Magellan
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Posted by John Crandall Oct 30, 2006 |
However, by the time he died he had indeed reached waters from which he could have easily sailed home. His death was a result of the usual Conquistadore bravado, and his certainty in the superiority of his arms and fighting skills.
When he died, his slave, Enrique, to whom he had promised freedom had actually become the first man to circumnavigate the globe. He was native to Malaysia, and Magellan died in the Phillipines. It had taken over 20 years, but Enrique had circled the globe, and is the first man we know to have done so.
The 18 men of the original 250 in Magellan's company that lived to return to Spain were actually the first Europeans to truly circumnavigate the globe. They were led by Juan Sebation del Cano who had earlier been party to a mutiny attempt against Magellan.
So, although the knee jerk answer is that Magellan was the first man to sail around the world, and he is mostly the reason why those who actually did so undertook and accomplished it. The truth, as is usual when one delves below the surface of History, is somewhat messier, and more complex.
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