Nick the Greek

Nicholas from Nauplion was a sailor on Magellan's Victoria between 1519 and 1522. He was one of eighteen men who survived the first circumnavigation of the globe, sailing 14,460 leagues, or about 81,449 kilometers.

Magellan began with five ships -- Concepción, San Antonio, Santiago, Trinidad and Victoria, and a crew of about 250 men. He was killed on 27 April 1521 in what is now called the Philippines. After 21 December 1521, Victoria sailed alone, the eighteen sailors pumping water out of the hold all the way because they had managed to save out of all the storms, deaths, murders, and disasters, a ship-load of spices.

This blog is to honor Nicholas from Nauplion. I have no more information about him. I don't know if he ever got back to Nauplion.

I want to honor all those eighteen men for their courage and endurance.* And possibly, their sheer cussedness.

Juan Sebastián Elcano, captain-general.

Miguel de Rodas, boatswain (contramaestre) of Victoria.

Francisco Albo, of Axio, boatswain of Trinidad.

Juan de Acurio, of Bermeo, boatswain of the Concepcion.

Martino de Judicibus, of Genoa, superintendent of Concepcion.

Hernando de Bustamante, of Alcantara, barber of Concepcion.

Juan de Zuvileta, of Baracaldo, page of Victoria.

Miguel Sanchez, of Rodas, skilled seaman (marinero) of Victoria.

Nicholas the Greek, of Nafplion, marinero of Victoria.

Diego Gallego, of Bayonne, marinero of the Victoria.

Juan Rodriguez, of Seville, marinero of the Trinidad.

Antonio Rodriguez, of Huelva, marinero of Trinidad.

Francisco Rodriguez, of Seville (a Portuguese), marinero of Concepcion.

Juan de Arratia, of Bilbao, common sailor (grumete) of Victoria.

Vasco Gomez Gallego (a Portuguese), grumete of Trinidad.

Juan de Santandres, of Cueto, grumete of Trinidad.

Martin de Isaurraga, of Bermeo, grumete of Concepcion.

The Chevalier Antonio Pigafetta, of Vicenza, passenger.

Nauplion should put up a statue for Nicholas. In his time, there was a small church of Ag. Nicholaos at the port, just outside the city wall, where the present Ag. Nicholaos is located. That would be a good place for the statue.


* Wikipedia supplied the names.