This document is a foundational work of Spanish maritime history, compiled by the eminent naval historian Martín Fernández de Navarrete. The overall collection brings together an extensive body of primary source documents concerning the voyages of discovery and the establishment of Spanish rule in the Americas and the Indies from the late 15th century onward. This particular volume, Volume IV, is dedicated to the pivotal expeditions to the Molucca Islands, a commercial prize that drove much of Spain's early global strategy. Its core focus is the epic voyage of Ferdinand Magellan, who sought a western passage to the East, and its successful conclusion by Juan Sebastián Elcano, marking the first circumnavigation of the Earth. The work is crucial for understanding the political, geographical, and navigational advancements of the era, as it details the persistent search for a trans-continental strait, the initial attempts at a Panama crossing, and the strategic disputes between the Spanish and Portuguese crowns over the global demarcation line. Fernández de Navarrete’s diligent coordination and illustration of these documents cemented this collection as an indispensable resource for the study of the Castilian Navy and the Spanish colonial enterprise.
Colección de los viages y descubrimientos que hicieron por mar los españoles desde fines del siglo XV: Tomo IV. Expediciones al Maluco. — Viage de Magallanes y de Elcano