patagonia - where they spent winter months in a desolate solitude. They met local people,
who looked like giants in their eyes full of wonder, because of their robust body types.

Personalities:

o Ferdinand Magellan – captain general and the leader of the expedition

o Antonio Pigafetta – official chronicler of the expedition
o Raia Humabon – king of Zubu (Cebu)
o Raia Cilapulapu and Raia Zula – chiefs or kings of Matan now Mactan.
o Raia Colambu - king of Zuluan and Calagan (Butuan and Caragua) and brother of Raia
Siagu
o Raia Siagu - king of another island where Pigafetta reported that they saw mines of gold.

By: Salvie Angela Clarette Utana BABA 1-H

 Primary Source

“First Voyage Around the World”

Antonio Pigafetta

4. Over-all assessment
o Unfortunately for the seeker after facts, Pigafetta accepted as truth many things he heard, so
that his account is a mixture of fact and fiction.
o The main significance of his voyage was that he showed it was possible to sail around the
world, and left a record of how to do it.
o Magellan’s voyage vastly increased the geographical knowledge of mankind and proved
once and for all that the earth is round.
o Magellan’s discovery of the Philippines brought the archipelago into the awareness of
Europe.
o Finally, the voyage paved the way to Spanish colonization and Christianization of the
Philippines.
o Pigafetta's The First Voyage around the World is a classic of discovery and exploration
literature.
o From the point of view of the Filipinos, Magellan’s expedition was significant because it
paved the way for contacts between the Philippines and western civilization.

By: Salvie Angela Clarette Utana BABA 1-H