CONTENT AND CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF SELECTED

PRIMARY SOURCES

FIRST VOYAGE AROUND THE

WORLD BY MAGELLAN 1518-1521

Antonio Pigafetta

PREPARED AND PRESENTED BY

EVSU RPH INSTRUCTORS
Who is
Antonio Pigafetta?

BORN BETWEEN 1480 - 1491 an Italian scholar and explorer from

VICENZA, VENICE (ITALY)
Venice who was born around 1491. He
DIED C. 1531 (AGE ABOUT 40-50)
VICENZA, VENICE (ITALY)
belonged to a rich family and was able
to study astronomy, geography and
NATIONALITY VENETIAN
cartography. He travelled together with
YEARS ACTIVE 1500S - 1520S
the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand
KNOWN FOR CHRONICLING MAGELLAN'S
Magellan to the Indies to look for
CIRCUMNAVIGATION
spices. During the expedition, he
served as the log keeper. Thru the
expedition, he was able to collect
extensive data concerning the
geography, climate, and of flora and
fauna of places they visited.

01
CONTENT AND CONTEXT OF THE
DOCUMENT
The First Voyage Around The World
by Antonio Pigafetta was written on
board on one of the 5 ships that was
first to circumnavigate the world
during an expedition that was led
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.

King Charles of Spain was 18 years old when he agreed to

finance Magellan's expedition to the Spice Islands in 1518.

Important reminders:
Since Magellan and his crew The Spanish fleet, the Armada de
crossed the International Dateline, Molucca, left Spain on 20
there is one day added to the September 1519 consisted of five
original dates that Antonio ships with around 270 men:
Pigafetta wrote on his book for the 1. Trinidad
better perspective of us Filipinos. 2. San Antonio
3. Concepcion
Throughout the expedition, there 4. Santiago
served a translator named Enrique 5. Victoria
de Malacca. Enrique was from Victoria - the circumnavigation
Sumatra (present day Indonesia) was completed by this ship under
and was a slave of Ferdinand the command of Juan Sebastián
Magellan. Magellan acquired Elcano and a crew of 18 men. This
Enrique as a slave at Malacca. ship returned to Spain on 6
September 1522.

02
Antonio Pigafetta’s Travelogue
BEFORE MARCH 17, 1521
In Pigafetta’s account, their fleet reached what they called the
Ladrones Islands or the “Islands of the Thieves”.

Ladrones Islands is presently known as Marianas Islands. These

islands are located south-southeast of Japan, west-southwest of
Hawaii, north of New Guinea, and east of Philippines.

MARCH 17, 1521 (ORIGINALLY MARCH 16)

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

MARCH 18, 1521

Magellan’s fleet saw 9 men in a boat approaching them and these men came from the
island Zuluan (still part of Zamal). They showed joy and eagerness in seeing them.
The men were giving signs of joy for Magellan's arrival.
There was an exchange of gifts between them.
Magellan realized that the men were reasonable and welcomed them with foods,
drinks and gifts. In turn the natives gave them fish, palm wine (uraca), figs and two
cochos. The natives also gave them rice (umai), cocos and other food supplies.
Pigafetta detailed in amazement and fascination the palm tree which bore fruits called
cocho and wine. He described what seemed like coconut.

MARCH 22, 1521

The natives (Filipinos) gave the remaining gifts they promised to Magellan.
The seignior of the natives was painted (tattooed) and had many accessories.
They call the natives caphri, or heathen.
They go naked, only covering their privates.
MARCH 25, 1521
Pigafetta recounted that they saw two ballanghai, a long boat full of people in
Mazzava/Mazaua (Limasawa) . The leader, who Pigafetta referred to as the King of
ballanghai (balangay) sent his men to the ship of Magellan. The Europeans entertained
these men and gave them gifts. Approached by the natives on boloto (baroto).

03
MARCH 29, 1521
Magellan was introduced to the King’s brother who was also a king of another island.
They went to this island and Pigefetta reported that they saw mines of gold. The gold was
abundant that parts of the ship and of the house of the second king were made of gold.
Pigafetta described this king as the most handsome of all men in the island. Introduced
two kings: Rajah Siagu of Limasawa and Rajah Colambu of Butuan.

MARCH 31, 1521 (EASTER SUNDAY)

Pedro Valderrama, a priest, was sent by Magellan to start the first Mass in the
Philippines.
A cross which was said to benefit the natives was erected on the summit of the
highest mountain
They call the natives caphri, or heathen.
They go naked, only covering their privates.

APRIL 7, 1521
Magellan and his men entered the port of Zubu (Cebu) and fired mortars.
Magellan sent an ambassador and the interpreter.
The king, Rajah Humabon said that all ships were required to pay tribute.
There was an exchange of warnings between the two parties.
A blood compact or sanduguan- sign of brotherhood and allegiance was made
between the two parties.

APRIL 14, 1521

A mass was held with Rajah Humabon and his people attending the ceremony.
800 souls were baptized.
Pigafetta showed Queen Juana (wife of Rajah Humabon) 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.

Note:
After the baptism, Rajah Humabon was named Don Charles (Carlos), Rajah Colambu as
Don Fernando, Rajah Siagu as Jehan

APRIL 26, 1521

According to Zula, the chief of Matan, there is a chief in the island of Matan (Mactan)
named Cilapulapu who refused to obey the king of Spain.
Zula requested the captain to send him only one boatload of men to fight against the
other chief. The captain- general decided to go there with three boatloads.

04
 APRIL 27, 1521
Magellan’s forces: 49
Islanders of Mactan: more than 1,500
THE BATTLE BEGAN
Magellan was specifically targeted by the islanders because he was the captain.
Natives aimed for the enemies’ legs
Magellan was pierced with a poisoned arrow in his right leg
Magellan died.
Note:
The body of Magellan was not retrieved by his fleet, for the natives of Mactan intended it
to be kept as a memorial; as a sign of their victory.

Juan Sebastian Elcano became the new captain. Their fleet left Cebu and continued their
journey around the world.

analysis
16th century European economy as mercantilist; European standards
Constant narration on everything about the abundance of gold and other precious
metals, and spices
Pigafetta’s description of the natives and their way of living
Belief systems other than Christianity as blasphemous, barbaric, and even
demonic
Pigafetta as a scholar of geography and cartography.
Detailed narration of the geography and climate of the places they reached during
their voyage

05
THE INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD OF CHRISTIANITY
Attending mass and the thought of Christianity was easily embraced by the islanders not
because of their full understanding of the faith but for pragmatic purposes like the leader’s
aim of gaining the trust of a possible powerful ally, or for the subordinates just following
their leaders’ wishes.

THE BATTLE OF MACTAN

This gave the idea that ancient Filipino were not naïve on the real purpose of the coming
of the Spaniards to the archipelago but they were very much aware of aside from trading,
the Spain came in order to dominate them.

Contribution in Understanding
Philippine History
Conditions of the Visayan Islands during the 16th century
Prominent Leaders
Economic Activities
Social and Cultural Practices
Religious Beliefs

Ferdinand Magellan is a Portuguese explorer

who was born from a noble family in 1480. After
serving as a court page for two years, he
decided to be an explorer. By the year 1512, he
was stationed in Morocco and made plans to
find a western shortcut to the Spice Islands.
Unfortunately, King Emmanuel of Portugal
refused to finance his journey which prompted
him to renounce his Portuguese citizenship and
offer his services to King Charles I of Spain.

06
activity1: Let’s
Navigate Your Learning!
INSTRUCTIONS: TO ASSESS WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED IN LESSON 1,
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. WRITE YOUR ANSWERS ON THE
SPACE PROVIDED.

1. W h o i s A n t o n i o P i g a f e t t a ? W h a t w a s h i s c o n tr i b u ti o n d u r i n g t h e
first voyage around the world?
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2 . H o w w a s M a g e l l a n ’ s f l e e t r e c e i v e d b y th e n a ti v e s ? S i te ex a m p l es o f
their engagements.
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3 . W h a t i s t h e c o n t r i b u t i o n o f P i g a fe tta ’ s a c c o u n ts to th e
understanding of pre-colonial Philippines?
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09