Sebastián Vizcaíno: Being His Imagined Memoir

Sebastián Vizcaíno was a remarkable force of the Spanish ‘Siglo de Oro’, yet he is scarcely known. This imagined memoir looks at the enigmatic man and his times. Maturing in the crucibles of Flanders and the Algarve, he put away his sword to seek riches in the New World only to find further battles. His brave defense of the treasure galleon Santa Ana led to a commission to explore the California coast, accomplished against great odds. His charts of California remained useful for two centuries. He was entrusted with Spain’s first embassy to Japan, which led to clarification of the geography of the North Pacific. He subsequently held numerous civic offices in México and defeated Dutch pirates. This imagined memoir provides insights into Spanish society as its Empire declined. It offers a unique glimpse of feudal Japan. His was a life filled with adventure and adversity that he met bravely and ultimately with resignation. He found little honor despite his many achievements.