Ferdinand Magellan Timeline

In 1518, for his allegiance to the Hispanic monarchy, Magellan was appointed an admiral of the Spanish fleet, gaining royal backing for his ambitious plan to reach the East Indies by sailing west.

Also in 1518, Magellan was given command of the expedition known as the Armada of Molucca, consisting of five ships outfitted for the voyage to the Spice Islands via a western route.

When Magellan eventually sailed to the open seas in August 1519, a Portuguese fleet was sent after him, though it failed to capture him and bring the expedition back to Portugal.

Image source: Magellan expedition

The fleet of five ships left Spain on 20 September 1519, sailing west across the Atlantic toward South America, beginning what would become the first circumnavigation of Earth in history.

Following a difficult winter, the fleet resumed their search for a passage to the Pacific in October 1520, exploring the intricate waterways at the southern tip of South America.

The fleet navigated the natural passage at the southern tip of South America now known as the Strait of Magellan, which lends Magellan's name to this day as the route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Image source: Strait of Magellan

Magellan named the Pacific Ocean, which was sometimes referred to as the Sea of Magellan in his honor until the 18th century, recognizing its calm waters compared to the stormy strait he had just traversed.

Image source: Pacific Ocean

The fleet reached the Pacific by the end of November 1520, becoming the first European expedition to sail from the Atlantic into the Pacific via the Americas, opening a new chapter in global exploration.

On 6 March 1521, the exhausted fleet made landfall at the island of Guam and were met by native Chamorro people who came aboard the ships and took items such as rigging, knives, and a ship's boat.

Image source: Guam

In order to gain the trust of Rajah Humabon, Magellan sailed to Mactan with a small force on the morning of 27 April 1521, intending to confront Lapulapu, a rival chieftain who resisted Spanish influence.

Image source: Battle of Mactan

There, on 27 April 1521, Magellan died in the Battle of Mactan after being shot in the neck with a poison arrow, ending his leadership of the expedition in the Philippines.

Following a bloody betrayal by former ally Rajah Humabon, who had poisoned many Spanish soldiers on a banquet ruse on the night after the battle for being easily defeated by Lapulapu and the people of Mactan, the survivors fled the Philippines.

The first news of the expedition came from the crew of the San Antonio, led by Estêvão Gomes, which deserted the fleet in the Strait of Magellan and returned to Seville on 6 May 1521, largely unfavourable to Magellan.

Image source: Estêvão Gomes

The fleet left the Philippines following the betrayal by Humabon and eventually made their way to the Moluccas in November 1521, reaching the Spice Islands that had been the expedition's original destination.

Image source: Maluku Islands

The 18 survivors who returned aboard the Victoria in September 1522 were commanded by Juan Sebastián Elcano and were largely unfavourable to Magellan, yet their arrival marked the triumphant completion of the voyage Magellan had planned and led.

Image source: Juan Sebastián Elcano

The Victoria, captained by Juan Sebastián Elcano, finally returned to Spain by 6 September 1522, completing the first circumnavigation of Earth in history after sailing west across the Indian Ocean and north along the Atlantic coast of Africa.

Image source: Victoria (ship)