Magellan

Many credit Magellan as being the first to take a trip which circumvented the earth. However, he was not. Eighteen men returned home out of a crew of 270, and possibly the very first man on to circle the globe entirely was in fact Magellan’s slave, Enrique of Malacca.

If Enrique was in fact from Cebu, then he truly probably was the first person to circle the world. However, if this was not his homeland, then he may or may not have actually completed his trip of circumnavigation after the Europeans departed.

Enrique, also known as Henry the Black, is disputed on his origins. There exist accounts that he was native of Malacca, Sumatra, the Maluku Islands, and Cebu alike. Eventually, he was put into slavery by Sumatran slavers from his own homeland. Ferdinand Magellan purchased Enrique in Malacca in 1511 on his passage to seek out a passageway from the Americas to the East Indies for Spain.

Working not only as a slave, but as Magellan’s personal interpreter as well, Enrique became a permanent part of Magellan’s crew. He went with Magellan to Europe and then later on in his famous trip to find a passage to the Pacific Ocean traveling westward.

When Magellan reached a destination he recorded as being called “Mazaua”, in the Philippines, Enrique was deemed extremely useful in conversing with the natives and translating for Magellan and his crew. Unfortunately a short while late Magellan was killed at the Battle of Mactan, never reaching a full trip around the world.

His slave was supposed to be freed upon Magellan’s death according to the explorer’s will. However the European crew was reluctant to let him go; they blamed him for plotting the Mactan massacre. Enrique of Malacca managed to escape his captors anyhow - supposedly protected by Raja Humabon of Cebu.