Magellan, Ferdinand by Almo
Most fearsome of all, the man who would destroy the very world the cartographers had drowned. In his time, by his compatriot and his own king, they treated him as renegade and transfuga, but now in Lisbon they proudly say “his ours”. One, or certainly most important explorer in history, was a faithful man trough which modesty arose. Fact that his Spanish sponsors never shared his sense of mission he found reason for them, like putting boundaries, but he really wanted to circumnavigate globe going westward. Compared to Columbus’s voyage of 8000 miles, Magellan’s was 42000 miles and 22000 of it in unknown waters. That was achievement without parallel. Only few voyages have been fulfilled with so much intrigue, treachery, murder, mutiny, starvation and death in history of sailing, only one out of fleet of five ships managed to complete journey only 16 man out of 265 of them. If there were not of clandestine diary kept by Antonio Pigafetta, Venetian nobleman, the record and appreciations would be quite different. Mutineers, deserters and jealous officers that were eager to usurp Magellan’s would have won if the diarist Pigafetta didn’t survived all mayhem and stayed within survivors to tell the truth about Mag . . .
Cano was hero, and he was well known noble Spaniard and Magellan were dead Portuguese. Should they return to Rio or continue going south toward stormy Antarctic waters and hope to find passage to Spice Irelands. Why? Many natives have converted on Christianity because Magellan instruction, and when one chief refused to do so Magellan felt obligated to make them. Magellan sailors caught one of the leaders of mutiny captain Mendoza, and then he took over first Victoria, then San Antonio and Conception was easily taken over. At Cape Santa Maria Magellan though that they found passage to Orient, so Trinidad sailed as west as possible. Most versed in nautical charts, he knew better that any other the true art of navigation, of which it is certain proof that he by his genius, and his intrepidity, without anyone giving him example, how to attempt the circuit of the globe which he had almost completed…The glory and achievement of Magellan will survive him. Magellan was wounded and when he ordered retreat, it was too late for them. After few days, Trinidad returned with discouraging news. Because his personal dislikement with Portuguese king Dom Miguel help for his adventure did not came from his native nation, he got help from king of Spain. They cached Trinidad in Ternate and killed only one Portuguese sailor on board Trinidad for deserting, this destined for Magellan. After storm was over he found Conception but San Antonio was lost and probably on his way back to Spain. Two men were sent to get help, after few days rest of the fleet rescued Santiago’s crew. Rest of crew was left in Molucco, only 4 of them made back to Europe.
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Acceptance Essays
