Ferdinand Magellan

Introduction & Top Questions
Early life
Allegiance to Spain
Discovery of the Strait of Magellan
Circumnavigation of the globe
Legacy

References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

Images & Videos

Map of the Atlantic Ocean region showing the two vertical lines of demarcation established by the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1493 and 1494. The lines run north to south, dividing the newly discovered lands outside Europe between Spain and Portugal, with one line east of South America and the other closer to the Cape Verde Islands off the coast of Africa. Surrounding continents, including North and South America, Europe, and Africa, are labeled for reference.

World map showing the routes of the first circumnavigations: Ferdinand Magellan and Juan Sebastian del Cano's expedition from 1519 to 1522 is traced in red, and Francis Drake's voyage from 1577 to 1580 is traced in purple. Both routes start in Europe, cross the Atlantic to South America, pass through the Strait of Magellan, and continue across the Pacific and Indian Oceans, with Drake's route paralleling much of Magellan's path before returning to Europe. Key locations and years are labeled alon

Oceanic voyages of Ferdinand Magellan and his crew, 1519–22

An antique black-and-white map of South America from the Encyclopaedia Britannica First Edition, showing regions labeled as New Spain, Terra Firma, Amazons, Brazil, Paraguay, Terra Magellanica, Chile, Peru, and Tierra del Fuego, with surrounding oceans and a decorative compass rose.

Map showing the transatlantic and global routes of major early voyages of discovery and exploration by Spain, Portugal, England, and France during the 15th and 16th centuries. The map traces the journeys of explorers such as Columbus, Cabot, Magellan, da Gama, and others, with labeled paths crossing the Atlantic and encircling Africa and South America, as well as lines of demarcation dividing Spanish and Portuguese exploration zones.

At a Glance

Ferdinand Magellan summary

Quizzes

Who Did That? A Historical Bio Quiz

Buzz Aldrin. Apollo 11. Apollo 11 astronaut Edwin Aldrin, photographed July 20, 1969, during the first manned mission to the Moon's surface. Reflected in Aldrin's faceplate is the Lunar Module and astronaut Neil Armstrong, who took the picture.

Exploration and Discovery

Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias on his voyage to the Cape of Good Hope; engraving, 1878. (exploration, Bartholomew Dias, Bartholomew Diaz)

Explorers and Explorations (Part One) Quiz

Related Questions

Did Ferdinand Magellan visit the Moluccas before leading his expedition for Spain?
How did Ferdinand Magellan help Francisco Serrão during fighting in Malacca?
How did Ferdinand Magellan receive the leg injury that left him with a limp?
How did Ferdinand Magellan respond to the mutiny at Port Saint Julian?
How did Ferdinand Magellan serve the Portuguese royal court as a young man?
How did the Panama Canal reduce the importance of the Strait of Magellan as a trade route?
How long did Ferdinand Magellan’s fleet go without fresh food before reaching Guam?
How long did it take Ferdinand Magellan’s fleet to travel through the Strait of Magellan?
How many people began Ferdinand Magellan’s expedition?
How was Ferdinand Magellan involved in the Battle of Diu in 1509?
What rewards did Spain promise Ferdinand Magellan for finding new lands and a route to the Moluccas?
What route did Ferdinand Magellan propose to reach the Moluccas from Spain?
What were the names of the five ships in Ferdinand Magellan’s fleet?
When and where did Ferdinand Magellan’s expedition leave Spain?
When and where was Ferdinand Magellan born?
When and where was Ferdinand Magellan killed?
When did Ferdinand Magellan arrive in Seville after leaving Portugal?
When did Ferdinand Magellan enter the passage later called the Strait of Magellan?
Where did Ferdinand Magellan form Spain’s first alliance in the Pacific?
Where did Ferdinand Magellan’s expedition first find land after crossing much of the Pacific Ocean?
Which Portuguese victory in Malacca did Ferdinand Magellan take part in during 1511?
Which oceans are connected by the Strait of Magellan?
Which places did Ferdinand Magellan’s fleet visit before reaching the coast of South America?
Which ship deserted Ferdinand Magellan while the fleet was searching for a passage?
Which ship in Ferdinand Magellan’s fleet was wrecked near the Santa Cruz River?
Which ship returned to Spain after completing the first circumnavigation of Earth?
Which ship served as Ferdinand Magellan’s flagship?
Who completed the first circumnavigation after Ferdinand Magellan died?
Who was Beatriz Barbosa, Ferdinand Magellan’s wife?
Who was Lapulapu and what role did he play in Ferdinand Magellan’s death?
Who was Rui Faleiro and how did he support Ferdinand Magellan’s plans?
Who were Ferdinand Magellan’s parents?
Why did Ferdinand Magellan believe the Spice Islands could belong to Spain?
Why did Ferdinand Magellan call the Pacific Ocean peaceful?
Why did Ferdinand Magellan explore the Río de la Plata estuary?
Why did King Manuel I of Portugal refuse Ferdinand Magellan’s request for a larger pension?
Why did some Spanish sailors and officials oppose Ferdinand Magellan’s command of the expedition?
Why do Portuguese and Spanish historians sometimes give different emphasis to Ferdinand Magellan’s accomplishments?
Why was Rui Faleiro unable to sail with Ferdinand Magellan in 1519?
Why was sailing through the Strait of Magellan difficult for Ferdinand Magellan’s fleet?
What did Ferdinand Magellan discover?
What is Ferdinand Magellan best known for?
Why is Samuel de Champlain significant?
What was Samuel de Champlain’s early life like?
What did John Cabot discover?
How did John Cabot die?
What is John Cabot best known for?
Why is Jacques Cartier famous?
What were Jacques Cartier’s goals?
What was Jacques Cartier’s legacy?

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External Websites

National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Ferdinand Magellan (1480ï¿½1521) ï¿½ 500 years from the expedition: the first step towards globalization
LiveScience - Biography of Ferdinand Magellan
Ohio State University - Origins - MagellanÂ’s Circumnavigation of the Earth
ABC listen - Nightlife - This Week in History: Magellan sets out from Spain
World History Encyclopedia - Ferdinand Magellan
Guampedia - Ferdinand Magellan
The MY HERO Project - Ferdinand Magellan
Linda Hall Library - Ferdinand Magellan
BBC - The Forum - Magellan: First Man Round the Globe?

Britannica Websites

Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.

Ferdinand Magellan - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
Ferdinand Magellan - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

Ferdinand Magellan

Portuguese explorer

Also known as: Fernão de Magalhães, Fernando de Magallanes, Hernando de Magallanes(Show More)

Written by

Mairin Mitchell

Freelance writer. Author of The Odyssey of Acurio Who Sailed with Magellan and others.

Mairin MitchellAll

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....

Britannica Editors

Last updated

Sep. 16, 2026 •History

Ferdinand Magellan (born 1480, Sabrosa or Porto?, Portugal—died April 27, 1521, Mactan, Philippines) was a Portuguese navigator and explorer who sailed under the flags of both Portugal (1505–13) and Spain (1519–21). From Spain, he sailed around South America, discovering the Strait of Magellan, and across the Pacific. Though he was killed in the Philippines, one of his ships continued westward to Spain, accomplishing the first circumnavigation of Earth. The voyage was successfully terminated by the...

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