Ferdinand Magellan - the famous Portuguese navigator and explorer, was born in a small village in northern Portugal Sabroza in the family of an impoverished knight.For a time he served as a soldier in the expeditionary corps sent to India.At the beginning of the 16th century he returned to Portugal, where he proposed to the King project achieve Spice Islands, which are important in strategic terms, the western sea.However, the first King Manuel rejected Magellan's voyage around the world, considering it utopian.In 1517 Magellan moved to Spain, where he proposed a similar plan.Indian Council, which deals with all overseas affairs, gave the green light to the organization of the expedition, and soon the Spanish King Charles I signed a decree on the financing of Magellan's expedition.Work has begun to search for captains and crew are able to make long sea crossings.
Start path and the first difficulties
Portuguese was given the title of viceroy of open land and are entitled to a twentieth of all revenues with them.The organizational part of the many obstacles encountered on the part of agents of the Portuguese and the Spanish captains, who did not want to be subordinate to the stranger.However, overcoming all odds, a small fleet of five ships: "Victoria," "Trinidad", "Concepcion", "San Antonio" and "Santiago", in September 1519 set out to sea from the port of San Lucar.Thus began a journey around the world of Magellan.In November, they reached the coast of Brazil.And following the southern direction, the flotilla entered the harbor of San Juan, where he had left to wait out the winter.Soon after the death of one of the ships of Magellan, which he sent to the exploration, another ship deserted back to Spain.With three ships and was made the first trip around the world of Magellan.In November, they went out into the ocean, which is a well-known navigator named the Pacific, as throughout their way here, there was not a storm.On the way expedition discovered the Marianas.For a long time they were unable to fill the necessary supplies for the crew, so that many were ill with scurvy, and some people died.
step away from the goal
However, Ferdinand Magellan world tour continued, and in March 1521 the fleet reached the group of the Philippine Islands.In an effort to conquer them, Magellan intervened in local feuds, and during one of the punitive expeditions inland Ferdinand was killed in a skirmish with the inhabitants.
Magellan's trip around the world coming to an end, by this time already left the ship 2, 113 sailors under the leadership of J. Carvalho, who was soon killed by the rebels.The Portuguese captured one of the ships and headed towards the island of Borneo, another vessel with a Spanish crew and led by Captain Del Cano crossed the Indian Ocean, and in September 1522 reached the port of San Lucar.Magellan's voyage around the world have completed only 18 people, but it is fundamentally revolutionized the way seaworthy and has expanded the geography of sea travel.
