Capítulo 1 A PASSAGE TO THE WORLD The Strait of Magellan during the Age of its Discovery Mauricio ONETTO PAVEZ 2 3 Mauricio Onetto Paves graduated in 2020 will be the 500th anniversary of the expedition led by history from the Pontifical Catholic Ferdinand Magellan that traversed the sea passage that now carries his University of Chile. He obtained name. It was an adventure that became part of the first circumnavigation his Masters and PhD in History and of the world. Civilizations from the L’École des Ever since, the way we think about and see the world – and even the Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales universe – has changed. The Straits of Magellan were the final piece in in Paris. a puzzle that was yet to be completed, and whose resolution enabled a He is the director of the international series of global processes to evolve, such as the movement of people, academic network GEOPAM the establishment of commercial routes, and the modernization of (Geopolítica Americana de los siglos science, among other things. This book offers a new perspective XVI-XVII), which focuses on the for the anniversary by means of an updated review of the key event, geopolitics of the Americas between based on original scientific research into some of the consequences of the 16th and 17th centuries. His negotiating the Straits for the first time. The focus is to concentrate research is funded by Chile’s National on the geopolitical impact, taking into consideration the diverse scales Fund for Scientific and Technological involved: namely the global scale of the world, the continental scale Development (FONDECYT), and he of the Americas, and the local context of Chile. The text is aimed at a currently teaches at the Autonomous general reading public so that both young and old can be inspired to University of Chile. His work and take an interest in a small building block in the construction of our publications to date have focused modern world, of the America and of Chile, with this attractive book on the development of spatial and whose text is illustrated with images especially chosen for it. historical understanding in Chile and the Americas between the 16th and 18th centuries. His most recent research focuses on the Magellan Straits and their geopolitical importance during the 16th century. 4 5 © Mauricio Onetto Pavez Graphic designer : Nicolas Sykas A PASSAGE TO THE WORLD Corrector de texto: Sebastián Suter Gándara The Strait of Magellan during the Age of its Discovery Translated into English by Natascha Scott-Stokes Illustrator/Electronic Image Restoration: Nicolas Sykas Mauricio ONETTO PAVEZ translated by Natascha SCOTT-STOKES Summary Introduction ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������11 1 - The voyage of Ferdinand Magellan and Sebastien Elcano (1518-1522) �� 13 2 - The news that changed the world ����������������������������������������������������������������������� 23 3 - A new awareness of the world ans its history after the discovery of the Straits of Magellan ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 29 4 - The Magellan Straits : a territorial conduit ������������������������������������������������� 37 5 - The Straits and «the secrets of the Earth» ����������������������������������������������������� 45 6 - The conquest of Chile : an excuse to claim the Straits of Magellan ���� 51 7 - The earliest knowledge of the Straits of Magellan : shipwrecks and exploratory voyages ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 59 8 - The Straits as a solution for the Chilean War ���������������������������������������������� 67 9 - A geopolitical problem : pirates ans english, french and dutch corsairs ��� 75 10 - The Straits as a defining factor in the perception of Chile �������������������� 83 Conclusion�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 90 Bibliography ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 92 This book is dedicated to four travellers starting their journey, Almendra, Sue, Santino and Constantin. Introduction OUNDED ON MY ACADEMIC the 16th century, need to be better RESEARCH, this book seeks to understood and valued in the teaching Foffer a new perspective on the of history, not least because they were many possible historical interpretations fundamental to the earliest pioneer of the geopolitical importance of the settlements and the emergence of Straits of Magellan throughout the globalization, which developed after that 16th century, and will place their date and endures to the present. relevance within a global and continental An understanding of how this world- American context, as well as highlight passage was viewed, coveted and their role in the establishment of Chile’s represented will enable students of national territory. history to consider new questions in In light of the imminent their learning process and will help commemorations of the 500th to expand the way we think about anniversary of the official discovery of history beyond wars, key events the Straits of Magellan – at least as far as and personalities, to include other the rest of the world was concerned in perspectives worth analysing that project that era – the intention here is to provide the creation of real and imagined spaces, a foundation on which to re-consider inspire movement around the world, this ‘world-passage’ from a historical and impact on the human imagination. point of view. The significance of the By the same token, thinking about discovery of the Straits of Magellan in connecting spaces, such as the Straits, 1520, and the subsequent development helps us understand that, from the of this geographical sea passage during beginning, national histories such as 11 distinct continents and people, number of indigenous peoples that My deep gratitude goes to Louise Bénat- and is not only relevant to already populated the region when the Tachot, Serge Gruzinski, Andréa Doré, the local national history expedition led by Ferdinand Magellan Andrés Vélez, Luz Ángela Martínez, of Chile or the regional traversed the sea passage that now Flavia Morello, Paola Grendi, Sandra history of the towns and bears his name, as well as of the grave Ulloa, Ingrid Chanefo, Joaquín Zuleta, people of the southern tip consequences they suffered as a result of Nataniel Álvarez, Marcelo Mayorga and of South America. all the changes we are about to examine. Kassandra Hernández. However, the specific objective of this This book will therefore By the same token, I would like to book is to focus on the geopolitical demonstrate the ways in thank the Autonomous University perspective. which the specific history of Chile, which has facilitated the of Chile from the 16th The interpretations offered here are publication of this work with funding century onwards was tied to supported and confirmed by a series of via its Department of Research and dynamics that went well beyond cartographic representations. Likewise, Post-graduate Studies. This publication the country’s borders – which historic manuscripts from the era and would not have been possible without were not the same in that era, and a current bibliography are presented it. Grateful acknowledgement is also evolved according to a variety of events for those who are inspired to delve offered for the role of CONICYT, the Chile’s were always connected to global – and directly impacted on its social, further into these topics by exploring the institution that provided financing considerations, which provides us with a political and territorial evolution. The specialist publications available. through its Fondecyt start-up project richer and more complex understanding central focus is primarily on geopolitics, Nr. 11150474, and to GEOPAM for its A number of individuals and of the past, replacing a simplistic localised specifically on its four constituent sponsorship programme for the creation institutions enabled this project to come view as the only possible horizon, with a dimensions: namely the political, of international networks for academics to fruition, supplying information and broader vision of the past that obliges us commercial, geographic and imaginary at the initial stage of research projects. enthusiasm, as well as participating to see it within the context of the constant spheres. in the academic activities tied to the Finally, I would like to express my tension between other people, places and Given the above, this text will not scientific research project on which this friendship and sincere professional agendas, just as in our present reality concern itself with the socio-cultural text is based. admiration for Nicolas Sykas and today. consequences of the European discovery Sebastián Suter, with whom this I acknowledge with thanks assistance In other words, this work intends to of the Straits of Magellan, nor give handsome publication was created. provided by the Instituto Français Chile, show how the history of a specific place significant attention to anthropological Without their commitment, rigorous the Centro Cultural de España, the like the Magellan Straits is linked to themes. I am very well aware of the great attention to detail and creativity this regional museum in Punta Arenas and global history, with connections to book would never have been possible. LiquenLab.