Enrique of Malacca

Enrique of Malacca or Enrique de Molucca , so known like Enrique the Black , (born about 1495) was the Esclave and Ferdinand Magellan interprets it and would be the first nobody to have achieved a Round the world tour.

One is unaware of if it were originating in Sumatra (in Indonesia), of Malacca (in Malaysia) or of Cebu (with the Filipino ): the primary source on its career, Antonio Pigafetta, chronicler of Magellan, does not indicate it with exactitude. Posterior authors suggested several theories. Thus, the Malayan novelist Harun Aminurashid considers it natural of Malaysia and calls it Panglima Awang in its historical novels. Remain that one wonders whether it really made the round the world tour, since it is turned over in 1521 to the Filipino , whereas the Spaniard Sebastián Elcano finished to it his in 1522.

Origin

Enrique was captured in Sumatra in 1511 whereas it had between twelve and eighteen years. Magellan was in the archipelago of Moluques in a forwarding carried out under the direction of Diego Lopez Sequeira and Alfonso de Albuquerque, on behalf of Portugal eager to colonize the Malaysia and the Indonesia.

Duarte Barbosa mentions that there existed in Malacca the Community of tradesmen, workers and mercenaries Filipino at the time where Magellan Enrique had acquired there. It is not very probable that it was of Moslem origin, indeed, of the indigenous Malayan Moslems would not have sold a slave of their own religion to a Christian. It is consequently more probable than Enrique is originating in Philippines. The historian Laurence Bergreen declares that the baptism of Enrique proceeded in 1511, the year of his capture.

Enrique accompanied Magellan when this last regained Europe in 1512. It remained with its service during nearly 15 years. It followed it to Portugal, then in Spain and embarked with him on board the nave amirale the " Victoria" in 1519. Magellan accomplished his voyage while taking the road of the West, which took it along to Philippines where it was to die. He thus made well the round the world tour, in two stages, a half by the East, the other by the West, the point of meeting held on the two half-spheres thus covered being located in the islands. Enrique, having returned with its starting point by accompanying the admiral is without question, and in strict equality with Magellan, the first man to have achieved the Round the world tour. This obviousness is still not very allowed by the historians whose Western point of view deforms the realistic reading of the events.

The Voyage

Magellan took with him Enrique when it left in 1519 with the order the Spanish crown to seek a passage to reach the New World and to cross Moluques by the Western road. According to the chronicles of Pigafetta, while arriving at the islands Samar and Cebu, to Philippines, Enrique could not enter in communication with the natives. While approaching another island, a small boat approached the Spanish ships. Discouraged by its preceding failures, Enrique did not think that the natives would include/understand it. But finally, its greeting into Malayan was included/understood.

The members of the crew of the small boat refused to get into the ship of Magellan, but while following those in the second island, which accepted the name of Mazzaua , Enrique saw that it could communicate easily with them. The surprise of the interpreter was due partly to the fact that it was difficult for him to conceive that it was turned over to his starting point. Except for Magellan who had visited the Indies Orientales previously, the Spanish members of the crew - inter alia Elcano - had still thousands of kilometers to traverse before finishing their round the world tour.

Death of Magellan

The April 27th 1521 Magellan died in the combat with the natives directed by Lapu-Lapu in the battle of Mactán, in Philippines. According to the testimony of Pigaffetta, Magellan had envisaged to free Enrique in his will.

However, the new commander, Duarte Barbosa, refused to grant freedom to him. Barbosa, beautiful brother of the admiral, in spite to suspect Enrique, which it treated hard, needed its services as interprets, consequently it sent it on mission near the rajah Hamubon, the chief or datu of Cebu. It is said that Enrique suggested in Hamubon inviting the Spaniards with a banquet in order to get rid of them easily. Nearly thirty Spaniards there went and were killed, except Juan Serrano, that his/her companions gave up on the beach in spite of its calls to the assistance. Weakened by their losses, the Spaniards had then to give up one their ships. Pigafetta, which had carried out a lexicon of the indigenous language of Cebu, acted from now on as interpreter. One is unaware of what it occurred of Enrique, although it is known that it survived the battle.

Refer

, a descendant of Enrique de Malaca.

External bonds

* Notes on Pigaffetta with the library of the University of Yale
Mazaua
Notes on Pigafetta, Mazua, and Ginés de Mafra, sailors of Magellan
Enrique
Pigafetta
pdf Enrique of Malacca
Magellan
the round the world tour by Magellan, radiophonic series, scenario according to the chronicle of Antonio Pigafetta

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