Manuscript Viewer: Non Flash Version

Navigation: Portolan of Juan Pires (p. 120a)


Navigation: Portolan of Juan Pires (p. 120a)


Medieval navigation relied on the use of portolans. The simplest kind of portolan was a list of the distance and wind direction from one coastal city to the next. This kind of knowledge accumulated over centuries and was compiled in written texts. Here, Michael copied the portolan of pilot Zuan Pires, which covered stops on the Atlantic coast all the way from Spain to Flanders.

See enlargement:

+ Ihesus + Portolan fatto per Zuan Pires, pedotta del mar di Fiandria. Trafigar e Mazamoias, sirocho maistro, tuò in puocho dela tramont- ana, lege 7. Trafigal e pontal de Sancta Maria, levante sirocho, lege 3. Chavo San Vizenzo e Tazeri, levante sirocho, lege 12. Salmerina chon pontal de Sancta Maria, ponente levante, lege 25. Pontal de Sancta Maria e Porchas de Chades, zoè li schogi, quarta de levante sirocho, lege 28. Pontal de Sancta Maria Arenas Gurdas de Sivillia, quarta de le- vante al griego, lege 19. Pontal de Sancta Maria el chavo de Sagras, ponente levante, lege 15 in- china chavo San Vizenzo. Chavo San Vizenzo e Sancta Maria de Rabota di Sostoval, se varda ostro tramontana, lege 20. Chavo San Vizenzo chon Pizes, ostro tramontana, tuò del maistro lege 30. Rocha de Sindra e Pizes, sirocho maistro, lege 9. Rocha e Berlenga, ostro tramontana, lege 12. Berlinga Chavo Charboner, levante sirocho, lege 2. Berlenga e Montiego di Fariliony di fuora, griego garbin, lege 16. Berlenga Porto de Portogallo, quarta de griego tramontana, lege 33. Montiego e Abero, ostro tramontana, lege 10. Porto de Portogallo e Vila del Chonte, quarta ostro sirocho, lege 5. Portogallo e Viena, maistro tramontana, lege 9. Viena e Palesales, maistro tramontana, lege 9. Palexales e Finistere, maistro tramontana, lege 18. L'ixola de Baiona la Pelegrina de Coravedro, quarta de sirocho levante.

+ Jesus + Portolan made by Zuan Pires, pilot of the Flanders sea. Trafalgar and Mazamura, southeast northwest, pull a little north, 7 leagues. Trafalgar and Cabo de Santa María, east southeast, 3 leagues. Cabo de São Vicente and Tavira, east southeast, 12 leagues. Salmedina with Cabo de Santa Maria, west east, 25 leagues. Cabo de Santa Maria and Cádiz, that is the reefs, quarter east by south, 28 leagues. Cabo de Santa Maria, Arenas Gardas of Seville, quarter east by north, 19 leagues. Cabo de Santa Maria, Cabo de Sagres, west east, 15 leagues to Cabo de São Vicente. Cabo de São Vicente and Santa Maria de Rabota of Setubal, bear south north, 20 leagues. Cabo de São Vicente with Cabo Espichel, south north, pull from the northwest, 30 leagues. Cabo de Roca de Sintra and Cabo Espichal, southeast northwest, 9 leagues. Roca and Barlenga, south north, 12 leagues. Barlenga and Cabo Carboeiro east southeast 2 leagues. Barlenga and Mondego de Fariehoes northeast southwest, 16 leagues. Barlenga and Porto of Portugal, northeast by north, 33 leagues. Mondego and Aveiro, south north, 10 leagues. Porto of Portugal and Villa do Conde, south by east, 5 leagues. Portugal and Vianna, north by northwest, 9 leagues. Vianna and Cabo Silleiro, north by northwest, 9 leagues. Cabo Silleiro and Finisterre, north by northwest, 18 leagues. The island of Bayona and Cabo Corrubedro, southeast by east.