Who was the first person to circumnavigate the globe?
It was Ferdinand Magellan, right?
Not exactly.
But let’s dive into this story involving eating leather, battling on the beach, and a lot of scurvy…
It was Ferdinand Magellan, right?
Not exactly.
But let’s dive into this story involving eating leather, battling on the beach, and a lot of scurvy…
The date was September 20, 1519, and Magellan was saying goodbye to his wife and infant son.
When they watched Magellan sail off into the distance, they didn’t know it would be the last time they would ever see him.
When they watched Magellan sail off into the distance, they didn’t know it would be the last time they would ever see him.
The famous explorer was in command of 5 Spanish ships and 270 men and they were headed for the Spice Islands (Moluccas islands in Indonesia).
But wait, how did this expedition even come about?
Isn’t Magellan Portuguese?
But wait, how did this expedition even come about?
Isn’t Magellan Portuguese?
Well, what happened is that earlier in Magellan’s life, although he served valiantly for the Portuguese military, he was accused of selling war spoils back to enemies for a profit.
Although he was found innocent, he lost the trust of the Portuguese king Manuel I.
Although he was found innocent, he lost the trust of the Portuguese king Manuel I.
So, when Magellan had asked King Manuel for an increase in his pension granted through his military accomplishments, his request was refused (we will come back to Magellan's early life in another thread).
Manuel told Magellan to offer his services elsewhere…
Manuel told Magellan to offer his services elsewhere…
Magellan decided to take his talents to the Spanish beaches (LeBron James joke… haha).
In 1517, Magellan told the Spanish King Charles I, that he would find a westward route to the Spice Islands.
King Charles was "onboard" with the idea.
In 1517, Magellan told the Spanish King Charles I, that he would find a westward route to the Spice Islands.
King Charles was "onboard" with the idea.
Initially, King Charles, appointed Magellan and another Portuguese captain to lead the mission, but the Spanish seafaring community was outraged.
So, a Spanish co-captain was put in power next to Magellan.
The expedition was also delayed for quite some time.
So, a Spanish co-captain was put in power next to Magellan.
The expedition was also delayed for quite some time.
If Magellan was successful, he would be granted governorship of the territories, along with 5% of all revenue generated from the trip.
Eventually, Magellan’s crew left the Spanish harbor with 5 ships:
-Trinidad (flagship)
-San Antonio
-Concepcion
-Victoria
-Santiago
Eventually, Magellan’s crew left the Spanish harbor with 5 ships:
-Trinidad (flagship)
-San Antonio
-Concepcion
-Victoria
-Santiago
As they set sail, Magellan worried about the condition of his ships.
Although they were well-supplied, they were old.
Magellan had no idea what his men were in for…
Although they were well-supplied, they were old.
Magellan had no idea what his men were in for…
Crossing the Atlantic had been brutal.
They faced countless storms.
But after about 2 months, they made it to the coast of Brazil.
They faced countless storms.
But after about 2 months, they made it to the coast of Brazil.
On March 31, 1520, they sailed into Port Saint Julian (San Julián, Argentina).
On that Easter night mutiny broke out.
Some Spanish captains had wanted to remove Magellan from command of the mission entirely.
On that Easter night mutiny broke out.
Some Spanish captains had wanted to remove Magellan from command of the mission entirely.
Magellan was ruthless in dealing with this mutiny.
He executed one of the rebellious captains and left one ashore to fend for himself.
It worked though and in August they left the port heading farther south looking for a passage through South America to the Pacific Ocean.
He executed one of the rebellious captains and left one ashore to fend for himself.
It worked though and in August they left the port heading farther south looking for a passage through South America to the Pacific Ocean.
They lost two ships looking for a passage; both the Santiago and the San Antonio.
Supposedly, Magellan, who was known for his lack of emotion and ruthless behavior, broke down in tears when the Pacific Ocean was finally spotted after rounding the Cape of the Virgins.
Supposedly, Magellan, who was known for his lack of emotion and ruthless behavior, broke down in tears when the Pacific Ocean was finally spotted after rounding the Cape of the Virgins.
They had finally found the strait which would later bear his name: The Strait of Magellan.
Everything was looking up for the adventurous men.
But things were about to take a horrific turn…
Everything was looking up for the adventurous men.
But things were about to take a horrific turn…
It should be noted that everything we know about this journey largely comes from one man’s journal.
Magellan took an Italian scholar with him named Antonio Pigafetta.
Pigafetta documented all sorts of things, from indigenous encounters to flora and fauna.
Magellan took an Italian scholar with him named Antonio Pigafetta.
Pigafetta documented all sorts of things, from indigenous encounters to flora and fauna.
The men quickly ran out of supplies in the Pacific Ocean...
They could be found eating the powder left from the already-eaten biscuits and drinking the yellow water at the bottom of the barrels.
It got so bad they even resorted to eating rats and leather clothes to survive…
They could be found eating the powder left from the already-eaten biscuits and drinking the yellow water at the bottom of the barrels.
It got so bad they even resorted to eating rats and leather clothes to survive…
As you might imagine, scurvy set in heavily.
Many men died.
Somehow the voyagers made landfall in Guam in March of 1521.
Upon landfall, they devoured fresh food.
It was the first fresh food they had eaten in 99 days…
Many men died.
Somehow the voyagers made landfall in Guam in March of 1521.
Upon landfall, they devoured fresh food.
It was the first fresh food they had eaten in 99 days…
Instead of continuing onward to the Spice Islands, Magellan steered his ships toward the Philippines to gather provisions and set up a base.
It was there that Magellan made an alliance with a local leader and converted him to Christianity.
It was there that Magellan made an alliance with a local leader and converted him to Christianity.
This is when Magellan’s life came to an end though…
Magellan and his men got into a skirmish with a rival tribe on the island of Mactan.
Lapu Lapu, who was the ruler of the people of Mactan, refused to submit to Magellan.
Magellan and his men got into a skirmish with a rival tribe on the island of Mactan.
Lapu Lapu, who was the ruler of the people of Mactan, refused to submit to Magellan.
Magellan gathered 60 men and waded ashore to fight the indigenous people.
But they were met with a surprising force.
1,500-3,000 warriors walked out of the trees and onto the beach…
But they were met with a surprising force.
1,500-3,000 warriors walked out of the trees and onto the beach…
Although Magellan and his men and muskets, they were no match for the countless spears and poisoned arrows in the warriors' arsenal.
Here’s Pigafetta’s words on the event:
“So many of them charged down on us that they shot the captain through the right leg with a poisoned...
Here’s Pigafetta’s words on the event:
“So many of them charged down on us that they shot the captain through the right leg with a poisoned...
...arrow. On that account he ordered us to retire slowly. But the men took to flight except 6-8 of us who remained with the captain. The natives shot only at our legs, for the latter were bare and so many were the spears and stones that they hurled at us that we could offer no...
...resistance… The natives continued to pursue us, and picking up the same spear 4 or 6 times, hurled it at us again and again. Recognizing the captain, so many turned upon him they knocked his helmet off his head twice, but he always stood firmly like a...
...good knight. An Indian hurled a bamboo spear into the captain’s face, but the latter immediately killed him with a lance which he left in the Indian’s body. Then trying to lay hand on sword, he could draw it out, but halfway because he had been wounded in the arm with a...
...bamboo spear. When the natives saw that, they all hurled themselves upon him. One of them wounded him in the left leg with a large cutlass… That caused the captain to fall face downward when they immediately rushed upon him with iron and bamboo spears and…
…with their cutlasses until they killed our mirror, our light, our compass, and our true guide.”
Magellan made it a long way just to die in some random skirmish with indigenous warriors.
Magellan made it a long way just to die in some random skirmish with indigenous warriors.
After this disastrous defeat, only the Trinidad and the Victoria made it to the Spice Islands.
On their way back to Spain, the Trinidad was captured by the Portuguese and they even imprisoned the captain: Gonzalo Gómez de Espinosa, Magellan’s master-at-arms.
On their way back to Spain, the Trinidad was captured by the Portuguese and they even imprisoned the captain: Gonzalo Gómez de Espinosa, Magellan’s master-at-arms.
A man named Cano captained the Victoria all the way back to Spain.
When they arrived, the ship was leaking but full to the brim with spices.
The men were in awful shape: “weaker than men have ever been before.”
And only 17 men, along with a few islanders, made it back alive.
When they arrived, the ship was leaking but full to the brim with spices.
The men were in awful shape: “weaker than men have ever been before.”
And only 17 men, along with a few islanders, made it back alive.
USEFUL KNOWLEDGE:
Well, there’s a lot going on in this story but how might Magellan’s life apply to your own?
-Stick to the mission.
Where Magellan went wrong was giving in to his distractions. He basically choked at the finish line. He diverted his focus to trying to conquer these random indigenous people when he should have been focusing on trade with the Spice Islands, that was the whole reason he had been at sea for over a year…
So, when distractions come up while you are on your mission, remain focused. And distractions are coming, that is guaranteed, what matters is if you give in to them. Keep your eyes on the prize.
NOTE: Magellan was one of these guys that we obviously don't want to emulate everything he did... keep that in mind. Focus on the good and what we can learn from him.
Well, there’s a lot going on in this story but how might Magellan’s life apply to your own?
-Stick to the mission.
Where Magellan went wrong was giving in to his distractions. He basically choked at the finish line. He diverted his focus to trying to conquer these random indigenous people when he should have been focusing on trade with the Spice Islands, that was the whole reason he had been at sea for over a year…
So, when distractions come up while you are on your mission, remain focused. And distractions are coming, that is guaranteed, what matters is if you give in to them. Keep your eyes on the prize.
NOTE: Magellan was one of these guys that we obviously don't want to emulate everything he did... keep that in mind. Focus on the good and what we can learn from him.
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