THE FIRST VOYAGE

AROUND THE WORLD

Antonio Pigafetta
 ANTONIO PIGAFETTA
[c.1490 – c.1531]
Born into a wealthy Vicenza family, and studied
astronomy, geography and cartography.
He served on board the ships of the Knights of
Rhodes, and accompanied Monsignor Chieregati, to
Spain.
Later, he joined the Portuguese captain Ferdinand Magellan
and his Spanish crew on their trip to the Maluku Islands.
He was among 18 of Magellan’s original crew who survived and
having completed the first circumnavigation of the world, returned to
Spain on board another vessel, the Victoria.

THE FIRST VOYAGE AROUND THE WORLD | Antonio Pigafetta

HISTORICAL CONTEXT
 10th of August, 1519 – 9th of
September, 1522
 The voyage was to find a western route to
the Maluku Islands (Spice Islands) and
trade for spices and to proved that the
world is round.

THE FIRST VOYAGE AROUND THE WORLD | Antonio Pigafetta

 THE FIVE SHIPS
OF MAGELLAN
• Trinidad
• San Antonio
• Victoria
• Conception
• Santiago.
ANALYSIS OF THE
IMPORTANT
HISTORICAL
INFORMATION
 Arrival at Zamal [Samar]
“At dawn on Sunday, March 16, 1521, we came upon a high land at a
distance of three hundred leagues from the islands of Ladroni, and island named
Zamal [Samar]…on March 18, a boat was coming toward us with nine men in it,
these men were ‘very familiar and friendly’ and willingly showed them to the
different islands.”

MARCH 16 – Magellan and his crew landed at the island of Zamal from
the island of Landrones.
MARCH 18 - landed at Humunu [Homonhon] where friendly natives from
neighboring islands brought food and Atuba and together they
feasted for one day

THE FIRST VOYAGE AROUND THE WORLD | Antonio Pigafetta

 Magellan and the Rajah Colambu and Rajah Siaui
“…March 28, we saw two balanghai coming, they were full of men and
their king was in the larger of them, being seated under an awning of mats.”

MARCH 28 – they first met Rajah Colambu at Boloto [Baroto], who

welcomed and treated the Magellan as friends
MARCH 30 – they were escorted by Rajah Colambu’s brother, Rajah Siaui
to Butuan [Masao].

THE FIRST VOYAGE AROUND THE WORLD | Antonio Pigafetta

 Site of the First Mass
“…Sunday, on the last day of March and Easter Sunday,
the captain sent the priest with some men to prepare the place
where the Mass was to be said…the two kings embraced the
captain and together joined the mass.”

THE FIRST VOYAGE AROUND THE WORLD | Antonio Pigafetta

 Arrival at Zubu [Cebu]
“…April 7, we entered the port of Zubu, passing by many villages…The
king told him that he was welcome but that it was their custom to pay
tribute…though he was the captain of so great a king, he did not pay tribute to
any seignior in the world...”

APRIL 7 – they arrived at Zubu [Cebu] and were greeted by the

Rajah Humabon of Zubu

THE FIRST VOYAGE AROUND THE WORLD | Antonio Pigafetta

 The Blood Compact of Magellan
and Rajah Humabon
“…Monday, the king came to the open square and said that he was
satisfied if the captain wished to become his friend he would send a drop of blood
from his arm and he himself would do the same…”

APRIL 8 – Magellan and Rajah Humabon gathered at the open square

where they formed their alliance

THE FIRST VOYAGE AROUND THE WORLD | Antonio Pigafetta

 The Turning of the Native
“…the captain told them that God made the sky, the earth, the sea and
everything else, and that He had commanded us to honour our fathers and
mothers…seeing that they listened and answered willingly, the captain began to
advance to induce them to accept the faith.”

APRIL 9 – King Siaui came to Magellan to make peace along with the
other governors of the island and they were preached with stories
of faith.

THE FIRST VOYAGE AROUND THE WORLD | Antonio Pigafetta

 The Baptismal
“…Sunday, April 14, the king had promised to become a Christian,
approached the platform joyfully...the captain said that he would leave two men
to help and that he would like to take two children back to Spain so that they
might learn our language.”
“After dinner the priest and some of the others wen ashore to baptize the
queen, who came with forty women.”

APRIL 14 – the people of Zubu were

baptized and each were
given a Christian name.

Rajah Humabon was renamed as

Don Carlo and his wife,
Rani Humamai became Johanna.

THE FIRST VOYAGE AROUND THE WORLD | Antonio Pigafetta

 Cilapulapu of Matan
“Friday, April 26, Zula, the second
chief of the island of Mactan, sent one of his
sons to present two goats to the captain,
and to say that he would send him all that
he had promised, but that he had not been
able to send it to him because of the other
chief Cilapulapu, who refused to obey the
king of Spain”

THE FIRST VOYAGE AROUND THE WORLD | Antonio Pigafetta

 The Famous
Battle at Mactan
“The captain decided to go thither with the boatloads. When morning cm
forty-nine men leaped into the water from the boat and our way onto the
shores…So many of them charged down upon us that they shot the captain
through the right leg with a poisoned arrow. Trying to lay hand on sword, he could
only draw it out half-way, because he had been wounded in the arm with a
bamboo shear…when the native saw that, they all hurled themselves upon him.”
“They wounded his other leg and caused the captain to fall and
immediately they rushed upon him with iron and bamboo shear and cutlass until
they killed our mirror, our light, our comfort and our true guide.”

THE FIRST VOYAGE AROUND THE WORLD | Antonio Pigafetta

CONTRIBUTION IN THE PHILIPPINE
HISTORY
 Antonio Pigafetta gave an account of the
people in the Philippines in 1521.
 It also marks the beginning of the Philippines’
greater interaction with Europe.
 The Philippines was named in honor of King
Philip II of Spain. Spanish explorer Ruy López
de Villalobos, during his expedition in 1542
 Other culture and traditions were brought by
Magellan, like the statue of the child Jesus
which became the patron, Sto. Niño.
RELEVANCE OF THE DOCUMENT

 Antonio Pigafetta’s account is the first and

most important account source about the
voyage of circumnavigation.
 His accounts includes description of different
cultures around the globe making it rich in
ethnographic details
 The document also gave discoveries in the
South Sea or Pacific Ocean.
 It also recorded every day of the voyage of
Magellan to find a path to Maluku Islands.