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Ferdinand MagellanPortuguese navigator (made the first trip around the world)
Date of Birth: 20.11.1480
Country:  Portugal |
Content:
Biography of Ferdinand Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan (November 20, 1480 - April 21, 1521) was a Portuguese navigator and explorer who is known for organizing the first circumnavigation of the world. He had doubts about the success of the voyage, as the idea of the Earth being round was still only a hypothesis. However, the journey ended successfully and proved that the Earth is indeed round, although Magellan himself did not live to see their return.
Early Life and Career
Ferdinand Magellan had a passion for the sea from a young age and dedicated his life to it. In 1505, he joined the crew of Francisco de Almeida, who undertook the first voyage under the flag of Spain to the East. This expedition provided Magellan with invaluable experience in navigation and maritime affairs, as he had the opportunity to learn various ship skills. He spent a considerable amount of time in India and Mozambique, where he eventually became a captain. In 1512, Magellan returned to Lisbon but was injured during a military operation against a rebellion in Morocco, leaving him crippled for life. In 1517, he arrived in Spain and entered the service of King Charles (also known as Emperor Charles V).
The Voyage
According to the Papal Bull issued in 1493, all new territories discovered east of the demarcation line established in 1494 belonged to Portugal, while those to the west belonged to Spain. Magellan was chosen to lead a westward expedition to prove that the Spice Islands, rich in spices, lay to the west of this line and thus belonged to Spain. On March 22, 1518, the enterprise received royal approval, and Magellan was appointed as the commander of the fleet. According to the terms of the voyage, all lands discovered during the journey would become the property of the Spanish Crown, and their administration would be handed over to representatives of Spain. The crew of the fleet would receive 1/20 of all the treasures captured during the voyage.
Magellan believed that by sailing across the Atlantic, they would reach the South Sea and find a strait through the "Firm Land." The idea of this route was not new, as many had believed that by constantly moving westward, ships would reach the East without having to go around Cape of Good Hope, which was controlled by Portugal and considered dangerous. Magellan and Faleiro, captain of the second ship in the fleet, aimed to discover this strait. Five ships were prepared in Seville - Trinidad (Magellan's flagship), San Antonio, Concepcion, Victoria, and Santiago. Unfortunately, Faleiro did not participate in the voyage due to a sudden onset of madness. On September 20, 1519, Ferdinand Magellan bid farewell to his young wife Beatriz Barbosa and their newborn son Rodrigo and ordered the raising of anchor.
The sailors reached Tenerife on September 26 and set course for Brazil on October 3. By November 29, they were southwest of Cape Saint Augustine, and on December 13, they entered the bay of Rio de Janeiro. On March 31, 1520, they arrived at the port of Saint Julian. A conflict arose between the Spanish and Portuguese captains during Easter celebrations there. Magellan made a decisive and tough decision to strip one of the captains of his rank and strand the other on the shore. On August 24, 1520, the fleet left Saint Julian. The Santiago ship was lost near Santa Cruz due to a storm. On October 21, they rounded the Gulf of Virgins and entered the strait which Magellan had anticipated would be the long-awaited passage. This strait would later be named the Strait of Magellan. Only three ships reached the eastern end of the strait, Trinidad, Concepcion, and Victoria.
On November 28, Trinidad, Concepcion, and Victoria entered the waters of the South Sea, which would later be called the Pacific Ocean due to the calmness of its waters during their journey. The conditions on the ships were terrible, with water supplies running out and provisions spoiled by rats. The sailors resorted to eating leather rigging. Until December 18, the fleet sailed along the Chilean coast, and then Magellan changed course to the northeast. It was only on January 24, 1521, that they reached the Tuamotu Archipelago. On March 6, the crew went ashore on the Marianas Islands, where they set foot on solid ground for the first time in 99 days and tasted fresh food. On March 9, Magellan set a course to the west-southwest towards the islands that would later be named the Philippines. Two months later, they arrived at what seemed like paradise, but during a skirmish with the locals on April 21, Magellan was killed.
The remnants of Magellan's crew, totaling 21 people, reached the shores of Spain on September 8, 1522.
