João Serrão facts for kids
João Rodrigues Serrão (died May 1521), also known as Juan Rodríguez Serrano, was an important Portuguese and Spanish pilot and explorer. He helped Portugal control parts of the Indian Ocean and the Strait of Malacca.
Serrão is most famous for joining Ferdinand Magellan's journey from 1519 to 1521. This trip aimed to reach the Spice Islands for King Charles I of Spain. During this expedition, they found a new way around South America to the Pacific. This journey also started Spain's connection with the Philippines.
After Magellan died in the Battle of Mactan, Serrão and Duarte Barbosa took charge of the expedition. However, they did not finish the trip around the world with Juan Sebastián Elcano. They were both killed soon after by Humabon, the leader of Cebu.
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Who Was João Serrão?
João Rodrigues Serrão is the Portuguese way to say his name. In Spanish, it is Juan Rodríguez Serrano. In English, some people called him John Serrano. He was often just called Serrão.
Early Life and Voyages
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João Serrão was born in Frixinal, a town near the border between Portugal and Spain. He was related to another famous explorer, Francisco Serrão.
Like Magellan, João Serrão first worked for the Portuguese king, Manuel I. In 1502, he was the pilot of a ship in the Fourth India Armada. This fleet was led by Vasco da Gama.
In 1505, Serrão joined the Seventh India Armada with Magellan and his relative Francisco. He was the captain of a ship called the Botafogo.
Serrão and Magellan also took part in the Portuguese conquest of Malacca in 1511. This was an important victory for Portugal.
Joining Magellan's Journey
After his adventures in Asia, Francisco Serrão stayed in the East Indies. He sent letters to João and Magellan, describing the Spice Islands. Magellan believed these islands were in Spain's part of the world, according to an old agreement called the Treaty of Tordesillas.
Magellan then asked the young Spanish king, Charles I, for money to fund a trip to these islands. When the king agreed, João Serrão joined Magellan's team as one of the captains.
Across the Oceans
In 1519, Serrão captained a ship called the Santiago as they crossed the Atlantic. Later, after some problems with other captains, he took command of the Concepción. He sailed this ship across the Pacific in 1520.
Magellan hoped to meet Francisco Serrão when they reached the Spice Islands. But in 1521, Magellan was killed in the Battle of Mactan in the Philippines. He was trying to help his new ally, Humabon, the leader of Cebu.
After Magellan's death, João Serrão became a co-leader of the expedition with Duarte Barbosa.
The Tragedy in Cebu
Magellan's will said that his Malay slave, Enrique, should be set free. However, Barbosa and Serrão decided not to free Enrique. They wanted him to keep working as an interpreter for the rest of the journey.
What happened next is unclear, but it seems Enrique played a part. On May 1, 1521, Humabon invited the Spanish leaders to a feast on Cebu. During this feast, many Spanish leaders were killed. This event is known as the Cebu Massacre.
Serrão managed to escape the trap and reached the beach. He called out to the men still on the ships for help. But João Lopes Carvalho, who then became the expedition's leader, feared it was a trick. He thought the local people were using Serrão as bait to lure more men ashore. So, he ordered his men not to go to the beach.
João Serrão was likely captured again and killed shortly after this event.
Images for kids
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A caravel listed as under Serrão's command in the 2nd squadron of the 1502 Fourth India Armada, from the 1566 Livro des Armadas
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The Fourth India Armada (1502) from the c. 1565 Livro de Lisuarte de Abreu
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The Botofogo, Serrão's ship in the Seventh India Armada (1505), from the Livro de Lisuarte
