The First Circumnavigation: Magellan and Elcano (1519-1522)

1. 1. Seville

   Today: Seville, Spain · Arrived 10 August 1519 · position reconstructed

   Magellan set sail from Seville with five ships, beginning the expedition to find a westward route to the Moluccas.

   So Magellan set sail on the 10th of August, 1519, with five ships from Seville.

   Also called at by Christopher Columbus. Identified as Seville

   Why is this position reconstructed?

2. 2. San Lucar

   Today: Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Andalusia, Spain · Arrived 20 September 1519 · position reconstructed

   The fleet remained at the bar of Sanlúcar de Barrameda after departing Seville, preparing for the ocean voyage and awaiting favorable conditions before setting out for the Canary Islands.

   He sailed from Seville on the 10th day of August of the said year, and remained at the bar until the 21st day of September, and as soon as he got outside, he steered to the south-west to make the island of Tenerife, and they reached the said island on the day of St. Michael, which was the 29th of September.[28]

   Also called at by Christopher Columbus — who called it “San Lucar de Barrameda”, Christopher Columbus — who called it “Sanlúcar de Barrameda”. Identified as Sanlúcar de Barrameda

3. 3. Tenerife

   Today: Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain · Arrived 26 September 1519 · position reconstructed

   Magellan's fleet reached the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands as part of their voyage to discover the Molucca Islands.

   eptember, and reached Tenerife on the 26th, and continued its voyage thence on the 3rd of October, navigating to the South.

   Also called at by Charles Darwin — who called it “Teneriffe”. Identified as Tenerife

4. 4. Cape Verde islands

   Today: Cape Verde Islands, Cabo Verde · Arrived 1 October 1519 · position reconstructed

   Magellan's fleet passed between the Cape Verde Islands and the African mainland without sighting either, as they crossed the Atlantic on their way to Brazil.

   Thence he made his course to fetch the Cape Verde islands, and they passed between the islands and the Cape without sighting either the one or the other. Having got as far as this neighbourhood, he shaped his course so as to make for Brazil, and as soon as they sighted the other coast of Brazil, he steered to the south-east[29] along the coast as far as Cabo-frio, which is in twenty-three degrees south latitude; and from t

   Also called at by Christopher Columbus — who called it “the Cape Verde Islands”. Identified as Cape Verde Islands

5. 5. Rio de Janeiro

   Today: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil · Arrived 13 December 1519 · position reconstructed

   The expedition entered Rio de Janeiro on December 13th, 1519, where they took in wood and remained until December 26th before continuing their voyage southward.

   and they entered the said Rio on the day of St. Lucy, which was the 13th December, in which place they took in wood, and they remained there until the first octave of Christmas, which was the 26th of December of the same year.

   Also called at by Louis-Antoine de Bougainville — who called it “Rio-Janeiro”, Lieutenant James Cook, Charles Darwin. Identified as Rio de Janeiro

6. 6. Rio de Janeiro

   Today: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil · Arrived 13 December 1519 · position reconstructed

   The expedition entered Rio de Janeiro on December 13th, 1519, where they took in wood and remained until December 26th before continuing their voyage.

   and they entered the said Rio on the day of St. Lucy, which was the 13th December, in which place they took in wood, and they remained there until the first octave of Christmas, which was the 26th of December of the same year.

   Also called at by Louis-Antoine de Bougainville — who called it “Rio-Janeiro”, Lieutenant James Cook, Charles Darwin. Identified as Rio de Janeiro

7. 7. River of Santa Cruz

   Today: Río Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, Argentina · Arrived 24 August 1520 · position reconstructed

   After departing from the harbour of Saint Julian, Magellan's fleet arrived at the River of Santa Cruz, where they remained until October 18, 1520.

   From this harbour of Saint Julian, which is in fifty degrees, we departed on the 24th of August, 1520, and sailed westward a hundred miles, where we found a river to which we gave the name of River of Santa Cruz, and there we remained until the 18th of October.

8. 8. Port of St. Julian

   Today: Puerto San Julián, Santa Cruz, Argentina · Arrived 31 March 1520 · position reconstructed

   Magellan's fleet arrived at the Port of St. Julian at the end of March 1520, where they wintered for nearly five months. During their stay, they experienced short daylight hours and significant events such as the suppression of a mutiny.

   and arrived on the last day of March of the year 1520 at the Port of St. Julian, which is in forty-nine and one-third degrees,[35] and here they wintered, and found the day a little more or less than seven hours.[36]

   Also called at by Charles Darwin — who called it “Port St. Julian”, Francis Drake — who called it “Port S. Julian”. Identified as Puerto San Julián

9. 9. Santa Cruz

   Today: Río Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, Argentina · Arrived 24 August 1520 · position reconstructed

   After departing from the harbour of Saint Julian, Magellan's fleet arrived at the river they named Santa Cruz, where they remained until October 18th, 1520.

   From this harbour of Saint Julian, which is in fifty degrees, we departed on the 24th of August, 1520, and sailed westward a hundred miles, where we found a river to which we gave the name of River of Santa Cruz, and there we remained until the 18th of October.

10. 10. Strait of Magellan

    Today: Strait of Magellan, southern Chile · Arrived 21 October 1520 · position reconstructed

    Magellan and his fleet discovered and entered the strait at the southern tip of South America, which would later bear his name, and began to explore its channels in search of a passage to the Pacific.

    Magellan entered them forthwith with the whole fleet, and when he saw other and again other bays, he gave orders that they should be all carefully examined from the ships, to see if anywhere a passage might be discovered; and said that he would himself wait at the mouth of the strait till the fifth day, to hear what might happen.

    Also called at by Louis-Antoine de Bougainville — who called it “Straits of Magalhaens (Port Galant / Cape Pillar)”, Francis Drake — who called it “the streights of Magellan”. Identified as Strait of Magellan

11. 11. the Pacific sea

    Today: Pacific Ocean · Arrived 28 November 1520 · position reconstructed

    On November 28, 1520, Magellan's fleet exited the strait and entered the Pacific Ocean, beginning a long and arduous crossing during which the crew suffered from hunger and disease.

    Wednesday, the twenty-eighth of November, 1520, we came forth out of the said strait, and entered into the Pacific sea, where we remained three months and twenty days without taking in provisions or other refreshments, and we only ate old biscuit reduced to powder, and full of grubs, and stinking from the dirt which the rats had made on it when eating the good biscuit, and we drank water that was yellow and stinking.

12. 12. Thieves’ Island (_dos ladrōes_)

    Today: Guam, Mariana Islands · Arrived 6 March 1521 · position reconstructed

    Magellan's fleet anchored at an island in twelve degrees north, which they named Thieves’ Island after the inhabitants took their skiff. The next day, Magellan led a punitive raid ashore, burned a village, killed several people, and recovered the skiff.

    they fetched two islands inhabited by many people, and they anchored at one of them, which is in twelve degrees north; and the inhabitants are people of little truth, and they did not take precautions against them until they saw that they were taking away the skiff of the flagship, and they cut the rope with which it was made fast, and took it ashore without their being able to prevent it. They gave this island the name of Thieves’ Island (_dos ladrōes_).

13. 13. Homohon

    Today: Homonhon Island, Eastern Samar, Philippines · Arrived 16 March 1521 · position reconstructed

    No verified journal excerpt for this stage yet — help us find one.

    The record survives. Why is this stage empty?

14. 14. Mazava

    Today: Limasawa Island, Southern Leyte, Philippines · Arrived 28 March 1521 · position reconstructed

    Magellan and his fleet arrived at the island of Mazava (modern Limasawa), where they were welcomed by the local chief and his people. Here, the first mass in the Philippines was celebrated and friendly relations were established.

    Magellan beheld, in the chief’s hut, one sick, and almost at the last gasp. He asked who he was, and what illness he was suffering from. He learnt that he was the chief’s grandson, and had now suffered for two years from a raging fever. But he told him to be of good cheer, and that he would immediately recover his health and former strength, if he would only become a Christian. The Indian accepted the condition, and, having adored the Cross, he received baptism, and the next day declared that he was well, rose from his bed, walked, and took food like the rest. He told I know not what visions to the Indians. What need I say more? The chief himself, with two thousand two hundred Indians, was baptized, and professed the name and rel

15. 15. Mauthan

    Today: Mactan, Cebu, Philippines · Arrived 27 April 1521 · position reconstructed

    Magellan led a force of his men to the island of Mauthan (Mactan) to subdue its king, but was killed in battle along with several of his men.

    Magellan, who desired to finish what he had once begun, gave orders that forty of his men, whose bravery and prowess he had proved, should arm, and he crossed over to Mauthan in boats, for the island was very near. The Chief of Subuth added some of his own men to show him the situation of the island, and to fight, if matters came to that. The King of Mauthan, seeing our men coming, draws up about three thousand of his subjects in the field, and Magellan draws up his on the shore, with their guns and warlike engines, though only a few; and though he saw that he was far inferior to the enemy in number, yet he thought it better to fight this warlike race, which made use of lances and other long weapons, than either to return or to us

16. 16. Bohol

    Today: Bohol, Philippines · Arrived 1 May 1521 · position reconstructed

    After suffering losses and with their crews reduced, the expedition burned one of their ships near the island of Bohol, transferring all useful equipment to the remaining two vessels before continuing their voyage.

    When we were at a distance of eighteen leagues from the island of Zubu, near the head of another island called Bohol,[327] in the midst of that archipelago, seeing that our crews were too much reduced in number, so that they were not sufficient for managing all the three ships, we burned the _Conception_ after transporting into the other two all that it contained that was serviceable.

17. 17. Poluan

    Today: Palawan, Philippines · Arrived 1 June 1521 · position reconstructed

    No verified journal excerpt for this stage yet — help us find one.

    The record survives. Why is this stage empty?

18. 18. Borneo

    Today: Brunei (Bandar Seri Begawan), Brunei · Arrived 21 July 1521 · position reconstructed

    The expedition anchored near the coast of Borneo and sent boats ashore with Moorish pilots and a Christian, who were taken before the Shahbender and then presented to the King of Borneo. This marked the arrival and first contact with the city of Borneo (Brunei).

    and sent the boats ashore in Borneo, and they took the aforesaid Moorish pilots on shore, and there went a Christian with them; and the boats went to set them on land, from whence they had to go to the city of Borneo, which was three leagues off, and there they were taken before the Shahbender of Borneo, and he asked what people they were, and for what they came in the ships; and they were presented to the King of Borneo with the Christian.

19. 19. Tidore

    Today: Tidore, Maluku Islands, Indonesia · Arrived 8 November 1521 · position reconstructed

    The expedition arrived at Tidore, where they were well received by the local king, established peaceful relations, and set up a house on shore to trade for cloves, remaining there for many days to take on cargo.

    From Atean we went S.S.E. until we sighted the Molucos, and then we went to East, and entered between Mare and Tidori, at which we anchored, and there we were very well received, and made very good arrangements for peace, and made a house on shore for trading with the people, and so we remained many days, until we had taken in cargo.

20. 20. Ambon

    Today: Ambon Island, Maluku, Indonesia · Arrived 1 December 1521 · position reconstructed

    The expedition passed near Ambon, a large island east of Buro, noted for its production of cotton cloths, as they navigated through the Maluku Islands.

    and to the East of Buro there is a very large island called Ambon, in which they make much cotton cloths, and between it and Buro there are some islets; take care of them, for this it is necessary to coast the island of Buro to the East, and to the South of it.

21. 21. Timor

    Today: Timor, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia · Arrived 26 January 1522 · position reconstructed

    The expedition sailed out to sea for Timor after leaving the Moluccas, making their course behind Java as they prepared for the next stage of their voyage.

    The other ship, which set sail first, left on the 21st of December of the said year, and went out to sea for Timor, and made its course behind Java, 2,055 leagues to the Cape of Good Hope.

22. 22. Cape of Good Hope

    Today: Cape of Good Hope, South Africa · Arrived 1 May 1522 · position reconstructed

    The expedition rounded the Cape of Good Hope after enduring nine weeks of storms and great hardship, with many men sick and suffering from lack of provisions.

    In order to double the Cape of Good Hope, we went as far as 42° South latitude, and we remained off that cape for nine weeks, with the sails struck on account of the Western and North-western gales which beat against our bows with fierce squalls. The Cape of Good Hope is in 34° 30′ South latitude, 1600 leagues distant from the Cape of Malacca, and it is the largest and most dangerous cape in the world.

    Also called at by Bartolomeu Dias — who called it “Cabo das Tormentas”, Francis Drake — who called it “Cape Hope”, Vasco da Gama, Vasco da Gama. Identified as Cape of Good Hope

23. 23. St. James’s

    Today: Santiago, Cape Verde · Arrived 9 July 1522

    The crew of the Victoria, desperate for provisions, stopped at the Cape Verde Islands and specifically touched at the island of St. James’s (Santiago) on July 9, 1522, where they obtained rice from the Portuguese by subterfuge.

    Constrained by extreme necessity, we decided on touching at the Cape Verde Islands, and on Wednesday the 9th of July, we touched at one of those islands named St. James’s. Knowing that we were in an enemy’s country, and amongst suspicious persons, on sending the boat ashore to get provision of victuals, we charged the seamen to say to the Portuguese that we had sprung our foremast under the equinoctial line (although this misfortune had happened at the Cape of Good Hope), and that our ship was alone, because whilst we tried to repair it, our captain-general had gone with the other two ships to Spain. With these good words, and giving some of our merchandise in exchange, we obtained two boat-loads of rice.

24. 24. San Lucar

    Today: Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Spain · Arrived 10 August 1519 · position reconstructed

    The expedition departed from Seville and commenced its voyage from San Lucar, setting sail for the Canary Islands as the first leg of their journey to discover the Molucca Islands.

    We departed from Seville with five ships on the tenth of August, in the year 1519, to go and discover the Molucca Islands. We commenced our voyage from San Lucar for the Canary Islands, and sailed south-west 960 miles, where we found ourselves at the island of Tenerife, in which is the harbour of Santa Cruz in twenty-eight degrees of north latitude.

    Also called at by Christopher Columbus — who called it “San Lucar de Barrameda”, Christopher Columbus — who called it “Sanlúcar de Barrameda”. Identified as Sanlúcar de Barrameda

25. 25. Seville

    Today: Seville, Spain · Arrived 8 September 1522 · position reconstructed

    After completing their circumnavigation, the survivors of Magellan's expedition returned and anchored near the mole of Seville, discharging all their artillery to mark their arrival.

    Monday the 8th of September, we cast anchor near the mole of Seville, and discharged all the artillery.

    Also called at by Christopher Columbus. Identified as Seville

Published under CC BY-SA 4.0. Sources keep their own open licences. See the Magna Carta of the Seas for how this was verified.