Guide Note: Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan launched the first expedition that circumnavigated the globe in 1521, but he was killed in the Philippines before the trip was complete. He remains the first person to sail Westward from Europe to Asia and is among the first humans to sail across all the meridians.

Fast Facts:

Born in 1480 in Villa Real, Portugal
Died: April 27, 1521 (killed in battle)
Portuguese Name: Fernao de Magalhaes
Discovered the so-called Strait of Magellan between Chile and Tierra del Fuego
Named The Pacific Ocean in 1520

Background

Orphaned as a child, Magellan became a page to Portugal's Queen Leonor. He made his first sea voyage, to India, in 1505.

Magellan's Voyage

The Treaty of Tordesillas of 1494 reserved all routes to Asia around the coast of Africa for Portugal, meaning the Spanish would have to find an alternate route in order to conduct trade with Asia, specifically the area then known as "The Indies." On August 10, 1519, Magellan, sailing on behalf of Charles V of Spain, left Seville with five ships, bound for India.

The expedition reached the equator on February 13, 1521. About a month later, Magellan became the first European to reach The Philippines. Though he was embraced by some of the local population, many of whom converted to Christianity, Magellan was killed on the island during Battle of Mactan. His body was never recovered.

Magellan had not intended to sail around the world. The decision to continue Westward until they returned to Spain was made by his crew after his death. They arrived back at their point of origin on September 6, 1522.

Categories

History | European History | Age of Exploration

View Note History

Ferdinand Magellan

The Mahalo Top 7

Wikipedia: Ferdinand Magellan
The Mariners' Museum: Ferdinand Magellan
Fordham.edu: Magellan's Voyage Round the World, 1519-1522 CE
BBC.com.uk: History - Ferdinand Magellan (1480 - 1521)
Answers.com: Ferdinand Magellan - Biography
thenagain.info: First Circumnavigation of the Globe - Magellan: 1519-1522
NMM.ac.uk: Ferdinand Magellan

Ferdinand Magellan Background and Profiles

New Advent: Ferdinand Magellan
Loc.gov: The First Circumnavigation of the Globe
MSN Encarta: Ferdinand Magellan
Socialstudiesfor kids.com: Magellan's Voyage Around the World Part 1: The Story Before the Voyage

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Ferdinand Magellan Books and Research

Amazon.com: Ferdinand Magellan - books and other items
YouTube: F. Magellan Phillipine History (2:39)
Books.google.com: The Strait of Magellan

Ferdinand Magellan Blogs and Message Boards

Frixos.wordpress.com: Article on Magellan
Poetaensanfrancisco: Killer of Ferdinand Magellan

Ferdinand Magellan Timeline

Spring 1480: Born
1513: Refused permission by King Manuel of Portugal to sail to the Spice Islands
1514-1515: Studied Astronomy and Navigation
1518: Left Portugal for Spain
1518: Presented information of Spice Islands to Charles I of Spain
1519: King Charles I supports a voyage to the Spice Islands
1519: September, began voyage headed across the Atlantic with 241 men and 5 ships
1520: Early March - reached Argentina, South America and wintered his expedition
1520: October - resumed the voyage through the Strait of Magellan and went 98 days without seeing land
1521: Landed on Guam and encountered conflicts - lost many men
1521: Landed on the Philipines and stayed a few weeks
1521: Killed in a battle on the isle of Mactan - he never reached the Spice Islands

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