Category Social Sciences

          After travelling three-quarters of the way around the globe, Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan was killed in Philippines. With the loss of their leader, the remaining crew voyaged back to Spain on board three ships, under the command of Juan Sebastian Elcano.

          Even though their deceased commander was Portuguese, the expedition sailed under the Spanish flag. Because of this, the fleet was fearful of confronting Portuguese ships on their way back. The Portuguese would show no mercy when they discovered the ships. The ships were therefore, forced to sail to the south of the main trade routes, so that they did not encounter Portuguese ships.

          On their way, because of manpower shortage, one of the ships was burnt. The crew then travelled in two ships: the Trinidad and the Victoria. The ship Trinidad was captured by the Portuguese. The Victoria, under the command of Juan Sebastian Elcano, arrived back in Spain in September 1522. 

            Magellan had to sail with the wind after entering the Pacific Ocean. It took many days to make landfall.

            The fleet ran out of food, and many crew members were affected by scurvy. However, they retained sufficient drinking water to stay alive.

            After overcoming many hurdles on the way, Ferdinand Magellan, finally sighted an island on the horizon. It was the Isle of Guam where Magellan made landfall and stocked up his food supplies.

            Later, they arrived on an island called Cebu, where Magellan befriended the local chieftain. The native chief in awe of Magellan’s superior ships and weapons, asked Ferdinand Magellan to attack his enemies on the nearby island of Mactan.

            Ferdinand Magellan agreed considering himself stronger. Unfortunately, his intuition misfired. The hero was brutally killed in that minor island skirmish.

            Ferdinand Magellan never completed the circumnavigation of the Earth. With the loss of Magellan, Juan Sebastian took control of the ship and sailed for Spain with the remaining crew. 

               Ferdinand Magellan accidentally discovered the Pacific Ocean. This is how it happened. Magellan’s ships went through a long passage which he called ‘All Saints’ Channel’ now named the Strait of Magellan. The Strait of Magellan, a navigable sea route, is the most important natural passage between the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans.

               For thirty-eight days, and over 482 kilometres, Magellan’s ships battled day and night through the straits. After sailing through the dangerous straits, Magellan and his crew entered the Pacific Ocean with three ships. Thus, Magellan became the first European explorer to reach the Pacific.

               On first seeing the majestic ocean, Magellan was taken aback because it was so calm. He named it ‘the Pacific’, because of its pacifying stillness, and peacefulness.

               Magellan and his crew were the first Europeans to reach Tierra del Fuego just east of the Pacific side of the strait. 

          Columbus’s finding that the West Indies were near the coast of India was not convincing enough. Magellan believed that there was a western sea route to reach the Spice Islands. He wanted to go on a voyage to discover this sea route. He sought financial aid from the Portuguese King, but the King was intent on developing a route to the East around the Cape of Good Hope. He refused to give Magellan the support he needed.

          A vexed Magellan renounced his Portuguese citizenship. He relocated to Spain in 1518, and sought the help of the king of Spain.

          He got a positive nod from the king. Magellan intended to search for a passage around the south of  America into the Pacific Ocean.

          He was given the financial support he needed and also provided a fleet of five ships. But the Spanish king did not provide funds for the crew.

          This did not discourage Ferdinand Magellan. He recruited sailors by himself. 

               Magellan was greatly inspired by the adventurous voyages of Bartholomeu Dias and Vasco da Gama.

               Magellan was too young when Bartholomeu Dias returned from the Cape of Good Hope, but he was old enough to remember the successful arrival of Christopher Columbus from his first voyage. He was 19 years old when Vasco da Gama returned from his victorious voyage to India.

               The last decade of the fifteenth century, and the first decades of the following century witnessed many discoveries. In 1500, Pedro Alvarez Cabral discovered the east coast of Brazil. Later, Spanish explorer Vasco Nunez de Balboa crossed the Isthmus of Panama in 1513.

               However, it became more evident, that a whole continent between Europe and Asia had not yet been discovered. Inspired by his predecessors, Ferdinand Magellan decided to follow the paths of the Portuguese explorers, and to make new discoveries of his own.

               Ferdinand Magellan’s voyage was proved successful as he discovered many new islands. Even though, Magellan faced an unfortunate death; his remaining crew circumnavigated the world. Hence, the voyages of Ferdinand Magellan are considered as some of the greatest voyages ever. 

               Magellan was born into a Portuguese noble family in 1480. His adventurous spirit led him to a career as an explorer. As the Portuguese king refused to finance Magellan’s expedition, he decided to offer his services to King Charles I of Spain, who agreed to finance him.

               Magellan’s expedition to the East Indies resulted in the first circumnavigation of the Earth, completed by Juan Sebastian Elcano. Magellan set out from Spain in 1519, with a fleet of five ships, to discover a western sea route to the Spice Islands. On the way, he discovered what is now known as the Strait of Magellan. He was the first European navigator to cross the Pacific Ocean.

               While voyaging through the Pacific Ocean, the fleet had to face many hurdles like storms, and lack of food.

               However, without being disheartened, they sailed further, and reached the Philippines. On 15th March, 1521, they headed to Suluan and dropped anchor for a few hours of respite. Suluan is a small island in the province of Eastern Samar. They then next dropped anchor at Homonhon, another small island in the province of Eastern Samar.

              On 27th April 1521, Magellan was killed in the Battle of Mactan.