Magellan Dies in Phillippines

Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese navigator who sailed in the service of Spain, leading an expedition that departed in 1519 in search of a western route to the spice-rich islands of the East Indies. After crossing the Atlantic and exploring the coast of South America, his fleet passed through the strait at the continent's southern tip that now bears his name and entered the vast ocean he called the Pacific.

Crossing the Pacific, the expedition reached the islands later known as the Philippines, which Magellan claimed for the Spanish crown. There he became involved in local politics, allying with one ruler against rivals. In April 1521, on the island of Mactan, Magellan was killed in a battle with the forces of the local chief Lapu-Lapu while attempting to subdue resistance to his allies and to Spanish authority.

Although Magellan did not survive the voyage, his expedition continued under others. A single ship, the Victoria, commanded by Juan Sebastian Elcano, completed the journey westward and returned to Spain in 1522, becoming the first vessel to circumnavigate the globe. The voyage demonstrated the immense size of the Earth and the practicality of reaching the East by sailing west, a landmark achievement of the Age of Exploration.