" First Voyage Around The World": by Antonio Pigafetta

“ First Voyage Around The World”
By Antonio Pigafetta
Prof. Marianne B. Rellores

Background
of the
Author
Born some time in the closing year
of the 15th century
Parents:
Giovanni Pigafetta and
Angela Zoga
The eldest child among his
siblings of 2
 Was a
native of Vicenza, a town
about a hundred kilometers west of Venice, Italy
Antonio Pigafetta
Studied astronomy, geography, and cartography.
Served
on board the ships of the Knights of Rhodes at the
beginning of the 16th century.
Had an aunt, Elisabetta, who married Valerio Chiericati.
 Accompanied Monsignor Chiericati to Spain in 1519.
 AccompaniedFerdinand Magellan, together with Juan
Sebatián Elcano in the famous expedition to Moluccas
which began in August 1519 and ended in September 1522.
Historical Context of
the Document
The First Voyage Around The World by Antonio
Pigafetta was written on board one of the 5
ships that was first to circumnavigate the world
during an expedition that was lead by the
Portuguese explorer, Ferdinand Magellan and
after his death during the voyage, by Juan
Sebastián Elcano. The expedition started in 1519
and ended in Spain in 1522.
Name of the Spanish fleet that was led by
Ferdinand Magellan: Armada de Molucca.
Provided by King Charles V, included 5
ships: the Trinidad (crew: 55) under
Magellan's command, the San
Antonio (crew: 60) commanded by
Juan de Cartageña, the Concepcion
(crew: 45) commanded by Gaspar de
Quesada
the Santiago (crew: 32) commanded by
Juan
Rodriguez Serrano and the Victoria
(crew: 43) commanded by Luiz
Mendoza, which carried supplies and
The Santiago was a caravel,
while the others were rated as
carracks.
At the end of the voyage,
Antonio Pigafetta, the author of
the book,
was on board the Victoria; this
was
the only ship that was able to
 Uponarrival in Europe, Pigafetta presented copies of his
account to several high personages, including Pope
Clement VII, mother of King Francis I of France, etc.
His original diary was lost, and it is not known in what
language it was written.
Survives in 4 manuscript versions; one in Italian, 3 in
French
Analysis of the
Important Historical
Information Found in
the Document
Important reminder:
• Since Magellan and his crew crossed th e

• International Dateline, there is one day added to the
original dates that Antonio Pigafetta
• wrote in his book for the better
perspective of us Filipinos.
Throughout the expedition, there served a translator
named Enrique
Enrique was from Sumatra (present day Indonesia) and
was a slave of Ferdinand Magellan
Magellan acquired Enrique as a slave at Malacca
March 17,
1521
(originally March 16)
 Arrival in Zamal (Samar at present)
The island was called Humunu (now Homonhon)
and his men called it Acquada da li buoni Segnialli
Magellan
(“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
April 1,
1521
(originally March 31)
The first mass in the Philippines was held in Mazaua (Limasawa)
It was attended by Magellan, Raia Colambu (Rajah Kolambu), Raia
Siaui (Rajah Siagu), Spanish voyagers, and the local islanders.
April 8,
1521
(originally April 7)
Magellan and his men entered the port of Zubu
First Mass in the
Philippines
APRIL 8, 1521
Initially,
Magellan and his men encountered
some stuggle when first entering the port
of Zubu.
The “king” of Zubu wanted Magellan and his
men to pay tribute to them but, Magellan
refused and told the translator that they are
working for the King of Spain and threatens
him
with war.
April 15,
1521
(originally April 14)
 A mass was held with Raia Humabon and his people attending
the ceremony.
800 souls were baptized.
Pigafetta showed the queen an image of our Lady, a very
beautiful
wooden child Jesus, and a cross.
She asked for the little child Jesus to keep in place of her idols
and this
image of child Jesus is now known as the Sto. Niño found in Cebu.
Image of Sto. Niño de
Jesus Given to the Wife of
Raia Humabon
April 27,
1521
(originally April 26)
 According to Zula, the chief of Matan, Cilapulapu refused to
obey the king of Spain.
 Cilapulapu did not want to pay Magellan and his men the
goat that they were promised.
Magellan was not pleased since they went to Matan to garner
food for their expedition.
Zula requested the captain to send him only one
boatload of men to fight against the other chief.
The captain- general decided to go thither with
three boatloads.
" The captain did not wish to fight then, but sent a message to the
natives to the effect that if they would obey the king of Spain, recognize
the Christian king as their sovereign, and pay us our tribute, he would be
their
friend; but that if they wished otherwise, they should wait to see how
our lances wounded."
April 28,
1521
 At midnight, sixty of Magellan’s men set out armed with corselets and
helmets, Christian king, prince, some of the chief men, 20 or
30 balanghais.
The local islanders had lances of bamboo and stakes hardened

with
fire.
They shot the captain through the right leg with a poisoned arrow,
knocked his helmet off his head twice,
 An Indian hurled a bamboo spear in the captain’s face, but the latter
immediately killed him with his lance, which he left in the Indian’s
body
April 28,
1521
8 of Magellan’s men were killed, 4 Indians were killed by mortars.
Of Cilapulapu’s men, only 15 were killed.

Contribution of the Document in
Understanding the Grand Narrative in
Philippine History
• Elaborated the lifestyle back then and it described what the local
islanders wore, what they ate, how they communicated, and how they
lived
• Pigafetta's journal is the only known document about Lapu-Lapu's
life
• Considered the best source today of the customs and usages of the
Filipinos in the early 16th century due to the daily notes Pigafetta
took and details about the expedition that he wrote about
• Contains the first vocabulary of Visayan words ever penned by a
European
Music of the Visayan Inhabitants as Described by
Pigafetta
Vocabulary of the Visayan Words Listed by Pigafetta
Relevance of the
Document
• August 10, 1519 = starting point of the first expedition around the
world of Magellan.
• The book served as an evidence that the world is round and not flat
• This book aids the researchers and students of today in understanding

the context of the Magellan expedition and how the whole Europe-
Philippines conflict commenced.
• Magellan discovered the Pacific Ocean
• Magellan proved that there was a way to the east by sailing west
• Growing up, we’ve understood this issue just simply as the start of the
Spanish era and Magellan being the Philippines’ villain without
taking into debate the context and different reasons of the
expedition.
The expedition that was held from 1519-
1522:
• Opened many doors for Spain together with many other different
countries around the world due to the different discoveries from this
expedition.
• Led the world to be a more globalized society because of how other

countries
were revealed to the European countries.
• Businesses rose because of the discoveries that made up the different

products. Collaborations were also made that benefited the different sides.
• Opened many doors for the Philippines.
• Helped us in knowing how the early Filipinos lived by the account of

a primary source who witnessed it firsthand.
• Will help us understand how the Filipinos of the past lived and how
they coped when Magellan and his men came to the Philippines.
• We discover what religion Filipinos used to have and they became
Christians.
• We also find out how the first Filipinos fought and delayed the
Spanish occupation by about 40 years.

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“ First Voyage Around The World”

Prof. Marianne B. Rellores

• Since Magellan and his crew crossed th e

The local islanders had lances of bamboo and stakes hardened

(originally April 27)

8 of Magellan’s men were killed, 4 Indians were killed by mortars.

Of Cilapulapu’s men, only 15 were killed.

• This book aids the researchers and students of today in understanding

• Led the world to be a more globalized society because of how other

• Businesses rose because of the discoveries that made up the different

• Helped us in knowing how the early Filipinos lived by the account of

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