The Portuguese navigator of the 16th century, Ferdinand Magellan, was born on February 3, 1480, in Sabrosa (Portugal). He undertook the very first voyage around the world in 1519: Charles V had entrusted him with the leadership of an expedition of 5 ships tasked with reaching the Spice Islands (Indonesia) via the western route.
The expedition left Spain in September 1519, reached Brazil in December 1519, discovered the Strait of Magellan in October 1520, and arrived in the Philippines in March 1521. Only one ship with 18 sailors returned to Spain in September 1522, having thus completed the first circumnavigation in history. His determination to find, on behalf of Spain, a route to Indonesia via the West led Ferdinand Magellan to discover the strait that bears his name, as well as the Philippine archipelago. He died on April 27, 1521, on the island of Mactan (Philippines).
History and Youth of Ferdinand Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan was born in 1480 into a family of minor nobility. Initially a page at the Portuguese court, he turned to a military career. In 1505, as an officer, he was sent to sea to India, probably in the expedition of Francisco Almeida. This first maritime experience seems to have sparked his passion for navigation and adventure. By 1506, he participated in the expeditions of the Portuguese navigator Alfonso de Albuquerque in the East Indies.
Appointed captain in 1510, he took part in other military expeditions in India and Malacca. Around 1512, he came into conflict with authority and had to return to his homeland. The respite was short-lived, as he was sent to Morocco in 1513. During the conflicts in which he participated, he was seriously injured in the knee. He was also accused of embezzlement and lost favor at court. The king refused to increase his pension for all the services he had rendered to the country. Magellan aspired to discover a new route to the Indies, but his project was also rejected by the king. He chose to go to Spain.
Magellan Dreams of Voyages and Exploration
Leaving behind a country that seemed too ungrateful, Magellan offered his services to the King of Spain, the future Charles V, in 1517. He hoped to fulfill his dream of exploration, especially since he knew how to convince the monarch of his usefulness. At the end of the 15th century, Portugal and Spain had divided their future overseas territories in the Treaty of Tordesillas.
Thus, the territories west of the Atlantic were assigned to Spain, while those to the east were given to Portugal. If Magellan could discover a western route to the Spice Islands (Indonesia) for Spain, the country could rightfully claim those lands. The idea appealed to the young king, especially since the spice trade was an ideal way to enrich the country. Despite Portuguese interventions, Magellan managed to leave Spain on September 20, 1519, with five ships and a crew of several hundred men under his command.
Ferdinand Magellan’s Circumnavigation
Aboard the ship Trinidad, Magellan set sail to reach the Americas and find a way to cross the continent westward. After reaching the eastern coast, he stopped in Brazil and then explored the Río de la Plata estuary, hoping to find a passage to the sea. Without success. He decided to disembark in southern America, in Patagonia, for a few months. Fatigued and having lost hope, some crew members grew exasperated by their captain’s determination. They mutinied, but Magellan managed to suppress the revolt.
After resuming the journey, the navigator finally reached a strait leading to the western ocean. He named it after himself. However, the crossing of this passage proved long and difficult. One ship wrecked, while another mutinied and returned to Spain. After more than a month, on November 28, 1520, the expedition finally reached the ocean. Amazed by its extreme calmness, Magellan named it the “Pacific.” He continued his route, unaware of the vastness of the ocean. It took three long months to cross, and the crew, starving and exhausted, arrived at Guam in the Mariana Islands on March 6, 1521. Magellan, however, did not linger there and resumed the voyage. On March 16, he discovered the Philippines and then the island of Cebu, where he stopped.
The Death of Ferdinand Magellan
After establishing contact with the natives on the island of Cebu, Magellan began converting the inhabitants with gentleness. After succeeding, he agreed to assist the local ruler, who sought to assert his dominance over the nearby island of Mactan. Taking up arms again, Magellan launched into a battle from which he did not emerge alive. After the death of their captain, two ships quickly set sail, while a third was burned.
Both ships reached the Moluccas, but only one, commanded by Elcano, rounded Africa via the Cape of Good Hope and returned to Spain on September 6, 1522. It became the first ship in history to complete a circumnavigation of the world. Although Magellan did not complete his journey, he remains its sole initiator. Beyond the feat achieved by one of his ships, his journey confirmed the roundness of the Earth. It also contributed to the development of trade between the Americas and East Asia.
Chronological Landmarks
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| August 10, 1519 | Departure from Seville |
| December 13, 1519 | Arrival in the bay of Santa Lucia (Brazil) |
| January 12, 1520 | Beginning of exploration of the Rio de la Plata (Argentina) |
| March 31, 1520 | Arrival in Puerto San Julián (Patagonia, Argentina) |
| April 1, 1520 | San Julián Mutiny |
| May 3, 1520 | Sinking of the Santiago |
| October 21, 1520 | Discovery of Cape Virgenes, entrance to the Strait |
| about November 8, 1520 | Desertion of the San Antonio who returns to Seville |
| November 28, 1520 | Entry of the fleet into the Pacific Ocean |
| March 6, 1521 | Arrival in the Marianas |
| April 7, 1521 | Arrival in Cebu |
| April 27, 1521 | Death of Magellan and six other men in the battle against the natives of Mactan |
| May 2, 1521 | Deliberate destruction of the Concepción |
| November 8, 1521 | Arrival in the Moluccas on the island of Tidore of Trinidad and Victoria |
| December 21, 1521 | Departure of the clove-laden Victoria for Spain |
| May 19, 1522 | La Victoria rounds the Cape of Good Hope |
| September 6, 1522 | La Victoria docks at Sanlucar de Barrameda |
Fernand Magellan: Key Dates
February 3, 1480: Magellan is born
Fernão de Magalhães is born in Sabrosa, Portugal, into a family of minor aristocracy. Early on, his father manages to get him a position at the court of Queen Leonor as a page.
March 25, 1505: Magellan sets sail for India
As a man of action, Fernand Magellan joins the expedition of Francisco de Almeida, an explorer and viceroy of Portuguese India. The expedition, sent by King Manuel I of Portugal, aims to ensure the country’s dominance over the Indian Ocean. Almeida is later replaced by Alfonso de Albuquerque, and Magellan seems to have served under him.
1510: Magellan is promoted to captain
Due to his military actions in the East Indies on behalf of Portugal, Magellan is promoted to captain. He continues to participate in Albuquerque’s military expeditions before returning to Portugal in 1512.
September 1, 1513: Magellan is sent to Morocco
Upon his return to Portugal, Magellan is dispatched to Morocco as part of the Duke of Braganza’s expedition. He participates in several battles, but in one, he is severely injured in the knee, an injury that will affect him for the rest of his life. During this expedition, Magellan is also accused of illegal trading, causing him to lose favor with his superiors.
1517: Magellan submits his project to Spain
Disillusioned by repeated refusals from the Portuguese king, Magellan decides to renounce his origins and presents his project to Spain. He plans to reach the Moluccas, one of the Spice Islands, by sailing westward. Convinced of the Earth’s roundness, Magellan believes he can discover a new route to what will later be called the Pacific Ocean. Although initially rejected by Spain, his project gains the interest of the young King Charles I (the future Emperor Charles V) the following year. Magellan convinces the king by demonstrating that the lands discovered by sailing west could rightfully belong to Spain, allowing the country to profit from the spice trade.
September 20, 1519: Magellan departs for the Indies
The expedition under the command of Portuguese navigator Fernand Magellan leaves the Andalusian port of Sanlúcar de Barrameda. Convinced that Asia can be reached by navigating around the lands of the New World discovered by Columbus in 1492, Magellan is commissioned by Charles V to open a route to the Spice Islands. He accomplishes his mission brilliantly, but he will never return to Spain, as he dies during the journey. Only one of the five ships of the expedition returns three years later, completing the first circumnavigation of the globe.
October 21, 1520: Magellan crosses his strait
For the first time in history, a European crosses the strait at the southern tip of America, linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The Portuguese explorer and navigator Fernand Magellan discovers this westward passage toward the Spice Islands (Indonesia). He enters it on November 1 and reaches the Pacific Ocean on November 28. The strait is named after him and will be widely used before the opening of the Panama Canal. In reference to the date of Magellan’s entry into the strait, it was long called the “Strait of All Saints.”
March 16, 1521: Magellan discovers the Philippines
Leading an expedition of three ships (having lost two along the way) under the Spanish flag, the Portuguese navigator Fernand Magellan reaches the Philippines. Departing on September 20, 1519, Magellan successfully reaches Asia by the westward route. He lands in the Philippines and begins evangelizing the local population.
March 31, 1521: Magellan arrives in Patagonia
Fernand Magellan and his expedition arrive at Puerto San Julián in Patagonia. He becomes the first European to set foot in this region of southern Argentina. Magellan decides to stay for several months, but during this time, he faces mutinies from some of his men. He manages to restore order, sometimes using force. Legend has it that during this stop, Magellan and his crew encountered giant men with enormous feet, whom they called “Patagons,” meaning “Big Feet.”
April 27, 1521: Magellan dies in the Philippines
The Portuguese navigator Fernand Magellan is killed by a poisoned arrow on the small island of Mactan (Philippines) by indigenous people. He had gone there to help the ruler of Cebu Island assert his dominance over the territory.