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Terrae Incognitae

The Journal of the Society for the History of Discoveries
Volume 53, 2021 - Issue 2
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Articles

Marckalada: The First Mention of America in the Mediterranean Area (c. 1340)

Pages 88-106
Published online: 16 Jul 2021
 

The Cronica universalis written by the Milanese friar Galvaneus Flamma (it. Galvano Fiamma, d. c. 1345) contains an astonishing reference to a terra que dicitur Marckalada, situated west from Greenland. This land is recognizable as the Markland mentioned by some Icelandic sources and identified by scholars as some part of the Atlantic coast of North America. Galvaneus’s reference, probably derived by oral sources heard in Genoa, is the first mention of the American continent in the Mediterranean region, and gives evidence of the circulation (out of the Nordic area and 150 years before Columbus) of narratives about lands beyond Greenland. This article provides a transcription of the passage, explains its context in the Cronica universalis, compares it to the other (Nordic) references of Markland, and discusses the possible origin of Galvaneus’s mention of Markland in light of Galvaneus’s biography and working method.

La Cronica universalis écrite par le frère milanais Galvaneus Flamma (it. Galvano Fiamma, décédé circa 1345) contient une référence étonnante à une terra que dicitur Marckalada, située à l’ouest du Groenland. Cette terre se reconnaît comme le Markland mentionné par des sources islandaises, et identifié par des érudits comme une partie de la côte atlantique de l’Amérique du Nord. La mention de Galvaneus, probablement puisée dans des sources orales entendues à Gênes, est la première mention du continent américain dans la région méditerranéenne, et témoigne de la diffusion (hors de la région nordique et 150 ans avant Christophe Colomb) de récits au sujet des terres au-delà du Groenland. Cet article donne une transcription du passage, explique son contexte dans la Cronica universalis, le compare aux autres mentions (nordiques) du Markland, et discute l’origine possible de la mention du Markland par Galvaneus à la lumière de la biographie et la méthode de travail de Galvaneus.

La Cronica universalis escrita por el fraile milanés Galvaneus Flamma (it. Galvano Fiamma, m. ca. 1345) contiene una asombrosa referencia a una terra que dicitur Marckalada, situada al oeste de Groenlandia. Esta tierra es reconocible como el Markland mencionado por algunas fuentes islandesas, e identificado por los estudiosos como una parte de la costa atlántica de América del Norte. La referencia de Galvano, probablemente derivada de fuentes orales escuchadas en Génova, es la primera mención del continente americano en la región mediterránea y atestigua la circulación (fuera del área nórdica y 150 años antes de Colón) de narrativas sobre tierras más allá de Groenlandia. Este artículo proporciona una transcripción del pasaje, explica su contexto en la Cronica universalis, lo compara con las otras referencias (nórdicas) de Markland y discute el posible origen de la mención de Markland por Galvano a la luz de la biografía de Galvano y de su método de trabajo.

Acknowledgments

For suggestions and corrections, thanks to Fulvio Ferrari, Giulia Greco, Rossana Guglielmetti, Irene Malfatto, Matteo Salaroli, Prue Shaw, and to the anonymous reviewers who read this work.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Paolo Chiesa

Paolo Chiesa is professor of Medieval Latin Literature at the University of Milan, and chief-editor of the international journal Filologia Mediolatina, published in Florence. His main fields of research are textual criticism and studies on the manuscript transmission, applied to medieval Latin works. Among his publications, Medieval Latin Philology. An Overview through Case Studies (2019), and critical or commented editions of William of Rubruk’s travelogue in Mongolia (2011), Dante’s Monarchy (with Andrea Tabarroni, 2013), Einhard’s Vita Karoli (2014), Liutprand’s Antapodosis (2015). E-Mail: .

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