His full name is Fernando de Merol Marguerite, born in 1480 in the city of Porto, Portugal.
Young Magellan became a noble soldier, participating in multiple battles and accumulating rich combat experience. These experiences have honed his courage and resilience, laying a solid foundation for his future maritime career. At the same time, Magellan received excellent education and studied subjects related to navigation, geography, and mathematics, laying a theoretical foundation for his future navigation.
Over time, Magellan’s knowledge of the ocean continued to accumulate, and he explored places such as Africa, India, and Malacca, accumulating valuable geographic information. The experience of this period filled him with curiosity about the unknown world and stimulated his desire for exploration.
Magellan’s navigation plan was first formed during his military career in Portugal, where he dreamed of reaching the east through a westward route to avoid competition between Portugal and the Ottoman Empire. However, he faces numerous challenges, including political motivation and financial support. He first proposed his navigation plan to King Manuel I of Portugal, but it was not approved. So he went to Spain and, with the support of King Charles I of Castile, successfully obtained funding and support. However, he still needs to overcome political and religious barriers to ensure the implementation of his plan.
In order to welcome his global expedition, Magellan carefully prepared a fleet of five ships, the most famous of which was the flagship “Santa Maria”.
The preparation of the fleet includes equipment, food, water sources, and recruitment and training of crew members. Magellan also developed detailed plans for routes and stopping points to ensure the success of the expedition.
However, Magellan’s global expedition was full of challenges. In 1521, he was attacked by a local tribe on Mactan Island in the Philippines, which resulted in his serious injury and unfortunate death. His death severely weakened the leadership and determination of the expedition, but the fleet still persisted in moving forward.
After Magellan’s death, the command of the fleet passed to Juan Sebastian Ercano. The fleet continued to advance westward, crossing the Indian Ocean, bypassing the Cape of Good Hope in Africa, and finally arrived at the port of Seville in Spain. Only one ship successfully completed this historic circumnavigation around the world, marking the successful end of the expedition as the first ship to orbit the Earth.
