Trinidad (ship)
Encyclopedia
The Trinidad was the flagship of Ferdinand Magellan
's voyage of circumnavigation. Unlike Elcano's Victoria
, which returned to Spain, the Trinidad tried and failed to return by way of Mexico. Trinidad was a nao
(ship) of 100 tons (or 110 tons, Morrison has both) with square sails on the fore and main masts and a lateen mizzen. Its original crew was 61. After Magellan's death and the burning of the Concepcion, the Victoria and Trinidad reached Tidore
on November 8, 1521. In mid-December both ships attempted to depart loaded with Cloves, but Trinidad almost immediately began to leak badly. Inspection showed that the problem was serious. It was agreed that the Victoria would leave for Spain and the Trinidad would remain for repairs.
On April 6 1522, the Trinidad left Tidore loaded with 50 tons of cloves. Its commander was Gonzalo Gomez de Espinosa, Magellan's alguacil (master-at-arms), a good soldier, but no sailor. After ten days the Trinidad put in at one of the Marianas, where three men deserted, and then headed northeast. Espinosa was apparently trying to reach the Westerlies
, but did not find them, probably because of the summer monsoon. He reached 42
or 43 degrees north
in increasingly bad weather. Scurvy
set in, ultimately killing 30 men and leaving only 20 to sail the ship. Five months after leaving, he turned back and two months later reached the Moluccas.
The previous May a fleet of seven Portuguese ships under Antonio de Brito reached Tidore, seeking to arrest Magellan. Espinosa sent Brito a letter begging for supplies. Brito sent an armed party to capture the Trinidad, but, instead of armed resistance, they found only a ship on the verge of sinking and a crew near death. The Trinidad was sailed back to Ternate where its sails and rigging were removed. The ship was caught in a storm and smashed to pieces.
Only four of the survivors got back to Europe. Juan Rodriguez escaped in a Portuguese ship. Espinosa, Mafra and Vargue spent two years at hard labor and were then shipped to Lisbon. Hans Bergen, the Norwegian gunner, died in a Portuguese prison. (In Bergreen's book his name is noted as Hans Vargue at the end of the book, and as Hans Bergen in the beginning.) Gines de Mafra, a pilot, was reported in the Philippines in 1542. Espinosa is last heard of as a Spanish inspector of ships in 1543.
Ferdinand Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer. He was born in Sabrosa, in northern Portugal, and served King Charles I of Spain in search of a westward route to the "Spice Islands" ....
's voyage of circumnavigation. Unlike Elcano's Victoria
Victoria (ship)
Victoria was a Spanish carrack and the first ship to successfully circumnavigate the world. The Victoria was part of a Spanish expedition commanded by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, and after his demise during the voyage, by Juan Sebastián Elcano...
, which returned to Spain, the Trinidad tried and failed to return by way of Mexico. Trinidad was a nao
Carrack
A carrack or nau was a three- or four-masted sailing ship developed in 15th century Western Europe for use in the Atlantic Ocean. It had a high rounded stern with large aftcastle, forecastle and bowsprit at the stem. It was first used by the Portuguese , and later by the Spanish, to explore and...
(ship) of 100 tons (or 110 tons, Morrison has both) with square sails on the fore and main masts and a lateen mizzen. Its original crew was 61. After Magellan's death and the burning of the Concepcion, the Victoria and Trinidad reached Tidore
Tidore
Tidore is a city, island, and archipelago in the Maluku Islands of eastern Indonesia, west of the larger island of Halmahera. In the pre-colonial era, the kingdom of Tidore was a major regional political and economic power, and a fierce rival of nearby Ternate, just to the north.-Geography:Tidor...
on November 8, 1521. In mid-December both ships attempted to depart loaded with Cloves, but Trinidad almost immediately began to leak badly. Inspection showed that the problem was serious. It was agreed that the Victoria would leave for Spain and the Trinidad would remain for repairs.
On April 6 1522, the Trinidad left Tidore loaded with 50 tons of cloves. Its commander was Gonzalo Gomez de Espinosa, Magellan's alguacil (master-at-arms), a good soldier, but no sailor. After ten days the Trinidad put in at one of the Marianas, where three men deserted, and then headed northeast. Espinosa was apparently trying to reach the Westerlies
Westerlies
The Westerlies, anti-trades, or Prevailing Westerlies, are the prevailing winds in the middle latitudes between 30 and 60 degrees latitude, blowing from the high pressure area in the horse latitudes towards the poles. These prevailing winds blow from the west to the east, and steer extratropical...
, but did not find them, probably because of the summer monsoon. He reached 42
42nd parallel north
The 42nd parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 42 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America, and the Atlantic Ocean....
or 43 degrees north
43rd parallel north
The 43rd parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 43 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America, and the Atlantic Ocean....
in increasingly bad weather. Scurvy
Scurvy
Scurvy is a disease resulting from a deficiency of vitamin C, which is required for the synthesis of collagen in humans. The chemical name for vitamin C, ascorbic acid, is derived from the Latin name of scurvy, scorbutus, which also provides the adjective scorbutic...
set in, ultimately killing 30 men and leaving only 20 to sail the ship. Five months after leaving, he turned back and two months later reached the Moluccas.
The previous May a fleet of seven Portuguese ships under Antonio de Brito reached Tidore, seeking to arrest Magellan. Espinosa sent Brito a letter begging for supplies. Brito sent an armed party to capture the Trinidad, but, instead of armed resistance, they found only a ship on the verge of sinking and a crew near death. The Trinidad was sailed back to Ternate where its sails and rigging were removed. The ship was caught in a storm and smashed to pieces.
Only four of the survivors got back to Europe. Juan Rodriguez escaped in a Portuguese ship. Espinosa, Mafra and Vargue spent two years at hard labor and were then shipped to Lisbon. Hans Bergen, the Norwegian gunner, died in a Portuguese prison. (In Bergreen's book his name is noted as Hans Vargue at the end of the book, and as Hans Bergen in the beginning.) Gines de Mafra, a pilot, was reported in the Philippines in 1542. Espinosa is last heard of as a Spanish inspector of ships in 1543.
Further reading
- Bergreen, Laurence, Over the Edge of the World, 2003
- Samuel Eliot Morrison, The European Discovery of America - The Southern Voyages, 1974