Ferdinand Magellan

Categories: Social Science | European History

  • 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.

  • 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.

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