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MAGELLAN DEAD
Recently, Ferdinand Magellan’s fleet that left with 5 ships provided by King Charles V has completed the first ever circumnavigation, and they have returned to Spain: Without a Captain? What happened to Ferdinand!?
According to the latest reports, from Italian tourist Antonio Pigafetta who was aboard his passage, Magellan’s death happened as a result of a vicious fight with the indians during his voyage, where a miscalculated battle tactic cost Magellan his life. Magellan, a Spanish christian who wanted to spread Christianity to newly explored parts of the world, and also try to remain a prominent figure in all the islands and countries that he sailed through, tried to impress a local chief by showing of his muskets and cannons in a battle against a neighbouring tribe. Unluckily, Magellan made imperative faults in his battle tactics and plan, leading him to get killed as his men fled. Magellan planned to initiate an attack on the tribe using cannons and muskets, however his positioning on a lower elevation compared to his foes in the fight made his attempts extremely ineffective. After almost an hour of this unsuccessful attack, a long time after Magellan’s orders to cease fire hadn’t been heard, the tribe noticed that their enemy had run out of ammunition.
Using this to their advantage, the Tribe engaged an attack on the helpless Spaniards. The Spaniards, outnumbered and bearing their empty weapons, were taken off guard and fought a brutal battle with the tribe. The General did everything he could to try to save his men and win the battle, however he could do nothing. He tried sending men to burn the natives houses, however this just enraged them even more. The spears and stones of the enemy blocked out the sun. During this unfair battle, the voyage leader Magellan was killed by several tribesmen and the tribe leader. ("The Death of Magellan, 1521." The Death of Magellan, 1521. Ibis Communications, Inc., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.)
After seeing their captain fall, the crew retreated to their vessels, and escaped onwards, on their journey back to Europe. Ferdinand remains a hero, and our prayers go out to him and any other casualties of the voyage.