AllInfo

Magellan and the first circumnavigation of the World

admin

Navigator Ferdinand Magellan found in 1520 on the southern tip of the Americas, the West passage, linking the Atlantic and the Pacific ocean. Tax he has to pay his company to find a West course to India.



In Spain the 10. August 2019, an event celebrated, this was planned in any way – of 500. Anniversary of the start of the first circumnavigation of the World, initiated by Ferdinand Magellan. Already as a young boy, a knight proven in battle and storm-resistant sailor. However, it is not laid him in the cradle, to make the major contribution to the first circumnavigation of the earth.

Around 1480, Magellan is born in the North of Portugal. His family belongs to the lower nobility. As a staunch Catholic, the narrow religious worldview of the late middle ages and the idea that the world can throw Christianity to dominate him. Ferdinand is turning part of an epochal time, from the middle ages to modern times. So ChristophUS had researchers: Columbus ‘ ship found, Columbus in 1492 discovered America and to go to other sailors encouraged to always genere voyages of discovery, to discover new lands and legendary riches.

Careerist and warhorse

The beginning of the colonial period comes to Magellan’s interest to make a career. Already at a young age, he excels in military missions, probably in the top noble layer to ascend. In addition, it arrives with Portuguese spice and a war fleet for the first time to India or the Malay Peninsula. Military he is considered a daredevil with a very good Constitution. A total of eight years, he struggles in colonial theatres of war in Asia and North Africa.

Portrait Of Magellan

In 1512 he breaks up together with other sailors to travel to the spice Islands. Only there, on the fabled Islands, which belong to the group of the Moluccas in Southeast Asia, grows the nutmeg tree, and especially the clove. This precious exotic Flavour enhancers promise wealth, because the European markets are counterbalanced with Gold. Its share of the sale of the purchased spices secures first of all his existence, awakens but at the same time, the Desire for more.

Banner exchange

Starting in 1517 Ferdinand Magellan in annoyance sails over his king of Portugal under the Spanish flag. His service to the Lord is now king Charles I., and later as Charles V Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. “The Spanish theologian and writer Bartolomé de Las Casas describes Megallan as a small stature, and rather insignificant ausschauend,” says the historian Christian Jostmann. For this, he was but equipped with an exceptional Charisma. “If it came down to it, he was a brilliant salesman and self-promoter, who is able to inspire the people of his ideas and big goals.” No wonder, then, that the mariners can convince the Spanish king to make the money for a trip to the Moluccas locker.

Nutmeg is in the late middle ages with the Gold weighed

However, it is not only the prospect of wealth, the Charles I can agree with, but he also has political reasons: at the beginning of the 16th century. Century, Spain and Portugal divided up the known world among themselves. The ownership of the Moluccas, which are today part of Indonesia, are not clear. A course around the Cape of Good hope at the southern tip of Africa is out of the question, because it is blocked by the Portuguese. In order to avoid claimed territory of the Portuguese cross plans, Magellan, to make a Western sea route to the Moluccas in South East Asia to find. Since Columbus had tried until then had around 500 ships in vain to find a Passage through the American land mass.

The Moluccas-Armada – five reconditioned, with cannons equipped ships leaves at 10. August 1519 Seville and drive to Sanlúcar de Barrameda, on the Atlantic ocean. From there, the fleet stands at 20. In September 1519 with approximately 240-man crew in the lake.

Sailor-Romance: None

The Fleet Of Magellan

“To be rich, to start for Spain colonies, to authorize Christian, and on the personal level, the prospect of social advancement – with these objectives, stitch says Magellan in the lake”, a historian Christoph Jostmann, who has worked extensively with the Portuguese. In his latest book, “Magellan and The first circumnavigation of the earth”, he describes vividly what the Initiator and his companions experienced on this first circumnavigation of the globe: storms, lack of wind, Hunger, thirst, disease, mutiny, and deadly conflicts with indigenous peoples. “It had nothing to do with seafaring romanticism,” says Jostmann: “living with about 50 men for months on a wooden tub. Might have had a walk-in area of 150 square meters, no sanitation, no kitchen, no privacy. The food was modest, medical care, there were hardly any, and the uncertainty of a sky travel command.”

First of all, the fleet will sail to the Canary Islands; then to the African coast up to Sierra Leone. At the narrowest point, they crossed the Atlantic where it meets the South American continent, where today Rio de Janeiro is located. It continues, the South American East coast – always on the search for the hypothetical to the West. All of this turns out to be a very time-consuming. The fleet has to spend the winter, the supply situation is becoming more and more difficult, the mood on Board of the ships getting worse and worse. There is a mutiny.

The sea route to the West

The Strait of Magellan separates Tierra del Fuego from the mainland

Magellan remains stubbornly On 21. October, 1520, he discovered a Cape, and runs between the southern tip of the South American continent and the island of Tierra del Fuego in an extensive Labyrinth of waterways, although while a first ship is lost. Another ship uses the confusion to flee back to Spain. However, the long-awaited Passage through this storm-tossed waters, is found with a lot of luck. Six weeks, the shrunken Armada needed to reach the Pacific ocean.

From the South-East of the Pacific ocean, it is three and a half months, in an arc in a North-westerly direction, to encounter only on inhabited Islands. Hunger, thirst, and sickness claim 19 human life, before there is on one of the Mariana Islands for fresh provisions. The tragedy: the Megellan passes close to a variety of Islands, which allows him and his team provide fresh food and water, had, without suspecting that they exist.

The Assassination Of Ferdinand Magellan’s (Woodcut)

Finally, the stocking land, the 150 remaining sailors, on 21. In March of 1521, the first Europeans in the Philippines – for Magellan, the end of the line. His goal is to take these rich Islands for Spain in possession, and possibly later, the Governor there for. “When he comes to the Philippines, he will pull such a crazy Show that natives in great numbers throwing to Christianity and Spain,” says historian Jostmann. However, not all of them. When Magellan tried to find a village to subordinate the military to throw, he will be on the 21. April from a poison arrow and lance bumps mortally wounded. Hastily, the remaining ships set sail. One of the ships must be sunk, because there is not enough seafarers are available.

The completion of the circumnavigation of the World

Under the command of Juan Sebastián Elcano, the two ships of the Philippines and finally to the spice Islands. There take finally the longed-for cargo on Board. Elcano chooses for the return journey the Route around the Cape of Good hope. The second remaining ship fails, on the Pacific Route.

Only one ship came back: a replica of Magellan’s “Victoria”

Almost three years after the expiry of the Molucca Armada of Magellan involuntarily commenced and not planned world ends rounding of Elcano full. On 6. September 1522 reached the “Victoria” to the Spanish port of Sanlúcar de Barrameda. Kapp 20 sailors survived the first historically documented circumnavigation of the World, and reap the glory. The West passage has been in the middle of the 16. Century, in honor of Ferdinand Magellan in his name: the Strait of Magellan.

In the 19th century. Century is stylized Magellan by many Intellectuals as a Hero and genius high. “Today is over, and also not justified,” says Christian Jostmann, especially with a view to colonization. “You have to understand him as a human being in his time.” Must acknowledge it, however, his ambition and his will. An occasion to celebrate the explorers, not for the historian.

Exit mobile version