Rodrigo de Triana
Encyclopedia
Rodrigo de Triana was a sailor and the first European since the Viking
s known to have seen America. Born as Juan Rodrigo Bermejo, Triana was the son of Morisco
hidalgo
and potter
Vicente Bermejo and Sereni Betancour.
On October 12, 1492, while on Christopher Columbus
's ship La Pinta, he sighted America
.
After spotting America at approximately two o'clock in the morning, he is reported to have shouted "¡Tierra! ¡Tierra!" (land! land!) Columbus claims in his journal that he saw "light" at 10 p.m. the previous day, "but it was so indistinct that he did not dare to affirm it was land".
Triana went without reward and credit for this find. According to Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo, he moved to Africa and converted to Islam
from Judaism
or Christianity
following his unrewarded discovery, but other sources state that he travelled to Molucas in 1525.
James Street's 1953 historical novel, "The Velvet Doublet," richly details The Discovery and exposes the myriad myths of Christopher Columbus, all through the supposed eyes of Rodrigo de Triana. It is meat and wine for those who want to deepen their understanding of this time and its chief characters. Street, however, casts Rodrigo as a native-born Andalusian Catholic, not a Marrano.
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
s known to have seen America. Born as Juan Rodrigo Bermejo, Triana was the son of Morisco
Morisco
Moriscos or Mouriscos , meaning "Moorish", were the converted Christian inhabitants of Spain and Portugal of Muslim heritage. Over time the term was used in a pejorative sense applied to those nominal Catholics who were suspected of secretly practicing Islam.-Demographics:By the beginning of the...
hidalgo
Hidalgo (Spanish nobility)
A hidalgo or fidalgo is a member of the Spanish and Portuguese nobility. In popular usage it has come to mean the non-titled nobility. Hidalgos were exempt from paying taxes, but did not necessarily own real property...
and potter
Pottery
Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
Vicente Bermejo and Sereni Betancour.
On October 12, 1492, while on Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
's ship La Pinta, he sighted America
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
.
After spotting America at approximately two o'clock in the morning, he is reported to have shouted "¡Tierra! ¡Tierra!" (land! land!) Columbus claims in his journal that he saw "light" at 10 p.m. the previous day, "but it was so indistinct that he did not dare to affirm it was land".
Triana went without reward and credit for this find. According to Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo, he moved to Africa and converted to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
from Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
or Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
following his unrewarded discovery, but other sources state that he travelled to Molucas in 1525.
See also
- Christopher ColumbusChristopher ColumbusChristopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
- Columbian IssueColumbian IssueThe Columbian Issue, often simply called the Columbians, is a set of 16 postage stamps issued by the United States to mark the 1893 World Columbian Exposition held in Chicago...
- Triana satellite (cancelled NASA mission)
James Street's 1953 historical novel, "The Velvet Doublet," richly details The Discovery and exposes the myriad myths of Christopher Columbus, all through the supposed eyes of Rodrigo de Triana. It is meat and wine for those who want to deepen their understanding of this time and its chief characters. Street, however, casts Rodrigo as a native-born Andalusian Catholic, not a Marrano.