Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo was a Spanish author (d. 1504) who arranged the modern version of the romance of chivaltry Amadis of Gaul, written in three books in the XIVth century by an unknown author. Montalvo added a fourth book of his own and also wrote a sequel, Las Sergas de Esplandián (The Exploits of Esplandian) (oldest known printing, 1510), in which he tells the life and wandering of Amadis' eldest son. The saga was continued the sixth book, "Florisando" (by Ruiz Paez de Ribera, 1510), followed by "Lisuarte of Greece" (by Feliciando de Silva, 1514), "Lisuarte of Greece" (1525, by Juan Diaz, 1525), "Amadis of Greece" (by Feliciano de Silva, 1530), etc. Events January 1 - French troops surrender Gaeta to the Spanish under Cordoba. ... Amadis of Gaul is a work of fiction on the subject of Portugal and it was probably written in the early 14th Century. ...

In the sequel , Rodríguez described a mythical Island of California as being west of the Indies: The Island of California is shown on a 1650 map by Nicolas Sanson The Island of California refers to a long-held European misconception, dating from the 16th century, that California was not part of mainland North America but rather a large island separated from the continent by the Mare...

Know, that on the right hand of the Indies there is an island called California very close to the side of the Terrestrial Paradise; and it is peopled by black women, without any man among them, for they live in the manner of Amazons.

The novel was highly influential in motivating Hernán Cortés and other explorers in the discovery of the Island, which they believed lay along the west coast of North America. In 1539, Francisco de Ulloa, sailing under the commission of Cortés, explored the Gulf of California and the coast of Baja California, determining that it was a peninsula, not an island. Nevertheless, the cartographic misconception of California as an island persisted on many European maps well into the 18th century. Hernán Cortés Hernán Cortés (1485–December 2, 1547) (who was known as Hernando or Fernando Cortés during his lifetime and signed all his letters Fernán Cortés) was the conquistador who conquered Mexico for Spain. ... World map showing location of North America A satellite composite image of North America North America is the third largest continent in area and in population after Eurasia and Africa. ... Events May 30 - In Florida, Hernando de Soto lands at Tampa Bay with 600 soldiers with the goal to find gold. ... Route of the 1539 voyage by Francisco de Ulloa from Navidad (Acapulco) along west coast of Mexico Francisco de Ulloa (d. ... The Gulf of California (highlighted) The Gulf of California (also known as the Sea of Cortez or Sea of Cortés; locally known in the Spanish language as Mar de Cortés or, much less frequently, Golfo de California) is a body of water that separates the Baja California Peninsula... Baja California (highlighted) Alternative use: Baja California (state) Baja California or Lower California is a peninsula in the west of Mexico. ... A peninsula is a geographical formation consisting of an extension of land from a larger body that is surrounded by water on three sides. ... World map showing location of Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is geologically and geographically a peninsula, forming the westernmost part of Eurasia. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ...

See also

• History of California