The Not-So-Humdrum Story of Magellan’s 'Genoese Pilot'

While some historians have discounted the Roteiro’s value—“humdrum,” “boring”—it opens an interesting subplot in the Magellan story. The account was likely written by Juan Bautista de Punzorol (Giovanni Battista di Polcevera) or León Pancaldo (Pancado) (Torodash, 1972: 319; Morison, 1974: 322). The two Genoese signed on to the Trinidad, Bautista as master and Pancaldo as an able seaman. . . .  >>Read.