ANTONIO PIGAFETTA - ENRIQUE THE BLACK

The relationship between Antonio Pigafetta and Enrique of Malacca (often called "Enrique the Black") is one of the most significant links in the history of the first circumnavigation of the world.

Pigafetta was the expedition's chronicler, while Enrique was the interpreter whose ability to speak with the locals proved that the world was indeed round.

The Chronicler and the Interpreter

Antonio Pigafetta was an Italian scholar who joined Ferdinand Magellan’s 1519 expedition as a volunteer. Because of his detailed journal, we have almost all our knowledge regarding Enrique, a man Magellan had enslaved in Malacca in 1511.

1. The Moment of Discovery

The most famous moment involving the two occurred in March 1521. When the ships reached the island of Limasawa (in the modern-day Philippines), Enrique spoke to the locals and found they understood him perfectly.

• Significance: This was the "linguistic circumnavigation." It proved the fleet had reached the East by sailing West.
• Pigafetta’s Record: Pigafetta noted that Enrique spoke a form of Malay, which was the lingua franca of trade in the region.

2. A Collaborative Effort

Historians believe Enrique was more than just a subject of Pigafetta’s writing; he was likely a collaborator.

• Pigafetta compiled a glossary of local words (one of the first recorded lists of Cebuano/Visayan and Malay).
• Pigafetta was a meticulous record-keeper. During his time with Enrique, he compiled a list of over 400 Malay words (which he called "Moorish") and a significant glossary Cebuan / Visayan words. 
• Since Enrique was from Sumatra/Malacca, he helped Pigafetta translate the lingua franca of the regional trade. Pigafetta's Malay list is one of the earliest Malay-European dictionaries. 
• Modern linguists suggest Pigafetta relied heavily on Enrique to translate these terms and cultural nuances.

3. Tension and the Final Act

After Magellan was killed in the Battle of Mactan (1521), their relationship took a dark turn.

• The Betrayal: Magellan’s will stated that Enrique should be freed upon his death. However, the new commanders refused to honor this.
• Pigafetta's Account: Pigafetta records that a bitter Enrique conspired with the local ruler, Rajah Humabon, leading to a massacre of the Spanish officers at a banquet.
• The End: Enrique survived the massacre and disappeared from the historical record. Pigafetta was one of the few who escaped back to the ships and eventually made it to Spain.

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Comparison of Roles

Feature	Antonio Pigafetta	Enrique of Malacca
Origin	Vicenza, Italy	Sumatra or Malacca (likely)
Status	Scholar / Volunteer	Enslaved Interpreter
Fate	Returned to Spain; wrote the chronicle	Disappeared in the Philippines
Claim to Fame	Documented the first circumnavigation	Potentially the first person to actually circle the globe

Was Enrique the First to Circumnavigate?

While Juan Sebastián Elcano and the crew of the Victoria are officially credited as the first to return to their starting point in Spain, many historians argue Enrique has a stronger claim.

Because Enrique traveled from Malacca to Europe (1511) and then from Europe back to the Malay-speaking world (1521), he had completed a full circle of the earth's longitudes a year before the Spanish survivors did.

24/12/2025: 11.04 A.M