Archaeological Evidence of Ophir’s Gold
In 1946, archaeologists discovered inscribed pottery shards referencing Ophir's gold...
Read More →In 1946, archaeologists discovered inscribed pottery shards referencing Ophir's gold...
Read More →Though we should not need to say this, the above image is art of a map, not an actual map.
In a little-known but highly influential work, Historia de las cosas de Ethiopia by Francisco Álvares (translated by Miguel de Selves), we find what may be the earliest mention of the “Lequios” in Iberian literature. Published shortly after Álvares’ diplomatic journey (c. 1520s), the text describes the awe inspired by Vasco da Gama’s eastern exploits (1497-1499)—not only across India and Arabia, but echoing as far as:
“...los Arabes, Persas, Carmanos, y Gedrosios... Guzarates, Indios, Chinenſes, Tartaros, Lequios...”
(Historia de las cosas de Ethiopia, p. 15)
In this list, Lequios stands among the great eastern nations—an early recognition of its significance before colonial maps revised and relocated it further north to the Ryukyus, a position with no merit.
The tucked away and hidden Ryukyu Islands do not belong on this list. This Lequios is the original – the Philippines. The position on the way to China and the Tartars, not Ryukyu which is out of the way and out of place.
To bolster the timeline and geographic consistency of this early reference, we turn to the Cantino Planisphere, completed in 1502. This early Portuguese map displays the eastern islands, including portions of the Philippines, before Japan (Cipangu) was fully defined in Western cartography.
While the Planisphere doesn’t label “Lequios” directly, the placement of richly detailed islands south of China and east of Malacca corresponds to what would later be identified as the Lequios Isles—often used as a term for northern Luzon and adjacent archipelagos like Babuyan and Batanes.
We propose including a cleaned version of the Planisphere with highlighted trade labels, especially if the Portuguese inscriptions (e.g., “Ilhas Ricas de Ouro e Cera”) align with the economic profile attributed to Lequios (wax, ebony, gold, etc.).
Read The Lequios of Sambalas — Exposing the 1502 Cantino Map’s Forgotten Truth
From Álvares’ mention to dozens of Jesuit and Portuguese travel accounts over the next century, the term Lequios consistently tracks:
Rich resources: Wax, ebony, sugar, gold, pearls.
Strategic position: The maritime route from Malacca to China/Japan via the Philippines.
Cultural traits: Early baptism and tribute systems (seen in northern Luzon).
The Philippines, not Okinawa or the Ryukyus, consistently match both geographic and economic references.
c. 1520s: Álvares writes his account referencing “Lequios.”
1540s: Spanish/Portuguese translations circulate widely.
1502: The Cantino Planisphere places relevant archipelagos east of Malacca and south of China—depicting “Lequios” before the name appears in texts. It was always the Philippines in origin and then, the Jesuits changed it.
Francisco Álvares. Historia de las cosas de Ethiopia. Miguel de Selves, trans. c. 1540s. [Digitized by Universidad Complutense de Madrid].
Cantino Planisphere, Biblioteca Estense, 1502. [Annotated reproduction]. Read The Lequios of Sambalas — Exposing the 1502 Cantino Map’s Forgotten Truth
#Lequios #PhilippinesHistory #EarlyMaps #SmokingQuill #JesuitMissions #CantinoPlanisphere #LuzonHistory #Ophir #Tarshish #PortugueseExplorers #ColonialNarratives #AncientGeography #MuskTrade #EbonyGoldWax #FranciscoAlvarez #ForgottenLands
🎉 “The maps were never lost… only silenced. Now, the silenced speak.”
Cantino World Map
[See above]
Jorge Reinel/Rodriguez Chart
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Diogo Ribeiro Map
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Anonymous Penrose Chart
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Santa Cruz Map
[See above]
Sebastian Cabot Map
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Lopo Homem Planisphere
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Giacomo Gastaldi
Italian Urbano Monti Map
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Mercator Map
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The famous Mercator labels Batanes just South of Taiwan as Lequio Major where Pinto was shipwrecked.
Dutch Globe
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Flemish and Dutch engraver and cartographer preserves Batanes as Pintos' location for Lequios while bending to Colonial pressure for Ryukyu.
Hondius, Jodocus, and Giuseppe Di Rossi.
Batanes maintained as Lequio and Ryukyu as Lequi Grand.
P. Bertius Map
Albernaz Map
Bleau Map
The 5 Isles of Pinto's legend appear just to the West of Batanes defining it as Lequios. This same dynamic occurs on the:
French Map
Just west of the Bashee Isles (Batanes), the map boldly labels:
“Les 5 Isles” — The Five Islands
Relating the legend from Pinto's shipreck with Batanes as Lequios.
Spanish-British Map
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Italian Map
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🪶 “History didn’t just speak — it sang… and the world finally listened.”