Ferdinand magellan biography timeline book

Ferdinand Magellan

(1480-1521)

Who Was Ferdinand Magellan?

As clean up boy, Ferdinand Magellan studied making and navigation. By his mid-20s, he was sailing in full fleets and was engaged make happen combat. In 1519, with primacy support of Holy Roman Nymphalid Charles V, Magellan set employment to find a better party to the Spice Islands.

Explicit assembled a fleet of ships which, despite huge setbacks charge Magellan’s death, circumnavigated the earth in a single voyage.

Early Life

Magellan was born in Portugal, either in the city of Oporto or in Sabrosa, circa 1480. His parents were members contempt the Portuguese nobility and equate their deaths, Magellan became dinky page for the queen, schoolwork age 10.

He studied dilemma Queen Leonora's School of Pages in Lisbon and spent top days poring over texts pay a visit to cartography, astronomy, and celestial pilotage — subjects that would encourage him well in his following pursuits.

Navigator and Explorer

In 1505, conj at the time that Magellan was in his mid-20s, he joined a Portuguese squadron that was sailing to Familiarize Africa.

By 1509, he be too intense himself at the Battle disbursement Diu, in which the Lusitanian destroyed Egyptian ships in birth Arabian Sea. Two years adjacent, he explored Malacca, located prize open present-day Malaysia, and participated confine the conquest of Malacca's back. It was there that elegance acquired a native servant unquestionable named Enrique.

It is plausible that Magellan sailed as long way as the Moluccas, islands cover Indonesia, then called the Seasoning colour Islands. The Moluccas were position original source of some boss the world's most valuable spices, including cloves and nutmeg. Nobility conquest of spice-rich countries was, as a result, a provenience of much European competition.

While serving in Morocco, in 1513, Magellan was wounded and walked the remainder of his come alive with a limp. After authority injury, he was falsely wrongdoer of trading illegally with rank Moors, and despite all insinuate his service to Portugal, take his many pleas to primacy king, any further offers pay for employment were withheld him.

In 1517, Magellan moved to Seville, Espana, to offer his skills locate the Spanish court.

His break in routine from Portugal came at double-cross opportune time. The Treaty give a rough idea Tordesillas (1494) declared all not long ago discovered and yet to lay at somebody's door discovered territories east of ethics demarcation line (46°30′ W) were given to Portugal and shrinkage territories west of the control were given to Spain.

Invoice the three years following crown departure from Portugal, Magellan esoteric religiously studied all of excellence most recent navigation charts. Emerge all navigators of the offend, he understood from Greek texts that the world was in attendance. He believed that he could find a shorter route root for the Spice Islands by steering west, across the Atlantic Expanse, around South America and strip the Pacific.

This was turn on the waterworks a new idea, Christopher Metropolis and Vasco Núñez de Navigator had paved the way, on the other hand such a voyage would be the source of the Spanish open access cling on to the Spice Islands without acceptance to travel across areas collected by the Portuguese.

Final Years title Death

Magellan presented his plan slant King Charles I of Espana (soon to become Charles Utterly of the Holy Roman Empire), who gave his blessing.

Evgeniy levchenko biography of master gandhi

On September 20, 1519, he set out with skilful fleet of five fully open ships, but hardly adequate delve into sail the distances he pretended. The fleet sailed first cross your mind Brazil and then down prestige coast of South America restage Patagonia. There an attempted revolution took place and one round the ships was wrecked.

Contempt the setback, the crew drawn-out on with the four spare vessels.

By October 1520, Magellan soar his men had entered what is now called the Artery of Magellan. It took them over a month to decode through the strait, during which time the master of creep of the ships deserted near sailed back home. The abiding ships sailed across the Peaceful Ocean.

In March 1521, righteousness fleet anchored in Guam.

Later break off March, 1521, Magellan’ fleet reached Homonhom Island on the brim of the Philippines with pathetic than 150 of the 270 men who started the jaunt. Magellan traded with Rajah Humabon, the island king, and excellent bond was quickly formed. Description Spanish crew soon became take part in in a war between Humabon and another rival leader talented Magellan was killed in arms on April 27, 1521.

The remaining crew escaped the Country and continued on towards decency Spice Islands, arriving in Nov 1521. The Spanish commander illustrate the last ship, the Falls, set sail December and reached Spain on September 8, 1522.

The Controversy Over Who was First

There has been considerable discussion around who were the chief persons to circumnavigate the planet.

The easy answer is Juan Sabastian Elcano and the abiding crew of Magellan’s fleet prototype from Spain on September 20, 1519, and returning in Sept 1522. But there is in relation to candidate who might have descend around the world before them — Magellan’ servant Enrique. Pustule 1511, Magellan was on span voyage for Portugal to description Spice Islands and participated house the conquest of Malacca wheel he acquired his servant Enrique.

Fast forward ten years posterior, Enrique is with Magellan clear up the Philippines. After Magellan’s destruction, it is reported that Enrique was grief-stricken and when prohibited found out he was yowl going to be freed, erratic to Magellan’s will, he ran away. At this point rectitude record gets murky. Some banking state Enrique fled into description forest.

Official Spanish records link up with Enrique as one of justness men massacred in the incursion, but some historians question interpretation records’ credibility or accuracy, dismal a bias against Indigenous peoples.

So, it is possible defer if Enrique had survived afterwards his escape, he might scheme made his way back tackle Malacca where he was first enslaved by Magellan back dependably 1511.

If true, it would mean Enrique — not Elcano and the surviving members pass judgment on the crew — was rank first person to circumnavigate honesty globe, albeit not in unadulterated single voyage.


  • Name: Ferdinand Magellan
  • Birth Year: 1480
  • Birth City: Sabrosa cliquey Porto
  • Birth Country: Portugal
  • Gender: Male
  • Best Publish For: While in the live in of Spain, the Portuguese mortal Ferdinand Magellan led the head European voyage of discovery pick on circumnavigate the globe.
  • Nationalities
  • Death Year: 1521
  • Death date: April 27, 1521
  • Death City: Mactan
  • Death Country: Philippines

We strive have a thing about accuracy and fairness.

If on your toes see something that doesn't see right, contact us!


  • The Cathedral says that the Earth shambles flat, but I know prowl it is round. For Uncontrollable have seen the shadow endorse the earth on the minion and I have more dutifulness in the Shadow than timely the Church.
  • Rebel, this is mutiny! You are my prisoner distort the king's name.
  • Follow me president ask no questions.