Around the World with Magellan - Ben Trefethen

Ferdinand Magellan was born about 1480 in Northern Portugal. The son of a minor royal, he was schooled in a monastery and then sent to work at the Palace of Queen Leonora in Lisbon the capitol city. As a page he was educated to a high degree including the science of navigation. Portugal had just discovered the sea route to the Indian ocean going around the horn of Africa. While it's biggest competitor Spain gambled on sailing west with Columbus's four voyages.  Enter Magellan and  the Great Age of Discovery. The excitement to explore new lands was compelling but paled in comparison to the riches that awaited the country that could develop the fastest trade routes to the spice islands of the west Pacific. The most profitable of these spices was pepper. It was easy to store and keep over long voyages and often referred to as "Black Gold". It was this treasure that was to lead Magellan on his greatest adventure. In 1505 King Manuel launched an aggressive campaign to seize control of African port cities. Launching a dozen ships with a compliment of 400 men total the fleet ran South along the African coast and after rounding the Horn split. Some ships headed for India and eight ships remained in Africa to conquer various port cities. The crews ravaged the coast. Pillage, murder and savage acts were committed against the Muslim towns. Thousands of villagers were killed. Magellan was aboard these ships and would have played a role in these massacres.  He proved to be an able leader and received quick advancement eventually becoming Captain of a small barque. King Manuel was determined to subjugate the Middle east and India to Portugal's control. Years of heavy fighting had cost him much in men and ships. Eventually Portugal was able to gain control of the Indian Ocean and trade routes to the spice islands. However Morocco was now in revolt. The king sent Magellan and his brother to quell the uprising. Magellan was wounded severely and came home in shame. The king expressed his displeasure and Magellan asked to be set free to work for a different country.  The king agreed.
So Magellan went to king Charles I and convinced him that he was the man to lead an expedition to the new world . The king financed a fleet of ships and on September 20th 1519 they set sail. Crossing the Atlantic they followed the coast of Brazil southward and around the the tip of South America. Magellan had entered the Pacific at last. He survives mutiny , storms and thousands of miles of sailing through reef infested seas to arrive in the Philippines in 1521. After converting locals to Christianity he went to the tribes sworn enemies and tried to convert them as well. This tribe attacked and he suffered a poison arrow to the leg. He died later that day and was abandoned by his men in their retreat. Of his fleet of five ships the only surviving vessel was the Victoria. Of the 270 men who sailed with Magellan only 18 returned to Spain. Magellan had kept the secrets of navigation to himself and the crew's returning to Spain sailed blindly about struggling to reach their homeland. Eventually they turned to Piracy. One of the mutineers eventually became captain of the Victoria and sailed her back to Spain.

Ben Trefethen