In the first quarter of the XVI century.Europeans learned about the hitherto unexplored part of the coast of South America and the existence of a narrow strait later named Magellan.Brave explorers first crossed the Pacific Ocean, have proved that the Earth is round, and the oceans - a whole.He headed the expedition Ferdinand Magellan, whose biography has been studied by many researchers, but the information at the disposal of historians, are controversial and are of great interest for several centuries.
place and exact date of birth of the famous Portuguese navigator and Spanish are the subject of debate.Historians call the two settlements, in which he could be born Porto and Sabroza.Ferdinand Magellan was born in 1840 into a poor but noble noble family.As a page, he was a member of the retinue of Queen Leonora Aviz.Perhaps it is the queen of Portugal entry assist youths in nautical school.Naval service began with a pioneering future participation in the Eastern Expedition (1505) as a supernumerary soldier.
There is information about the expeditions, fitted out to explore the Indian Ocean, which sends young Magellan.Ferdinand served in different places.Not very tall, but physically strong and confident, he showed himself a brave warrior in the naval battles and was awarded the rank of captain.In 1513 briefly returned to Portugal, and the next year went to Morocco, where he received a wound in the leg, then limped the rest of life.Immediately after the end of hostilities he was accused of secretly selling the opposing side of the military production.Angered by Ferdinand Magellan voluntarily went to Portugal to defend himself, but this act has caused the anger of King Manuel I, and after retirement he was denied a pension increase.Asked to identify the ship to find new sea routes Portuguese king also refused.
Ferdinand Magellan moved to Spain, where he, after a long bargaining failed to convince of the need for profitability and a more pliant expedition of the Spanish king.The main purpose of travel was not geographical discoveries, and the Moluccas - the source of spices - "gold" XVI century.The islands explorer planning to get a short way from America.His calculations, placing the cards off the coast of South America and sweeps seafarers who have visited those places, it was not built from scratch.A flotilla of five ships, laden with guns, other weapons, as well as a variety of goods for trade, set sail September 20, 1519 Great test befell 256 people participating in the round the world regatta under the leadership of Magellan.September 6, 1522, only one worn ship named "Victoria" with the gaunt crew of 18 people landed on the Spanish coast.On board, there was no man, through perseverance, strength and courage of which was made the first circumnavigation of the world.Navigator and pioneer Ferdinand Magellan himself did not complete its journey around the world, to glorify him to the world, since intervened in the internecine feuds Aboriginal and died April 27, 1521 in a clash off the island of Mactan.
