“ First Voyage Around The

World”
by Antonio Pigafetta
BACKGROUND OF THE AUTHOR ANTONIO PIGAFETTA

Antonio Pigafetta (1491–1531) was a scholar and explorer

from Veneto. He joined the expedition to the Spice Islands

“ First Voyage Around The

led by explorer Ferdinand Magellan under the flag of King
Charles I of Spain and, following the death of Magellan in
the Philippines, the subsequent worldwide voyage. He
World”
served as Magellan’s assistant during the expedition and
maintained an accurate journal which later assisted him in
by Antonio
translating the Cebuano Pigafetta
language. It is the first document
documented in relation to the language.

Pigafetta was one of the 18 men who, under the order of

Juan Sebastián Elcano, returned to Spain in 1522, out of
the approximately 240 who set out three years before.
Those men also performed the world's first
circumnavigation. The surviving journal of Pigafetta is the
basis of much of what's known about the voyage of
Magellan and Elcano. At least one Italian Navy warship,
the Navigators class destroyer, was named after him in
1931.
“ First Voyage Around The
World”
by Antonio Pigafetta
 SUMMARY OF THE BACKGROUND
OF THE DOCUMENT

In pursuit of fame and fortune, the Portuguese

“ First Voyage Around The
explorer Ferdinand Magellan (c. 1480-1521) set sail
from Spain in 1519 with a fleet of five ships to
World”
discover the western sea route to the Spice Islands. On
the way, he found what is now known as the Magellan
by the
Strait and became Antonio Pigafetta
first European to cross the
Pacific Ocean. The voyage was long and risky, and
only one ship returned home three years later.

While filled with precious spices from the East, only 18

of the fleet's original crew of 270 returned with the
ship. Magellan himself was killed in combat on the
journey, but his successful discovery showed that the
globe could be encircled by the sea, and that the
planet was far larger than had previously been
thought.
 HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF THE
DOCUMENT
The First Voyage Around The World by Antonio
Pigafetta was written on board one of the 5 ships
“ First Voyage Around The
that was first to circumnavigate the world during
an expedition that was lead by the Portuguese
World”
explorer, Ferdinand Magellan and after his death
during the voyage, by Juan Sebastián Elcano. The
expedition startedbyinAntonio
1519 andPigafetta
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 provisions
 HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF THE
DOCUMENT
The Santiago was a caravel, • Upon arrival in Europe, Pigafetta
while the others were rated “ First Voyage
presented copies ofAround
his accountThe
to
as carracks. At the end of several highWorld”
personages,
includingby Pope
AntonioClement
Pigafetta VII,
the voyage, Antonio mother of King Francis I of
Pigafetta, the author of the France, etc.
book, was on board the • His original diary was lost, and it
is not known in what language it
Victoria; this was the only
was written.
ship that was able to return • Survives in 4 manuscript
to Spain. versions; one in Italian, 3 in
French
“ First Voyage Around The
World”
by Antonio Pigafetta