Chapter VII: Part 7

"But for these nine lines written by an obscure geographer in a little village of the Vosges," says Henry Harrisse, "the western hemisphere might have been called 'The Land of the Holy Cross,' or 'Atlantis,' or 'Columbia,' 'Hesperides,' 'Iberia,' 'New India,' or simply 'The Indies,' as it is designated officially in Spain to this day." ... "As it was, however," says another writer, "the suggestion by Waldseemüller was immediately adopted by geographers everywhere; the new land beyond the Atlantic had, by a stroke of a pen, been christened for all time to come."

The full title of the _Cosmographie Introductio_ reads: "An Introduction to Cosmography, together with some principles of Geometry necessary to the purpose. Also four voyages of Americus Vespucius. A description of universal Cosmography, both stereometrical and planometrical, together with what was unknown to Ptolemy and has been recently discovered."

Notwithstanding the name was "promptly adopted" by the geographers, at the same time it "came slowly into use," for geographical knowledge was then in an inchoate state, especially as respected the New World. It is said to have first appeared on a map ascribed to Leonardo da Vinci in 1514; but in a pamphlet accompanying "the earliest known globe of Johann Schöner," made in 1515, the new region is described as the "fourth part of the globe named after its discoverer, Americus Vespucius, who found it in 1497." Vespucci did not find it, and he never made the claim that he discovered more than is given in his letters; but this misstatement by another caused him to be accused of falsifying the dates of his voyages in order to rob Columbus of his deserts.

It will be perceived, however, that the name was not applied at first to the entire land masses of America, but merely to that portion now known as Brazil, called by Cabral "_Terra Sanctæ Crucis_," or "Land of the Holy Cross," and by Vespucci, who continued his explorations, "_Mundus Novus_." Further than this Vespucci never went, and, moreover, he passed away "before his name was applied to the new discoveries on any published map." He was living, of course, when the _Cosmographie_ appeared, and may have seen a copy of the book; but the argument advanced by some that he dedicated this work to Duke René of Lorraine, and hence must have written it, falls to the ground when that dedication is examined. The worthy canon who translated Vespucci's letter to Soderini into Latin, copied the dedication in the original, which was addressed to "His Magnificence, Piero Soderini, etc.," but substituted for the last-named his patron, Duke René. This is proved by the title "His Magnificence," which was used in addressing the Gonfaloniere of Florence, and never in connection with Duke René of Lorraine.

It was not until near the middle of the sixteenth century that "America" was recognized "as the established continental name," when, after Mexico had been conquered by Cortés, Peru by Pizarro, and the Pacific revealed by Balboa and Magellan, it first appears on the great Mercator map of 1541. The appellation "America" had superseded _Mundus Novus_ on several maps previous to this, but only as a term applied to restricted regions. "The stage of development," says the learned author of the _Discovery of America_, "consisted of five distinct steps.... 1. Americus called the regions visited by him _beyond the equator_ a 'New World,' because they were unknown to the ancients; 2. Giocondo made this striking phrase, _Mundus Novus_, into a title for his translation of the letter, which he published at Paris (1504) while the author was absent from Europe, and probably without his knowledge; 3. The name _Mundus Novus_ got placed upon several maps as an equivalent for _Terra Sanctæ Crucis_, or what we call Brazil; 4. The suggestion was made that _Mundus Novus_ was the Fourth Part of the Earth, and might properly be named America, after its discoverer; 5. The name America thus got placed upon several maps as an equivalent for what we call Brazil, and sometimes came to stand alone for what we call South America, but still signified _only a part of the dry land beyond the Atlantic to which Columbus had led the way_."

That there was no evil intention on Vespucci's part is amply proved by the fact that, while he himself lived four years after the _Introductio_ was published, a certain contemporary of his, one Ferdinand Columbus, who was most acutely interested in seeing justice done the name and deeds of his father, survived Vespucci twenty-seven years. He not only saw this book, but owned a copy, which, according to an autograph note on the flyleaf, he had bought in Venice in July, 1521, "for five _sueldos_." This book is still contained in the library he founded at Seville, and as it was copiously annotated by him, it must have been carefully read; yet, though he has the credit of having written a life of his father, Christopher Columbus, he makes no mention whatever of the "usurpation" by Vespucci.

Ferdinand Columbus knew the Florentine, and was an intimate friend of his nephew, Juan Vespucci; yet the question seems never to have arisen between them as to the great discoverers' respective shares of glory. The explanation lies in this fact: that Vespucci's name had been bestowed upon a region far remote from that explored by his father, who had never sailed south of the equator. Notwithstanding the good feeling that prevailed between them, however, long after Ferdinand's death, when the name America had become of almost universal application, the veteran Las Casas, in writing his great history, marvels that the son of the old Admiral could overlook the "theft and usurpation" of Vespucci. The old man's indignation was great, for he was a stanch friend of Columbus, and revered his memory. He made out a very strong case against Vespucci--being in ignorance of the manner in which his name came to be given to the lands discovered by Columbus--and when, in 1601, the historian Herrera, who made use of the Las Casas manuscripts, repeated his statements as those of a contemporary, all the world gave him credence.

Vespucci's name rested under suspicion during more than three centuries, and was not even partially cleared until 1837, when Alexander von Humboldt undertook the gigantic task of vindication. It was not so much to vindicate Vespucci, however, as to ascertain the truth, that Humboldt made the critical and exhaustive examination which appeared in his Examen _Critique de l'Histoire de la Géographie de Nouveau Continent_.

Even Humboldt, however, did not secure all the evidence available, but by the discovery of valuable documents the missing links in the chain were supplied: by Varnhagen, Vespucci's ardent eulogist, by Harrisse, and finally by Fiske. The last-named truthfully says: "No competent scholar anywhere will now be found to dissent from the emphatic statement of M. Harrisse--'After a diligent study of all the original documents, we feel constrained to say that there is not a particle of evidence, direct or indirect, implicating Amerigo Vespucci in an attempt to foist his name on this continent.'" And moreover, "no shade of doubt is left upon the integrity of Vespucci. So truth is strong, and prevails at last."

This is the conclusion arrived at by the impartial historian, who, without disparaging the deeds of Columbus, without detracting in any manner from his great discoveries, has restored Amerigo Vespucci to the niche in which he was placed by the German geographers four hundred years ago, and from which he was torn by injudicious iconoclasts, fearful for the fame of Spain's great Admiral.

It is enough for Columbus to have discovered America; it was far more than Amerigo Vespucci deserved to have this discovery given his name, by which it will be known forever; but this honor, though unmerited, was at the same time unsought.

FOOTNOTES:

[15] For an excellent article on Saint-Dié and the naming of America, see _Harper's Magazine_, vol. lxxxiv., p. 909 (1892).

INDEX

Aborigines, described by Vespucci, 84-95;
seen in Vespucci's third voyage, 180-183.

Aguado, Juan, 151.

Amaraca, aboriginal name of province in South America, 137.

Amaraca-pan, the land of Amaraca, 137.

Amazon River discovered by Pinzon, 105.

America, may have been derived from _Amaraca_, 137;
when bestowed upon western continents, 200;
derivation of name, 238;
first applied to continents in 1507, 243, 244.

Antilla, island of, 26.

Arno, valley of the, 1.

Bahia Honda, reference to, 159.

Bastidas, Rodrigo de, reference to, 130;
expedition of, 155.

Berardi, trading-house of, 49, 76;
estate of Juan, 80.

Book, the first printed in America, 32.

Cabral, Pedro Alvarez, coasts South America, 167.

Cannibals, giants, and pearls, chap. ix.

Canopi seen by Vespucci, 189.

Canovai eulogizes Vespucci, 210, 211.

Carabi, aboriginal word, 96.

Caravans of the desert, 47.

Carib Indians described, 99.

Cathay, kingdom of, 26, 29, 36, 39, 46, 50.

Cerezo, Maria, married to Vespucci, 168, 235;
dependent upon pension, 237.

Chambalu, or Peking, 38, 46, 49, 50.

Cibao, Indian word of Haiti, 28.

Cipango, island of, 26, 28, 30, 42, 44, 50.

Coelho, Gonçalo, reference to, 202.

Columbus, Christopher, compared with Toscanelli, 18;
uses Toscanelli's chart in crossing Atlantic, 1492, 22;
letter to, from Toscanelli, 23-27;
adopts Toscanelli's ideas, 30;
conversations with, chap. v.;
personal appearance of, 63;
second voyage of, 76;
extravagances of, 77;
and Bishop Fonseca, 77-79;
and the Pinzons, 149, 150;
in friendly rivalry with Vespucci, 198;
and Vespucci contrasted, 210-214;
misfortunes of, 215;
letter written by, with reference to Vespucci, 218.

Columbus, Diego, suit of, against the crown, 166.

Columbus, Ferdinand, books owned by, 248;
acquainted with Juan Vespucci, 249.

Commerce, European, of the fifteenth century, 47, 48;
of Spain, fifteenth century, 57, 58.

Constellations of the southern hemisphere, 189, 190.

Coquibacoa, coast of Venezuela, 134, 135, 158, 159.

Cosa, Juan de la, with Columbus in Cuba, 107;
sails with Ojeda, 129;
the great pilot, 153;
chart made by, in year 1500, 154;
sails with Bastidas, 155;
second voyage with Ojeda, 156;
horrible death of, 157.

_Cosmographie Introductio_, the first book containing name
of America, 243, 245.

Cumana, on coast of Venezuela, 132, 137.

Curiana, or Gulf of Pearls, 132.

Dragon's Mouth, strait of the, 132.

Emanuel, King of Portugal, 168;
invites Vespucci to Portugal, 169;
receives Vespucci at court, 171;
sends him on two voyages to the Indies, 170;
recognizes his genius, 196, 207.

Emerson, R. W., calls Vespucci a "thief and pickle-dealer," 237.

_Examen Critique_, the, by Humboldt, 103, 250.

Ferdinand, King of Spain, and Fonseca, 76;
parts with Vespucci, 168, 169;
diplomacy of, 216;
prefers Vespucci to Columbus, 227;
calls Vespucci to court, 228;
appoints him pilot-major, 229.

Fiske, John, explains "debatable voyage," 104;
on Vespucci's letter of July, 1500, 109;
quotations from, 124, 125;
on historical records, 221.

Florence, Vespucci's birthplace, 2, 3;
in the Middle Ages, 12.

Florentines, the, as merchants in fifteenth century, 5.

Fonseca, Bishop, reference to, 76, 77, 79, 82, 126, 127;
authorizes Ojeda's voyage, 128.

Fortunate Islands, or Grand Canaries, 186.

_Four Voyages_, or _Journeys_, of Vespucci, 90, 95;
no trace of book containing the, 103;
further reference to, 176, 200, 205.

"Fourth Part of the Earth," the, chap. ii.

Ghengis Khan, 50.

Giacondo, Giovanni, translator of Vespucci's letter, 1504, 198, 199.

Giants seen in Curaçao, 119.

Gomara, historian, on explorations, 102.

Harrisse, Henry, observations on the naming of America, 244.

Herrera, Antonio de, accuses Vespucci of stealing from Columbus, 101.

Humboldt, Alexander von, vindicates Vespucci, 103.

_Igname_, Indian word, 89.

Iguana, described by Vespucci, 93.

_Imago Mundi_, book owned by Columbus, 241.

India house, the great, 80.

Irving, Washington, and his _Life of Columbus_, 29;
denounces Fonseca, 77;
narrates Vespucci's voyage with Ojeda, 125;
seeks to disparage Vespucci, 225, 226.

Iti, an island in the Caribbean Sea, 98.

_Kazabi_, or cassava, 89.

Khan, the Grand, 24, 28.

Kublai Khan, Mongol emperor, 36-40, 49.

Lake Dwellers, the, described by Vespucci, 90-95, 120.

Lariab, conjectural province of, 96.

Las Casas denounces Vespucci, 249.

Lud, Walter, 242.

Mandeville, Sir John, 49.

Mangi, province of, 26, 46.

Maracaibo, Gulf of, discovered by Ojeda, 135.

Maracapana (see Amaraca-pan), 132, 137.

Marco Polo's _Travels_, 33.

Marignoli, John de, traveller, 49.

Medici, the Florentine, 4, 5, 10.

Medici, Lorenzo de, letter written to, by Vespucci in 1501, 109;
in 1503, 179.

Michael Angelo, birthplace of, 15.

Monte Corvino, John of, 49.

_Mundus Novus_, or New World, 46, 239, 246, 248;
title of pamphlet containing first account of
Vespucci's voyage, 197;
when published, 239.

Navarrete, Spanish historian, 219, 221, 232, 233.

New World, the, southern hemisphere of America, so called
by Vespucci, 185.

Nicollini, Donato, Vespucci's friend, 56.

Nicuesa, explorer, quarrels with Ojeda, 160;
whom he rescues, 162.

Niño, Pedro, successful voyage of, 137.

Ojeda the Fighter, chap. viii.;
with Columbus, 126;
friend of Fonseca, 127;
receives authority for a voyage, 128;
accompanied by Vespucci, 130;
visits Trinidad, Pearl Islands, and Curaçao, 132, 133;
finds Lake Dwellers, 134;
takes cargo of slaves to Spain, 136;
second voyage of (1502), 158;
placed in irons, 159;
makes third voyage (1509), 156, 160;
wounded by poisoned arrow, 163;
poverty and death of, 164.

Oviedo, historian, on discovery of Bay of Honduras, 105.

Paria, Gulf of, 131, 132.

Paul the Physicist, 16.

Pearls, Gulf of, 132.

Pearls obtained by Vespucci, 122, 141, 146.

Pelotti, Francesco, 49.

Peretola, home of the Vespuccis, 2.

Pinelo, Francisco, 77, 78, 81.

Pinzon brothers, the, 149, 150, 152.

Pinzon, Vicente Yañez, discovers the Amazon, 167.

Pliny quoted by Vespucci, 191.

Polo, Marco, Vespucci's countryman, 33;
taken captive, 34;
_Travels_, 36-42.

Polo, Maffei, 41.

Polo, Nicolo, 36.

Prescott, historian, quotation from, 57.

Printing-press, the first in America, 32.

_Ptolemy_, an improved, 242.

_Quattro Giornate_ (Four Journeys), 176.

Quinsai, city of, 25, 43, 46.

René, Duke of Lorraine, 242, 246, 247.

Ringmann, Matthias, contemporary of Vespucci, 241.

Roldan, Francesco, combats Ojeda, 136.

Saint-Dié, town in which pamphlet was printed containing first
reference to America, 241, 242.

Savonarola, mention of, 15.

Schöner, Johann, globe made by, 245.

Sierra Leone, 178.

Soderini, Piero, letter written to, by Vespucci, 82, 101;
second letter, 170;
third letter, 201.

_Terra Firma_, definition of term, 70;
coast of, 166.

_Terra Sanctæ Crucis_, 246, 248.

Toscanelli, Florentine astronomer, 16;
friendly with Vespucci, 16;
great attainments of, 19;
corresponds with Columbus, 17, 23-27;
sends chart to Columbus, 21;
ideas of, adopted by Columbus, 30.

Trapobana, island of, 123.

Trinidad, visited by Columbus, 131;
by Vespucci, 132.

Varnhagen, Viscount, explains Vespucci's "second" voyage, 105.

Vela, Cape de la, 135.

Venezuela, origin of name, 134.

Veragua, Duke of, 220.

Vespucci, Amerigo, spelling of the name, 1;
birthplace of, 2;
parents, 3, 4;
ancestors, 5, 6;
birthplace of, 2;
parents, 3, 4;
ancestors, 5, 6;
youth, 7, 8, 9, 12-14;
favorite authors, chap. iii.;
begins his career, 51;
enters service with the Medici, 54;
goes to Spain, 55;
letter of, from Spain, 56;
personal appearance of, 63;
characteristics of, 64;
debatable voyage of, chap. vi.;
outfits fleet for Columbus, 76;
in pay of Spain, 81;
letter of, on alleged first voyage, 82-100;
letters to Soderini, 82, 101, 170, 201;
his _Four Voyages_, 90;
accused of purloining from Columbus, 101;
vindicated by Humboldt, 103;
more humane than Columbus, 104;
second voyage of, chap. vii.;
oldest known writing relating to his voyages, 109;
describes constellations of southern hemisphere, 112, 113;
in fight with Indians, 117, 118;
mentions giants, 119;
discovers Lake Dwellers, 120;
takes slaves to Spain, 121, 122;
with Ojeda in 1499, 130;
quoted by Irving, 134;
aborigines seen by, 140-144;
finds pearls, 146;
fellow-voyagers of, chap. x.;
head of house of Berardi, 151;
projected voyage with Pinzon, 153;
invited to Portugal, 168;
married to Maria Cerezo, 168;
leaves Spain for Portugal, 169;
makes two voyages under Portuguese flag, 170;
account of third voyage, 170-177;
encounters cannibals, 180-183;
calls his discovery the New World, 185;
royally received in Portugal, 195;
renowned navigator, 196;
first-published letter of, 197;
makes a "fourth" voyage to America, 200;
returns to Spain, 209;
contrasted with Columbus, 209-214;
mentioned in a letter by Columbus, 218;
pilot-major of Spain, chap. xv.;
at court, 224;
corrects charts made by Columbus, 229;
official papers relating to, 233;
last will and testament, 234;
death of, 235.

Vespucci, Anastasio, Amerigo's father, 3, 6.

Vespucci, Elizabetta, Amerigo's mother, 3.

Vespucci, Georgio Antonio, 8, 11.

Vespucci, Giovanni, or Juan, Amerigo's nephew, 55;
is bequeathed his uncle's valuable papers, 235.

Vespucci, Girolamo, Amerigo's brother, 52, 53.

Vespucci, Guido Antonio, epitaph of, 6.

Waldseemüller, Martin, German geographer, who gave the name
to America, 241-243.

Yucca, flour made from, 89

Zaitun, city of Cathay, 43, 50.

Zipangu. _See_ Cipango.

THE END

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[Transcriber's Notes:

The transcriber made the following changes to the text:

1. p. 44, The grand Khan ordered --> "The grand Khan ordered 2. p. 69, The accounts of those --> "The accounts of those 3. p. 74, But I perceive, Signor --> "But I perceive, Signor 4. p. 77, "Fonesca" --> "Fonseca" 5. p. 137, "Ojeba" --> "Ojeda" 6. p. 143, They had no victuals --> "They had no victuals 7. p. 170, There came to be a royal --> "There came to be a royal 8. p. 205, In this part --> "In this part 9. Index, Columbus Ferdinand, books owned by, 268; --> Columbus Ferdinand, books owned by, 248;

End of Transcriber's Notes]