COLUMBUS AND CROATIANS
By Adam S. Eterovich

A Croatian traveling west In Europe or to the New World from 1300-1700 could have been identified in documents as Hungarian, Venetian, Austrian, Turkish, Italian, Slavonian, Illyrian, Dalmatian or from the Republic of Ragusa (Dubrovnik). 

The merchant class and nobility in Croatian-Dalmatia used two versions of their name such as Florio-Cvjetkovich, Mladineo-Mladinich, Hetoreo-Eterovich; others were recorded as Mateo de Lesina (Hvar), Pero de Brazza (Brac), Bozo de Ragusa or as a Slavonian (Italian-Schiavoni), (Spanish-Esclavon). All Croatian geographical place names were in Italian, Hungarian or German. 

In 1992 to state or assume that Croatians participated in discovery of new lands and were with Columbus would not be believed and probably questioned in many circles. The 1400's-1650's were in fact a golden age for Croatia disproportionate to her size in territory and population, considering the Ottoman Turk invasion and conquest up to Croatian-Dalmatia and the Republic of Ragusa. 

Previous, during and after the discovery of America Croatians participated in mercantile and diplomatic activities in Spain, Portugal, England, France, Florence, Venice, Genoa and in India, America, Canada, Central and South America. 

Their presence in Spain at the time of discovery was neither accidental nor
luck. 

MAPS-CHARTS-PILOTS-SHIP CAPTAINS

All historians, mapmakers, cartographers admit to the unreliability of maps, charts, and commentary on the first explorations in the New World because of re-copying, transcribing and translation to and from Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, French and English. The Pilot Majors were in charge of all maps and the kings considered the information to be top secret. Harrisse in his Discovery of North America adequately states the above: 

"Whether they are the work of Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, or French cartographers, or even pilots, the new regions exhibit names that are plainly corruptions of words which belonged originally to one of the Latin languages. The ignorance or carelessness of copyists to whom the work was entrusted, it does not matter where or by whom, is the principal cause of geographical errors and enigmas, which the critic cannot ever hope to solve entirely.” 

RAGUSA-RAGUSAN AS USED IN THE WEST

The Republic of Dubrovnik was known in the Middle Ages as the Republic of Ragusa. For the purpose of this study we will use Ragusa and Ragusan.  Variations of Ragusa and Ragusan Included: 

Rhagusi, Rhagusei, Arragosie, Raugia, Aragucesas, Aragose, Ragouze, Arragowze, Aragoso, Aragosee, Arause, Rogaoso, Aragujo, Araguz, Ragoza, Aranguren, Ragusee, Argosine, Rauseo, Ragusien, Arragosy, Ragason, Aragus, Ragus, Araguses, Ragusies, Ragusei, Aragosia, Arragouse, Sarragouse, Argosy, Argose, Argosie, Aragouse, Arguze, Ragusye, Arragouese, Ragozine, Rausa.

Shakespeare used Ragozine in one of his plays. The above variations were found in many books published in the west during the 1500's-1600's. 

SAINT VLAHO AS USED IN THE WEST

Saint Vlaho was the Patron Saint of Ragusa. All Ragusan galleons carried the flag of Saint Vlaho. In the West Saint Vlaho was mentioned as follows: 

Biagio-Italian, Blaas-Dutch, Blaise-French, Blaise-English, Blaze-English, Blas-Spanish, Blasi-German, Blasol-German, Braz-Portuguese, Bras- Portuguese.

RAGUSA AND VENICE

At the time of discovery by Columbus, Magellan, Cabot, and Verrazano, the merchant fleets of the Republic of Venice, the city states of Italy and the mercantile Croatian Republic of Ragusa were larger in fleet tonnage but were distant from the New World and did not command large armies or territory. Their trade operations were oriented toward the East. They were effectively excluded by the Spanish, English, Portuguese and French from competing in trade and colonization in the New World. One thing they did have was centuries-old experience of captains, pilots, mariners, merchants, bankers, and shipbuilders in the 600-1000 ton class of galleon. 

Commentary In the Mariner's Mirror, Vol. IV, 1914, states that it is unlikely that any well known picture of an Argosy (Ragusan ship) exists. Crescentio, an Italian naval historian of the 1500's, states that the Ragusans were the best builders of galleons in the Mediterranean and that the Argosy was a galleon of Ragusa.  Dubrovnik-Ragusa was the leader in the 700-1200 ton galleon and quality of shipbuilding. Venice and Ragusa commanded the largest fleets.  Croatian-Dalmatia was approximately 70% of the land - island territory of the Republic of Venice at that time and Dalmatian ships, captains, pilots and mariners contributed at least 60% to the fleet strength of Venice. 
Croatians participated in Venetian and Ragusan fleet operations. A substantial number of Dalmatians also operated directly out of Naples. 

CROATIANS IN SPAIN AND PORTUGAL

Mercantile and diplomatic relations between Spain and Ragusa were well established in the 15th century. Spremic in his book Dubrovnik and Aragon, 1442-1495, elaborates quite thoroughly on trade and diplomatic relations. At the beginning of the 1500's King Ferdinand of Spain confirmed all old privileges of Ragusa pertaining to trade and diplomacy. 

Croatians at the Discovery and Colonization of the Amazon in Brazil

In a study on the Discovery of the Amazon the Spanish Crown best expressed the attitude towards Ragusan ships, captains and mariners and their acceptance in Spanish fleet operations:

“Your Highness will probably have to make some special dispensations (in Orellana's favor) because he is very seriously handicapped by a shortage of
pilots and masters, for the reason that, since it [i.e. the expedition) is for an unfamiliar country, he can not find any competent pilots or masters, particularly any who are natives of these realms, and he has a Ragusan as master of the flagship, and with him. a few more seamen from his country, and some Levantines, and the majority of the remainder of the seamen that he has are Flemings and Germans and [only] a few Spaniards; he did have a few Englishmen and Portuguese, whom we compelled him to discharge.  But these explanations did not convince the royal officials, particularly as
they could plainly see that pilots and shipmasters were still lacking; that the majority of the sailors still available, after they (the officials) had caused to be discharged those who turned out to be Englishmen and Portuguese, were Flemings and Germans; that the master of the flagship was a Ragusan, with whom they did not dare to use the same procedure, aware as they were that if they did so there would not remain on the ships a single person capable of keeping them under. control." 

Another author comments on Spanish crews in the Indies:

"All of the officers and royal officials serving on all the ships in the Indies navigation, with the exception of navigators-who were often either Portuguese or Italian (probably included Dalmatian-Venetians), were Spanish citizens by birth. On the other hand, the crews on these ships were made up of men and boys of every European country. Although this was prevalent throughout the history of the Indies navigation with Spaniards sometimes making up less than 20 percent of the crew it was contrary to royal regulations, but due to the shortage of seafaring Spaniards, the officials of the House of Trade turned a blind eye. At times on a single merchant nao there were as many as twelve different European nations represented among the men in the crew, all of whom spoke different languages, resulting in a great deal of confusion and constant fighting between the seamen." 

Two excellent studies done by Luetic and Villari cover Ragusan Ships and Seaman in the Service of Spain and Ragusan Ships and Captains in Spanish Service. One of the most famous admirals in Spanish service was Don Pedro Ivella or Petar Ohmucevich of Slano, Dubrovnik. He commanded twelve Ragusan galleons in the famed Spanish Gold and Silver fleets. Don Pedro also chased and almost caught Sir Francis Drake in the Caribbean. 

Wormwood was destroying Spanish ships in the Americas and caused great concern to the Spanish admiralty. Olivio Nadalin and Vincent Paletin from the Island of Korcula in Croatia were sent to the New World to treat the wormwood disease. Emperor Carlos V awarded them the order of Santo Domingo. 

Magellan's voyage around the world from 1519-1522 included five ships and 237 men. A written report of the voyage was sent to Carlos V. The Venetian ambassador sent a translated copy to Venice to inform his government. Jakov de Banissis-Banicevich of Korcula, Croatia then in Trent made the onIy other known translation. This letter is in Dubrovnik. Jakov Banicevich regularly reported on all important events to the Ragusan government. 

The Spanish crown contracted Ragusa to transport Moors to Africa in 1491. Ragusa, under command of Nikola Kaboga, provided 20 galleons. 

Ragusan ships in the service of Spain participated in the Conquest of Portugal and subsequently served in fleet operations in Portuguese waters and ports. 

At least 15% of the ships in the Spanish Armada that attacked England were Ragusan and Dalmatian. Author J. de Courcy Ireland did an excellent paper in the Mariner's Mirror on this subject. 

Hispanic American Research in Croatian Archives by S. Gavrilovich is an excellent source for further research. 

The loss of Ragusan galleons in Spanish service contributed to the maritime decline of Ragusa. Many authors and sources indicated that at least 170 ships were lost over a period of time during the age of expansion and discovery. 




CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA

The Caribbean and the central and south American coast were the first areas discovered in the New World. Ragusa and Saint Vlaho did appear in commentary, sea charts and maps. 

In Sebastian Cabot's voyage to the Rio De La Plata in 1526-30, his map has a bay, Mime Ragoso, or "Just like Ragusa", this was the old capital of Brazil. Some of the mariners and officers in this voyage were Bozo de Araguz, Stephan de Lezna-Lesina or the Island of Hvar, an Esclavon, Stephen de Arva-Arbe or the Island of Rab and Matias Mafrolo-Esclavon. 

Panama became the transfer point of silver and gold to Spain. On various maps of Panama of that period are San Blas Point, Bay, Mountains and Islands. 

In the same general area are Otoque Island, Otok In Croatian is island; Punta Mala in Croatian is small point although mal in Spanish means bad; Golfo de Vraba is mentioned in The First Three English Books on America, It also comments as a place of many birds; Vrabac-Vraba means sparrow in Croatian; I can find no meaning to Vraba or Otoque in Spanish, Italian or French. Saboga Island could mean S Boga or "'with God" in Croatian, 

CROATIANS WITH COLUMBUS

Columbus’ Crew Lists
A comparison was made of the crew lists of Berwick, Gould and Fuson. The lists were compiled from ship lists, pay lists and testimony over a period of time. 

I eliminated all persons listed as of or from a place not in Croatia such as Juan de Sevilla, Juan do Xeres. Juan de Villar. I then identified all persons listed with no place names and obviously Spanish.  The remainder I submit as being Croatian for the reasons outlined In the next several paragraphs. 

All researchers and historians acknowledge omissions, duplications, errors In transcription and corruption of names due to legibility and age of the original documents. In fact, some compilers of lists simply changed place names under the assumption that the place name should have been a Spanish place name as it was similar to the name recorded on the original document.  Croatian scholars with a knowledge of Spanish, Italian and Croatian should review all original crew list documentation. I am convinced they will uncover new material pertaining to Croatians in the age of exploration. Attention should be paid to the pronounciation in Spanish of the letters G, J, H, and as they relate to Croatian and English. 

Croatians and Columbus
Stories for hundreds of years have persisted in Croatia of pilots and mariners with Columbus. The historian Appendini speculated that Martolosich was a pilot with Columbus. No documentation exists. 

Milan Savic in his study of Kaboga claimed that Columbus sailed to Ragusa in 1491 on Spanish state business. 

Columbus was born in Genoa. Ragusan merchants and mariners organized a chapel of Saint Vlaho in the Church of Santa Maria di Castello in Genoa in the 1400's. The Ragusan consul and merchants in Genoa also organized a cemetery for those that died.  Ragusans organized and supported chapels and cemeteries in almost all communities where they regularly traded. Croatians were well known and accepted in Columbus' birthplace, Genoa, and other maritime communities. 

Identification of individuals was the problem. The most obvious would be from Ragusa or de Ragusa such as: 

Miguel de Aragoces 
de Ragusa-Venecia
Rio de La Plata 1535,
A New Esp. 1537
Filipinas 1556

Lucas Aragozes
Guardian Capitana de Legazpi
A Filipinas 1565

Aragus
Is. de Havana A Mexico 1536

Isabel Aragus 
New Spain 1536

Bozo de Araguz 
Native of Araguz in Hungary
Rio de La Plata 1526

Lucas Ungaro 
Native of Hungary
Traitor with Pizarro
Peru 1548



Joan Mateos 
Native of Hungary
Traitor with Pizarro
Peru 1548

Many records or entries would state a native of a place, but what was not generally understood was a Vecino of a place meant a person formally admitted to citizenship of a community, not born there. 

El Viscaino or the Biscayman was Juan de la Cosa, He was the owner and master of Columbus' flagship during his first voyage. 

The historian Mendoza-Tores in his commentary of El Viscaino and Columbus lists: 

Martin de Araguis
Vecino de Bilbao
Marinero Armada Vizcaina
Columbus 1492

Pedro de Arague 
Vecino de Aratia
Marinero Armada Vizcaina
Columbus 1492

Both of these mariners were not listed in the crew lists of Berwick, Gould or Fuson. Gould lists Martin de Arcos-Pilot, but in other commentary questions "de Arcos". Martin de Arcos, was also not on the regular lists. Was Martin de Araguis and de Arcos one and the same? 

Pedro de Arague, not listed In the crew lists, also appears with some probability as follows: 

Pedro de Arague
Vecino Aratia 
Marinero Armada Vizcaina
Columbus 1492 

Pero Arraes
Marinero
Columbus 1492

Pedro de Arcos 
Marinero
Columbus 1492
Pedro Arraez 
Marinero
Columbus 1492

Pero is not Spanish or Italian. The above four are probably one and the same. Gould questioned Arraes and de Arcos. Arraes appears on the Berwick and Gould lists. Pero is not Spanish or Italian. Pedro Arraez is listed by Gould as (de Palos?). Gould and Berwick also have: 

Juan Arraez
Marinero
Columbus 1492

Juan Arraes
Marinero
Columbus 1492


Berwick lists Juan Arraes as Juan Quintero. Gould lists Juan Quintero de Algrita, Contra Maestre de la Pinta. Fuson lists Juan Quintero from Palos.

Gould has listed and commentary:

Juan de Umbria
Marinero
Columbus- 1492

Harrisse has listed and commentary:

Juan de Umbria or de Ungria (Hungary)
Pilot
Jorge de Sosa 1495

De La Umbria or De Ungaria (Hungary)
Pilot
Cortes 1519

Umbria is in central Italy in the mountains. I believe we have a Ragusan-Croatian from Ungria-Ungaria (Hungary). 

MATIAS MAFROLO--SLAVONIAN

Mafrolo was with Cabot on the Rio De La Plata as a ship's officer in the 1520’s. He was called Second Mate Matias which position he held on the ship Trinidad. Some individuals in the army said he was a Slavonian. John Cabot had him swear his loyalty in the Church of San Francisco Sanlucar de Barrameda and from the events that took place aboard ship, it can be established in reality that oath referred to the espionage in respect to Rojas, on whose side he was. He gossiped to Cabot about the commander under whose orders he was placed. Cabot did not err in this decision. 

It seems Mafrolo did not go back to Spain as his orders were to go into the interior on a mission of discovery and when the army returned to Castilla, he did not return. 

Ponce and others had difficulty with their wages and stated that Mafrolo was
still up in the River of Solis (Rio de la Plata) .  The footnote refers to Mafra who was with Columbus and asks: was Mafra Mafrolo or an error? 

The ship Trinidad was also on Magellan's Voyage of Circumnavigation, 1519-1522. Was our Slavonian (Croatian) also with Magellan as a ship's officer? 

Berwick and Gould list on the crew lists:

Juan de Mafra
Marinero
Columbus 1492

Harrisse has Mafra in commentary as follows and states he is a citizen of Palos: 

Juan de Mafra
Vecino de Palos
Pilot
Columbus 1498

Probable Croatians from Venetian - Dalmatia were: 

Juan Vecano 
Marinero
Columbus 1492

Francisco de Levant 
Grumete
Columbus 1505

Estefano Veneciano
Marinero
Columbus 1494

Bernardo Veneciano 
Marinero
Columbus 1495 
Commentary 

The term Maestre or Contramaestre is normally a First or Second Mate on a ship. Juan Nino-Maestre de la Nina, Pero Nino-Pilot, Pero Alonso Nino-Piloto, Maestre Juan and Francisco Nino were all mentioned in Crew Lists but without commentary as of or from a place. Why ? All important positions such as Mates, Masters or Pilots were always elaborated upon in detail. 

Pedro Tegero is also questioned (?) as maybe from Tejero-Terreros and could have also been identified as was Jorge Gonzalez from Trigueros. Could this be from Trogir in Dalmatia ? A good example is Hernando de Araguz, Natural de Trigueros, New Spain, 1536. 

Anton Calabres was identified as from Calabria, but in Dalmatia there is a well known Clan name of Calabrese. Antonio is used in Italy and Spain. Anton-Antun is used in Dalmatia. 

I believe we have two and possibly four Croatians with Columbus. This has been published as a Booklet and in a Book with all references and source documentation.

Adam S. Eterovich

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