On September 11th, the Institute for European Studies and the Center of Portuguese Studies jointly organized a lecture from Paulo Afonso, professor at American River College. The event attracted approximately 10 in-person attendees and around 20 online participants. The lecture focused on new research findings related to the nationality of the renowned maritime explorer, Juan Rodriguez Cabrilho.
Professor Afonso commenced his presentation by underscoring the critical importance of trusting first-hand historical accounts. He vividly illustrated this perspective by referencing ancient descriptions of a "region of king parrots" situated below South Africa. These descriptions had been unjustly dismissed by contemporary scholars as fiction, only to be subsequently revealed as referring to penguins, which inhabit that region. The discussion then shifted to recent attempts to discredit Cabrilho, largely originating from Spain. These efforts include the removal of Cabrilho’s statue from San Diego’s national monument, and the erasure of Portuguese commemorative plaques. Professor Afonso argued that the controversy surrounding Cabrilho's nationality stems from misconceptions about the meaning of being “natural” to a place. He clarified that while Cabrilho was a Castilian “natural”, this did not necessarily imply that he was native to Spain. Naturalization in another country was a common practice during the era, and typically signified an extended period of residence in a particular location. To support his argument, Professor Afonso presented newly discovered evidence, including a map by Florentine cartographer Matteo di Jacopo Neroni da Peccioli that featured the toponym “Cabrilho’s Bay” with the navigator’s name spelled in its Portuguese form (with “lh”). Additionally, carbon dating on a crucifix Cabrilho had offered to the Rodrigues family aligned with the family's oral history, providing further proof of his ties to the Mount Cabrilho region in Portugal.
The lecture concluded with a spirited discussion involving both the in-person and online audience members. Many praised Professor Afonso for his groundbreaking discoveries and captivating presentation. Several participants encouraged him to publicize these findings in both Portuguese and American media outlets. However, it was acknowledged that the debate about Cabrilho's nationality would persist as long as there remained no official birth certificate to definitively resolve the issue.