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KF5JRV > TODAY 07.09.18 02:45l 63 Lines 3376 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 20797_KF5JRV
Read: GUEST
Subj: Today in History - Sept 06
Path: IW8PGT<CX2SA<VE2PKT<N9PMO<N9LYA<N9LCF<KF5JRV
Sent: 180906/1115Z 20797@KF5JRV.#NWAR.AR.USA.NA BPQ6.0.16
One of Ferdinand Magellan’s five ships–the Vittoria–arrives at SanlÚcar
de Barrameda in Spain, thus completing the first circumnavigation of the
world. The Vittoria was commanded by Basque navigator Juan SebastiÁn de
Elcano, who took charge of the vessel after the murder of Magellan in
the Philippines in April 1521. During a long, hard journey home, the
people on the ship suffered from starvation, scurvy, and harassment by
Portuguese ships. Only Elcano, 17 other Europeans, and four Indians
survived to reach Spain in September 1522.
On September 20, 1519, Magellan set sail from Spain in an effort to find
a western sea route to the rich Spice Islands of Indonesia. In command
of five ships and 270 men, Magellan sailed to West Africa and then to
Brazil, where he searched the South American coast for a strait that
would take him to the Pacific. He searched the RÍo de la Plata, a large
estuary south of Brazil, for a way through; failing, he continued south
along the coast of Patagonia. At the end of March 1520, the expedition
set up winter quarters at Port St. Julian. On Easter day at midnight,
the Spanish captains mutinied against their Portuguese captain, but
Magellan crushed the revolt, executing one of the captains and leaving
another ashore when his ship left St. Julian in August.
On October 21, he finally discovered the strait he had been seeking. The
Strait of Magellan, as it became known, is located near the tip of South
America, separating Tierra del Fuego and the continental mainland. Only
three ships entered the passage; one had been wrecked and another
deserted. It took 38 days to navigate the treacherous strait, and when
ocean was sighted at the other end Magellan wept with joy. He was the
first European explorer to reach the Pacific Ocean from the Atlantic.
His fleet accomplished the westward crossing of the ocean in 99 days,
crossing waters so strangely calm that the ocean was named “Pacific,ö
from the Latin word pacificus, meaning “tranquil.ö By the end, the men
were out of food and chewed the leather parts of their gear to keep
themselves alive. On March 6, 1521, the expedition landed at the island
of Guam.
Ten days later, they dropped anchor at the Philippine island of
Cebu–they were only about 400 miles from the Spice Islands. Magellan met
with the chief of Cebú, who after converting to Christianity persuaded
the Europeans to assist him in conquering a rival tribe on the
neighboring island of Mactan. In subsequent fighting on April 27,
Magellan was hit by a poisoned arrow and left to die by his retreating
comrades.
After Magellan’s death, the survivors, in two ships, sailed on to the
Moluccas and loaded the hulls with spice. One ship attempted,
unsuccessfully, to return across the Pacific. The other ship, the
Vittoria, continued west under the command of Juan SebastiÁn de Elcano.
The vessel sailed across the Indian Ocean, rounded the Cape of Good
Hope, and arrived at the Spanish port of SanlÚcar de Barrameda on
September 6, 1522, becoming the first ship to circumnavigate the globe.
The Vittoria then sailed up the Guadalquivir River, reaching Seville a
few days later.
Elcano was later appointed to lead a fleet of seven ships on another
voyage to Moluccas on behalf of Emperor Charles V. He died of scurvy en
route.
73 de Scott KF5JRV
Pmail: KF5JRV@KF5JRV.#NWAR.AR.USA.NA
email: KF5JRV@ICLOUD.COM
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