Pilot Major of Spain explained

The Pilot Major (Spanish: Piloto Mayor) or Pilot-Major of Spain was an important official of the Casa de Contratación, a crown agency of the Spanish Empire, with specific responsibilities in mapmaking and the licensing of nautical pilots.^[1]

On 6 August 1508, the Spanish government ordered the establishment of the Padrón Real as a template for the official map used by every Spanish ship in the 16th century to avoid confusion from a multitude of sailing charts. A commission consisting of the best pilots in the kingdom was constituted, with Amerigo Vespucci as its president and first Pilot Major of Spain, the latter an office created for Vespucci.^[2] Pilots returning to Spain were required to report new geographical information to the Pilot Major, who, in twice-monthly consultations with his majesty's cartographers, would decide whether to include it in the Padrón Real, later called the Padrón General.^{[2] [3]} The Pilot Major was eventually given permission to sell copies of the map for his own benefit.^[3]

The Pilot Major was also responsible for "examining and licensing all pilots of the Spanish fleet."^[1]

Holders of the office include:

• Amerigo Vespucci (1454–1512),^{[2] [4]} Italian explorer
• Juan Díaz de Solís (c. 1470–1516), Portuguese or Spanish navigator and explorer, appointed in 1512 following the death of Vespucci^[5]
• Sebastian Cabot^{[3] [6]} (c. 1474–c. 1557), Venetian explorer, Pilot Major of Spain from 5 February 1518 to 25 October 1525, succeeding Díaz de Solís,^[7] and again from 1533 to 1547^{[3] [8]}

In 1519, a new position was created, Cartographer (Cartógrafo), to assume some of the responsibilities of the Pilot Major.^[9]

Notes and References

1. Book: Ash, Eric H. . The History of Cartography, Volume 3, Chapter 20: Navigation Techniques and Practice in the Renaissance . . 523–524 . 21 October 2024.
2. Americo Vespucio—Pioneer Celo-Navigator And Geographer . Frederick J. . Pohl . Frederick J. Pohl . Captain Leonard B. . Loeb . April 1957 . 83 . . . 20 October 2024.
3. Book: Harrisse, Henry . John Cabot: The Discoverer of North America, and Sebastian, His Son . Henry Harrisse . 1896 . B. F. Stevens . 20 October 2024.
4. Book: Pohl, Frederick J. . Amerigo Vespucci: Pilot Major . Columbia University Press . 2nd . 1944 . 9780231902861 . 184 . 20 October 2024.
5. The Double Nationality of João Rodrigues Cabrilho, Portuguese-Born, Naturalized Castilian. Part I – A Much Needed Review . Paulo Manuel João . Afonso . . 48 . 1 . 2023 . 6 . 20 October 2024.
6. Encyclopedia: Cabot, Sebastian . R. A. . Skelton . . 1 . . 1966 . 20 October 2024.
7. Web site: Giovanni Vespucci: World Map . 17 September 2020 . . 20 October 2024.
8. Encyclopedia: John & Sebastian Cabot . . 20 October 2024.
9. Book: O'Flanagan, Patrick . Port Cities of Atlantic Iberia, c. 1500–1900. 28 June 2013. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.. 978-1-4094-8011-2. 46.