Fernand Magellan - a famous Portuguese navigator and explorer, was born in the small village of Sabroza in northern Portugal in the family of an impoverished knight. For some time he served as a soldier in an expeditionary force sent to India. At the beginning of the 16th century, he returned to Portugal, where he proposed to the king a project to reach the Spicy Islands, strategically important, by the western sea route. However, King Manuel the First rejected Magellan's round-the-world trip, considering it utopian. In 1517 Magellan moved to Spain, where he proposed a similar plan. The Indian council, which de alt with all overseas affairs, gave the go-ahead to organize the expedition, and soon the Spanish king Charles the First signed a decree on financing the expedition of Magellan. Work has begun to find captains and crew capable of enduring long sea passages.
The beginning of the journey and the first difficulties
The Portuguese was given the title of viceroy of all open lands and was given the right to a twentieth of all income from them. The organizational part met many obstacles both from the outsidePortuguese agents and Spanish captains who did not want to be subordinate to a foreigner. However, having overcome all disagreements, a small fleet, consisting of five ships: Victoria, Trinidad, Concepción, San Antonio and Santiago, in September 1519 went to sea from the port of San Lucar. Thus began Magellan's journey around the world. In November they reached the coast of Brazil. And following a southerly direction, the flotilla entered San Juan Bay, where it remained to wait out the winter. Soon one of the ships of Magellan, which he sent for reconnaissance, perished, another ship deserted back to Spain. With three ships, Magellan's first round-the-world voyage was made. In November, they went out into the ocean, which the famous navigator called the Pacific, since not a single storm occurred here throughout their journey. Along the way, the expedition discovered the Mariana Islands. For a long time they were not able to replenish the supplies necessary for the crew, as a result of which many fell ill with scurvy, and some people died.
One step away from the goal
Nevertheless, Ferdinand Magellan's round-the-world voyage continued, and in March 1521 the flotilla reached the group of the Philippine Islands. In an effort to conquer them, Magellan intervened in local civil strife, and during one of the punitive expeditions deep into the island, Fernand died in a skirmish with the inhabitants.
Magellan's round-the-world voyage was coming to an end, by this time there were already 2 ships, 113 sailorsunder the leadership of J. Carvalho, who was soon killed by the rebels. The Portuguese captured one of the ships and set off towards the island of Borneo, another ship with a Spanish crew and under the leadership of Captain Del Cano crossed the Indian Ocean, and in September 1522 reached the port of San Lucar. Magellan's round-the-world voyage was completed by only 18 people, but it radically changed seafaring routes and expanded the geography of sea travel.
