First circumnavigation of Earth Five hundred years ago, the Victoria, captained by Juan Sebastian Elcano following the death of Ferdinand Magellan, returned to Spain after completing the first circumnavigation of the world Victoria Type: Carrack Length: 18-21m Displacement: 85 tonnes Ferdinand Magellan Juan Sebastián Elcano 1517 Portuguese-born navigator Ferdinand Magellan wins support of Spain’s king Charles I for expedition to reach Moluccas by sailing westwards Spanish want share in valuable spice trade from Moluccas, but Portuguese control eastward route around southern Africa 1519 1 Sep 20: Fleet of five ships and 239 men under Magellan’s command departs from Atlantic port of Sanlúcar de Barrameda 2 Nov 29: Fleet reaches Brazil near Cape St Augustine 3 Dec 13: Enters bay of Rio de Janeiro to replenish supplies 1520 4 Jan 10: Fleet probes estuary of Río de la Plata, seeking in vain for passage to west 5 Mar 31: Winter quarters set up at Puerto San Julián Apr 1: With supplies dwindling and mood on board souring, mutiny breaks out. Magellan crushes revolt, executing one captain and marooning another ashore. Ship Santiago wrecked in storm on scouting mission Jul: First European encounter with “Patagonian giants” – likely Tehuelche people 6 Oct 21: After brutal winter, Magellan and crew enter passage soon to be renamed after him – Strait of Magellan. San Antonio deserts and returns to Spain Nov 28: Three remaining ships reach western end of treacherous passage, entering calm waters of ocean Magellan will name “Pacific” 1521 7 Jan 21: Crew sight Puka-Puka, coral atoll in French Polynesia 8 Mar 6: Unaware of vastness of Pacific Ocean, starving, scurvy-ridden sailors make landfall at Guam after 99 days. First encounter with indigenous Chamorro people of Mariana Islands 9 Mar 21: Crew, reduced to just 150 men, are first Europeans to land in Philippines. Magellan secures Spain’s first alliance in Pacific at Limasawa Island, and converts ruler of Cebu to Christianity Apr 27: Magellan is killed by poisoned arrow in battle between two rival local chieftains at Mactan Island May 2: Concepción sunk as not enough men to crew three ships 10 Nov 8: Two remaining ships reach Moluccas and load hulls with spices. Trinidad makes unsuccessful attempt to return to Spain via Pacific. Victoria continues west towards Cape of Good Hope under command of Juan Sebastián Elcano 1522 11 Sep 6: Almost three years after setting sail Victoria and just 18 survivors reach Sanlúcar, becoming first ship to circumnavigate globe Magellan route Elcano route Apr 27: Magellan killed Puka-Puka Atoll PACIFIC OCEAN Strait of Magellan ATLANTIC OCEAN Cape of Good Hope Moluccas (Spice Is.) INDIAN OCEAN PACIFIC OCEAN 500km 300 miles 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Source: Encyclopedia Britannica Pictures: Newscom, Creative Commons © GRAPHIC NEWS