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
During all of his naval assignments, Magellan had only one dream: to sail around the world by going west of Europe. 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. King Charles of Spain approved to Magellan his voyage to mark boundaries of Spain in pacific. Magellan's fleet consisted from five ships (San Antonio, Santiago, Trinidad, Victoria and Conception, that counted 280 sailors, and numerous supplies. Magellan did not want Spanish nobleman killed by his hand so he offered pardon to Mendoza servant if he would execute his master. Mendoza was executed; one priest and two other leaders of rebellion were left to survive on coastland. Three month after sailing out from Spain Magellan came to bay where today lies Rio de Janeiro. It was one of the most beautiful natural harbors in the world. Gurami Indians shattered crew with everything, even their women. At Cape Santa Maria Magellan though that they found passage to Orient, so Trinidad sailed as west as possible. After few days, Trinidad returned with discouraging news. Should they return to Rio or continue going south toward stormy Antarctic waters and hope to find passage to Spice Irelands. Against big opposition within crew, Magellan convinced them to sail south. After 60 days of storm and cold weather, crew was disgruntled, and ready for mutiny. When they finally stopped in a bay St.Julian, a group demanded to sail back, but Magellan refused and his own crew on Trinidad and Santiago remained loyal. Rebellion took control over three of five ships 170 of 265 men, so odds of Magellan succeeding were low, but
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1132
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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