Sebastião Rodrigues Soromenho: um piloto português nos navios da rota de Manila

Abstract

The purpose of this work is to describe the journey of the Portuguese navigator Sebastião Rodrigues Soromenho, who sailed along the shores of California at the command of Felipe II, in the years 1594-1595. His voyage was understood on the context of the participation of Portuguese navigators in the mapping of the Spanish American coast line, and their contribution for the definition of the maritime routes of the Pacific Ocean in the 16th century. To achieve our goal, we undertook a careful study of the documentation related to this expedition, namely the two itineraries, the oficial correspondence between the king and the vice-roys and the copy of the Soromenho’s will. All of these documents have remained unknowed for the most of us.