ANALYSIS OF THE FIRST VOYAGE OF FERDINAND MAGELLAN AROUND THE WORLD

BY: ANTONIO PIGAFETTA

Before I proceed I have a quick background about the author Antonio Pigafetta. Antonio
Pigafetta was born in sometimes 15th century his parents are Giovanni Pigafetta and Angela
Zoga, eldest among his two (2) siblings. He was a native Vicenza, a town about hundred
kilalometers west of Venice Italy. He studied astronomy ,geograpy, and cartography. He also
accompanied Ferdinand Magelan or Fenão de Magalhãs a Portuguese explorer born on 4th of
Febuary year 1480 in Sabrosa Portugal. He has a wife named Maria Caldera Beatriz Barbosa and
they have two siblings.

The First Voyage of Magellan around the World by Antonio Pigafetta was written on board on
one of the five(5) ships (Conception,Trinidad,San Antonio,Victoria,and Santiago) that was first
circumnavigate the world during the expedition that was led bu portuguese explorer Ferdinand
Magellan and after his death during the voyage, by Juan Sebastian Elcano. The expedition was
started in 1519 and ended in Spain in 1522.

For this chapter I will focus on the first Island the've been the Lagrones Island or the Mariana's
Island where is located at the south-southeast of Japan, west-southwest of Hawaii, north of
New Guinea, and east of the Philippines.They also called it as the Island of the thieves because
the people in this Island get their belongings. Pigafetta wrote that "These people have no
arms,but use stick which have fishbone at the end. They are poor but indegenious and great
thieves and for the sake of the we called these Lagrones Island".

The fleet went to Homunu Island(Homonhon) and there they found what Pigafetta reffered to
as the "Watering Place of Good Sign". It is where they found the first sign of gold in the Island
and they named it Achipelago of St. Lazarus. In here they met 2 kings.The first king wag Raia
Siagu and the other king was Raia Calambu ,king of Zuluan(Butuan at the present day) and
Calagan(Caragua).
One day Magellan odered the champlain to preside a mas by the shore. The two king heard of
his plan and send two dead pigs and attend the mass, The first mass happen at Masawa Island
(Butuan in present day)

After the mass, Magellan ordered that the cross be brought nails and crown in place. The king
concurred and allow the cross to be planted This mass would go down in the Philippines, and
the cross would be famed Magellan's cross presseved and present till the present day at Cebu
City.

And then one day a principal man from the Island of Matan(Mactan) who's Zula went to ask for
help to fight Silapulapu yo the King of Masawa but Magellan was there so he offered to fight
Silapulapu as the respect and sign for their friendship.

The battle was started Magellan don't have any idea that the number of their man was 1,500
compared to them which is only 49. The battle become more intense when Magellan's men
burn the island that trigger the people in the Island. Magellan was targeted because the natives
knew that he was the captain.Magellan was hit with the lance of his face,he retailed and pierce
the same native with his lance in breast and tries to draw his sword but he couldn't lift it
because of his wounded arms. Magellan died in that battle after his death the king of Cebu
offered the people of Mactan gift and any value of ammount to Magellan's body but they
refused. They want to keep Magellan's body for their memento of their victory.

After his death Magellan's translator , Juan Serano and other luckily escape the death but
wounden man who's still alive after the battle together the buddies of Magellan they need to
go back in Spain and they need new captain so they hailed Duarte Barbosa one of the survivor
as the new captain.

They consider it as a primary sources because Pigafetta's travelgue is one of the most
important primary source in the study if the pre-colonial Philippines. Thus, Pigafetta' s account
was also written from a perspectives of Pigafetta himself was a product of the context of its
production.