Question 1

Who really sailed around the world first — and why is it not the man it is named after?

Accepted Answer

Magellan led the expedition and found the passage. He also died halfway, in the Philippines. Eighteen survivors under Juan Sebastián Elcano brought one ship home three years later.

Question 2

Ferdinand Magellan: what happened in 1517?

Accepted Answer

He changes sides — Refused by the Portuguese king, he takes his plan to Spain — a normal, if unforgiven, move for a specialist in an age when knowledge was a state secret.

Question 3

Ferdinand Magellan: what happened in 20 September 1519?

Accepted Answer

Five ships sail from Sanlúcar — The Trinidad, San Antonio, Concepción, Victoria and Santiago leave Spain with about 270 men and provisions for two years.

Question 4

Ferdinand Magellan: what happened in 21 Oct – 28 Nov 1520?

Accepted Answer

Through the strait — Thirty-eight days feeling a way through 570 km of freezing channels, dead ends and tides. The San Antonio deserts and sails home with most of the food.

Question 5

Ferdinand Magellan: what happened in 27 April 1521?

Accepted Answer

Killed at Mactan — He wades ashore with about fifty men to force a local chief to submit. Lapulapu's warriors meet them in the shallows and Magellan is killed there.

Question 6

Ferdinand Magellan: what happened in 6 September 1522?

Accepted Answer

The Victoria comes home — Juan Sebastián Elcano brings one leaking ship and eighteen survivors into Sanlúcar, having gone all the way round. Her cargo of cloves alone pays for the whole expedition.

Ferdinand Magellan — Pacific · 1519 · the first way round · Great Explorers

Keep exploring

Other languages