Jaume Ferrer
Encyclopedia
Jaume Ferrer was a Majorcan
sailor and explorer.
Practically nothing is known of Jaume Ferrer, save that he was a Majorcan
captain, who set out in a galley in 1346, and sailed down the West African coast in an attempt to reach the legendary "River of Gold". The results of this expedition, including whether Ferrer survived the journey, are unknown. Some recent research tentatively identifies Jaume Ferrer as "Giacomino Ferrar di Casa Maveri", a second generation Genoese
immigrant in Majorca.
Nearly the only information for his expedition is the depiction and note given in the Catalan Atlas
of 1375, attributed to the Majorcan cartographer Abraham Cresques
. In the bottom left corner of the map, there is a brightly-painted Aragonese
-flagged vessel and a note indicating merely that "Jacme Ferrer" set out in an uxer on August 10, 1346, to search for the "Riu de l'Or". ("Partic l’uixer d’en Jacme Ferrer per ‘nar al Riu de l´Or al jorn de Sent Llorenç qui és a X d’agost e fo en l’any MCCCXLVI")
An uxer is a single-mast, square-rigged & oar-powered cargo galley, with rounded stern and low prow, commonly used to freight horses.
The geographic position of the ship (below the Canary Islands
) suggest Ferrer probably sailed past Cape Bojador
, at that time the non plus ultra of navigation, beyond which European ships dared not sail. If Ferrer survived and returned, then his feat preceded, by nearly a whole century, the famous successful passage of that cape by the Portuguese explorer Gil Eanes
in 1434.
There is a sliver of additional information found in a note in the secret archives of the Republic of Genoa
(uncovered in 1802), which refers to the expedition, noting that "Joannis Ferne", a Catalan, left "the city of the Majorcans" in a galeass on July 10, 1346 but the vessel was never heard of again, that he went searching for the Riu Auri ('River of Gold') because he heard that it was a collection point for "aurum de paiola" (gold nuggets?), that the people on the shores were all engaged in gold collection, and that the river was wide and deep enough for the largest ships.
The "River of Gold", frequently spoken of by Trans-Saharan trade
rs, were references to the Senegal River
that flowed into the heart of the gold-producing Mali Empire
. The Genoese note refers to it also by the alternate name of Vedamel - almost certainly a derivation from the Arabic, probably Wad al-mal ('river of treasure') or possibly, by transcription error, Wad al-Nill ('river of Nile - the Senegal was also long known as the 'Western Nile'). Vedamel might also be the origin of Budomel used by early Portuguese explorers in the 15th C. to refer to a Wolof
statelet on the Grande Côte, below the Senegal River.
Despite the sparse information, Jaume Ferrer is memorialized in his native city of Palma de Mallorca
, by a street name, a statue in the Plaza de las Atarazanas and a relief in the town hall. The Atlas's ship is reproduced on a monumental sundial on the city's martime promenade.
Kingdom of Majorca
The Kingdom of Majorca was founded by James I of Aragon, also known as James The Conqueror. After the death of his first-born son Alfonso, a will was written in 1262 which created the kingdom in order to cede it to his son James...
sailor and explorer.
Practically nothing is known of Jaume Ferrer, save that he was a Majorcan
Kingdom of Majorca
The Kingdom of Majorca was founded by James I of Aragon, also known as James The Conqueror. After the death of his first-born son Alfonso, a will was written in 1262 which created the kingdom in order to cede it to his son James...
captain, who set out in a galley in 1346, and sailed down the West African coast in an attempt to reach the legendary "River of Gold". The results of this expedition, including whether Ferrer survived the journey, are unknown. Some recent research tentatively identifies Jaume Ferrer as "Giacomino Ferrar di Casa Maveri", a second generation Genoese
Republic of Genoa
The Most Serene Republic of Genoa |Ligurian]]: Repúbrica de Zêna) was an independent state from 1005 to 1797 in Liguria on the northwestern Italian coast, as well as Corsica from 1347 to 1768, and numerous other territories throughout the Mediterranean....
immigrant in Majorca.
Nearly the only information for his expedition is the depiction and note given in the Catalan Atlas
Catalan Atlas
The Catalan Atlas is the most important Catalan map of the medieval period. It was produced by the Majorcan cartographic school and is attributed to Cresques Abraham , a Jewish book illuminator who was self-described as being a master of the maps of the world as well as compasses...
of 1375, attributed to the Majorcan cartographer Abraham Cresques
Abraham Cresques
Abraham Cresques , whose real name was probably Cresques Abraham, was a 14th-century Jewish cartographer from Palma, Majorca...
. In the bottom left corner of the map, there is a brightly-painted Aragonese
Kingdom of Aragon
The Kingdom of Aragon was a medieval and early modern kingdom in the Iberian Peninsula, corresponding to the modern-day autonomous community of Aragon, in Spain...
-flagged vessel and a note indicating merely that "Jacme Ferrer" set out in an uxer on August 10, 1346, to search for the "Riu de l'Or". ("Partic l’uixer d’en Jacme Ferrer per ‘nar al Riu de l´Or al jorn de Sent Llorenç qui és a X d’agost e fo en l’any MCCCXLVI")
An uxer is a single-mast, square-rigged & oar-powered cargo galley, with rounded stern and low prow, commonly used to freight horses.
The geographic position of the ship (below the Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
) suggest Ferrer probably sailed past Cape Bojador
Cape Bojador
Cape Bojador or Cape Boujdour is a headland on the northern coast of Western Sahara, at 26° 07' 37"N, 14° 29' 57"W. , as well as the name of a nearby town with a population of 41,178.It is shown on nautical charts with the original Portuguese name "Cabo Bojador", but is sometimes...
, at that time the non plus ultra of navigation, beyond which European ships dared not sail. If Ferrer survived and returned, then his feat preceded, by nearly a whole century, the famous successful passage of that cape by the Portuguese explorer Gil Eanes
Gil Eanes
Gil Eanes was a 15th-century Portuguese navigator and explorer.Little is known about the personal life of Gil Eanes, prior to his role in the Portuguese Age of Discovery, and was considered a household servant and shield-bearer of the Infante Henry the Navigator...
in 1434.
There is a sliver of additional information found in a note in the secret archives of the Republic of Genoa
Republic of Genoa
The Most Serene Republic of Genoa |Ligurian]]: Repúbrica de Zêna) was an independent state from 1005 to 1797 in Liguria on the northwestern Italian coast, as well as Corsica from 1347 to 1768, and numerous other territories throughout the Mediterranean....
(uncovered in 1802), which refers to the expedition, noting that "Joannis Ferne", a Catalan, left "the city of the Majorcans" in a galeass on July 10, 1346 but the vessel was never heard of again, that he went searching for the Riu Auri ('River of Gold') because he heard that it was a collection point for "aurum de paiola" (gold nuggets?), that the people on the shores were all engaged in gold collection, and that the river was wide and deep enough for the largest ships.
The "River of Gold", frequently spoken of by Trans-Saharan trade
Trans-Saharan trade
Trans-Saharan trade requires travel across the Sahara to reach sub-Saharan Africa. While existing from prehistoric times, the peak of trade extended from the 8th century until the late 16th century.- Increasing desertification and economic incentive :...
rs, were references to the Senegal River
Sénégal River
The Sénégal River is a long river in West Africa that forms the border between Senegal and Mauritania.The Sénégal's headwaters are the Semefé and Bafing rivers which both originate in Guinea; they form a small part of the Guinean-Malian border before coming together at Bafoulabé in Mali...
that flowed into the heart of the gold-producing Mali Empire
Mali Empire
The Mali Empire or Mandingo Empire or Manden Kurufa was a West African empire of the Mandinka from c. 1230 to c. 1600. The empire was founded by Sundiata Keita and became renowned for the wealth of its rulers, especially Mansa Musa I...
. The Genoese note refers to it also by the alternate name of Vedamel - almost certainly a derivation from the Arabic, probably Wad al-mal ('river of treasure') or possibly, by transcription error, Wad al-Nill ('river of Nile - the Senegal was also long known as the 'Western Nile'). Vedamel might also be the origin of Budomel used by early Portuguese explorers in the 15th C. to refer to a Wolof
Wolof people
The Wolof are an ethnic group found in Senegal, The Gambia, and Mauritania.In Senegal, the Wolof form an ethnic plurality with about 43.3% of the population are Wolofs...
statelet on the Grande Côte, below the Senegal River.
Despite the sparse information, Jaume Ferrer is memorialized in his native city of Palma de Mallorca
Palma de Mallorca
Palma is the major city and port on the island of Majorca and capital city of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands in Spain. The names Ciutat de Mallorca and Ciutat were used before the War of the Spanish Succession and are still used by people in Majorca. However, the official name...
, by a street name, a statue in the Plaza de las Atarazanas and a relief in the town hall. The Atlas's ship is reproduced on a monumental sundial on the city's martime promenade.
Sources
- Fernández-Armesto, F. (2007) Before Columbus: exploration and colonisation from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic 1229-1492. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.
- Betz, R.L. (2007) The Mapping of Africa: a cartobibliography of printed maps of the African continent to 1700, Hes & de Graaf
- Russell, Peter E. (1995) Portugal, Spain, and the African Atlantic, 1343-1490: chivalry and crusade from John of Gaunt to Henry the Navigator, Varorium.
- Russell, P.E. (2000) Prince Henry 'the Navigator': a life. New Haven, Conn: Yale University Press.
- Riera i Sans, Jaume (2000) "La Identitat de Jaume Ferrer, El Navegant (1346)", Memòries de L'Acadèmia Mallorquina d'Estudis Genealògics, Heràldics i Històrics, 10, Palma. (English translation online