Fernan Magellan Biography

Semen Ivanovich Dezhnev Great round -the -world journey while still, Magellan spent a lot of time in the secret archives of the Portuguese monarch, where he came across several interesting documents. One of them was an old map, compiled by a traveler Martin Beicham. On the scheme of the predecessor, Fernan saw the strait between the unknown South Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The card did not leave the young man’s head for many years, and in the end inspired him on a long journey.

Having achieved a personal reception from the king, the future discoverer began to ask him about the organization of the marine expedition. The ruler refused, remembering the military his unauthorized behavior during the suppression of the Moroccan uprising, which angered the Portuguese king Manuel the First. In addition, during this period, all the fleet forces were thrown to conquer India by Africa.

Magellan Monarch considered inappropriate the idea. The refusal of the king and his reproaches Fernan suffered hard. He decided to leave his homeland and settle in Spain, buying his own house. In a solar country, the traveler continued to develop the idea of ​​a round -the -world expedition. For centuries, Europe felt the need for oriental spices that were delivered with great difficulty, and therefore were valued on a par with gold.

Traders of spices in those days were very wealthy people. Finding the shortest way to Indian treasures with spices was the main meaning of marine campaigns. While in Spain, Magellan contacted the “Chamber of Contracts” and proposed to carry out the idea of ​​a round -the -world expedition profitable for everyone. However, here the former military man came across a wall of misunderstanding and distrust.

Of course, provided that the expedition will be successful. At that time, the Pope document from year to year was the main title of law for navigators. He said that the newly open territories in the direction of the East remained behind Portugal, and the Western lands departed Spain. The ruler of the latter gave the go -ahead to the marine campaign of Magellan, signing the corresponding decree in the March of the year.

The Spanish monarch hoped that during the expedition it would be possible to prove the belonging of the Indian islands to the west, and all the inconspicuous wealth in the form of spices will belong to his country. The king promised the twentieth part of all the treasures brought from the expedition to sailors. For the trip, five ships with a two -year supplier of food were prepared.

Trinidad became the flagship ship, which set off under the command of Fernan Magellan. The rest of the ships were ruled by Spanish aristocrats, who kept up conflicts. They were outraged by the fact that the Portuguese was at the head of such a large -scale expedition and refused to obey him. Dissatisfaction also intensified because Magellan did not share the plan of action with them.

Despite the fact that the Spanish monarch commanded all the captains to unconditionally obey Fernan, they continued to bend their line and even conspired to get rid of the Portuguese at a convenient occasion. The only person whom the commander in chief could rely in such a dangerous event was his friend Rui Faleira.

But the astronomer could not take part on the expedition because of the end of insanity that began. In the fall of Go, ships under the command of Magellan left the port of San Lukks and headed for the Canary Islands. Thus began a great round -the -world trip, which gave the world several grandiose discoveries. The flotilla slowly advanced along the eastern coast of South America: the sailors tried to find the very Southern Sea saw by Fernan on the map of the German geographer.

The first discovery was the Fire Land Archipelago, discovered in the south of the continent. At first, travelers decided that the group of islands is uninhabited. Sowing past the archipelago at night, the sailors saw several dozen lights. Magellan suggested that these were existing volcanoes, which is why the archipelago called with that name. However, it soon became clear that he was mistaken: the lights turned out to be nothing more than the enlightened stakes.

The ships crossed the plot between the fiery ground and the patagonia. After overcoming the strait, now called Magellanov, sailors went into the Pacific Ocean. Magellan’s aroundbow journey opened new territories to mankind and proved that the Earth has a spherical shape. Only one ship under the command of Juan Sebastian Elkano returned from the entire flotilla to the harbor of Seville.

On board there were 18 exhausted sailors who suffered hunger during the day of travel, lack of water and the death of comrades. Personal life even Fernan Magellan was a descendant of the nobles, his appearance was rather a peasant. The traveler had low growth, stocky physique and rather simple facial features. The sailor himself said that a person should be judged not by appearance, but by his affairs.

Sympathy arose between young people, and soon they got married. In m, the wife gave the first -born a navigator. Unfortunately, due to illness, the boy died.Beatrice became pregnant again, but during a difficult birth she died, like the child in the womb. Thus, the famous navigator did not leave the descendants after himself. Death, despite the large -scale training before swimming, the provisions of travelers ended in a few months.

The records of the expedition participants were preserved, telling that the sailors had to chew sails and other gear, at least somehow similar to food. More than twenty members of the team died of hunger and scurvy. Finally, travelers reached the Philippine Islands, which Fernan initially called the St. Lazarus archipelago. On the long -awaited land, the sailors were finally able to make up for food and fresh water reserves.

It was possible to continue the way, but then Magellan had a conflict with the local leader Mactan Lapu Lupa, who had opposed new orders. Monuments to Fernan Magellan then Portuguese decided to nominate a military expedition against Mactan. Thus, he hoped to show the natives the Spanish power and the uselessness of resistance to the new owners. Here the great navigator made a serious mistake.

He overestimated the capabilities of his insufficiently prepared troops and underestimated the dexterity of the Aborigines. Due to the specific relief of the coast, the ships failed to approach the island at a distance sufficient to support the landing with fire. In addition, the natives have already managed to study the weapons of Europeans and determine its weaknesses.

They quickly moved through the territory of the island familiar from childhood, preventing the invaders from aim. They themselves attacked the soldiers unprotected by armor. Soon the advantage was on the side of the owners, and the Spanish warriors were forced to indulge in the flight. During the retreat, Fernan Magellan was killed. This happened at the end of April.

After the loss of the commander in chief and most of the troops, the Victoria ship under the control of Elkano continued the path. The captain and most of the team decided at all costs to reach the shores of Spain. With difficulty linked to the cape of good hope, the ship followed the coast of Africa for almost two months to the north-west. In early July, the worn “Victoria” with half -living sailors approached the green cape, who was in the Portuguese possessions.

It was not possible to avoid stopping here - the crew simply could not stand the lack of drinking and food. The sailors did not linger here for a long time: the threat of the Portuguese attack was too great. The ship moved west, thus completing a round -the -world expedition. Eighteen exhausted sailors and dilapidated ship - everything that remains of a powerful flotilla of five ships.