Who dedicated his life to the cause of global navigation?

Magellan (1480- 152 1) was born in a poor knight family in Obedo, northern Portugal. 10 years old was sent to the palace by his father. 1492, when Columbus sailed to America and discovered the new continent, Magellan was chosen as the maid of the queen and traveled around the world with the king and queen. Magellan was born and raised in a period of great changes in human history. 1486, Portuguese Diaz reached the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa. 1492, Columbus discovered America. So expeditions appeared one after another, and hundreds of ships sailed out of Cadiz, palos and Lisbon. The discovery of nameless land has surpassed the area discovered in hundreds of thousands of years in human history, and the geography has undergone earth-shaking changes, and the world map has changed with each passing day with the arrival of new data. This is an era of explorers and navigators. Taking part in ocean exploration has great attraction to young Magellan.

1496 or so, Magellan was incorporated into the national maritime office. This organization is making secret preparations for Da Gama's voyage exploration. Magellan came here to study and accumulate all kinds of knowledge and experience in navigation, and became familiar with the nautical charts and rich nautical materials of the New World, Africa and Asia. Magellan was eager to join the expedition.

1505 On March 25th, an ambitious armed fleet left Lisbon harbor, shouldering the arrogant mission of turning tiny Portugal into the largest empire in the world and completely conquering the East. It was led by Almeida, who was awarded the title of Governor of India. It has 20 sailboats and more than 2000 members. Magellan was just one of the ordinary sailors, which was the beginning of his life adventure. As an ordinary sailor, Magellan did everything, collecting sails and draining water in the storm, repairing fortifications and moving goods in the scorching sun, and participating in naval battles, land battles, siege and commercial stations. He met all kinds of people and learned about regions, oceans and related astronomical knowledge. Magellan was injured in the Battle of Konanor in India in 1506, and was soon transferred to Africa, and returned to Lisbon in about 1507. Distant exotic customs and adventurous life fascinated him, and he longed for the next voyage.

1509, Magellan once again joined the fleet trying to capture Malacca, where he was suddenly attacked by Sudan. Due to the agility of a captain and the bravery of Magellan, the fleet was not completely annihilated, but only lost all the ships and one third of the crew. 15 10 Magellan took part in the siege of goa, India, and was promoted to captain. 15 1 1 year, Magellan participated in the second expedition to Malacca. After six weeks of fierce fighting, Portugal occupied Malacca and then controlled the whole eastern trade. 15 12 years, Magellan returned to Lisbon and was already an experienced sailor. 15 13 years, as a junior officer, he joined the army to attack the Moroccan fortress Azemore, and was disabled for life due to injuries. 15 14 years after returning to China, Magellan appealed to the king twice, demanding a promotion and increasing the annuity, but both times he was coldly rejected by the king. The king told Magellan coldly that the Portuguese court didn't need his services at all. If he leaves the court and Portugal, no one will mind.

Shortly after Magellan was kicked out of the court like a beggar, he met a cosmologist Farillo, who was a real theorist. He has never been on a boat and can't sail, but his charts, astrolabes and many navigation tools are first-class, which helps Magellan a lot. During this period, Magellan drew a map based on the late Portuguese royal cartographer Bejim, and was convinced that there was a strait connecting the Atlantic Ocean and the South China Sea (that is, the Pacific Ocean) in South America. Magellan and Farillo are making a sailing plan to sail from the west to the "Spice Islands" (Maluku Islands) in the east. 15171kloc-0/0 On October 20th, Magellan left Portugal and arrived in Serbia, Spain, to visit Barbocha, the commander of the fortress (also Portuguese), and was warmly received by Barbocha's family (Barbocha's daughter Beatrice became Magellan's wife the following year). With such a backer, Magellan reached a private agreement with Alandada, director of the Indian Institute, and Farillo also came to Seville. 1565438+On March 22, 2008, King Charles I of Spain signed an agreement with Magellan and Farillo: they have the exclusive privilege of exploring land instead of exploring the ocean; They can get one twentieth of the total income of their newly discovered land; If more than six islands are found, they have the right to occupy two of them; The two of them, their children and heirs enjoy the title of governor of these lands and islands. The king promised to equip five ships with the agreed tonnage and ensure that all the crew, food and artillery needed on board were supplied within two years.

After more than a year's preparation and excluding Portuguese diplomatic interference, Magellan led five fully equipped sailboats and 265 crew members to bid farewell to his wife and children and set sail from San rugal on September 20, 2009. 65438+ 10 3, the fleet left Tenerife, Canary Islands. Before setting sail, Magellan's father-in-law sent a light sailboat to send him a secret letter: several Spanish captains in the fleet secretly planned against Magellan on the way, and the leader of the plot was Carl Tahina, the captain of the largest "San Antonio" in the fleet. This is the last letter Magellan received in his life, adding a little shadow to the difficult voyage.

The fleet 12 13 arrived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. During the voyage, Kartahina quarreled with Magellan on the route issue, which obviously denied Magellan's leading position. Magellan invited four captains to board the flagship "Trinidad", suddenly detained Carl Tahena, relieved him of his captain position, and handed him over to another captain, Mindusa. Brazil's rich and beautiful scenery and the tranquility of the aborigines make the crew reluctant to go. The fleet left Rio de Janeiro on February 26th, 65438+ and sailed southward, and arrived at the mouth of the La Plata River on 10/October 26th. This is the location of the strait on Begeem map. The result was obviously a mistake, and it took two whole weeks to discover that it was just a big river. The fleet continued to sail south, and Magellan investigated every bay along the way. On February 24, the fleet arrived in Mathias Bay, and Magellan's glimmer of hope was extinguished again. On March 3 1 day, the fleet arrived in St. Julian's Bay, and Magellan decided to anchor for the winter. Everywhere is desolate, the wind is biting, and the strait is nowhere to be found. Magellan also ordered to reduce the ration, so this conspiracy was formed in the complaints of the crew. At that time, the captain of the San Antonio was Magellan's cousin Mesquita. Spanish captains Cesada and Kartasina quietly boarded the "San Antonio" with 30 armed men late at night on April 1, seized Mesquita and chained all Portuguese people. So the Spanish captain controls three ships. Faced with the grim situation, Magellan took careful plans and bold actions, first captured the Victoria, then quickly crushed the rebellion, tried and executed Captain Quesada, and left Kartashina and a disgruntled priest on the desolate coast of Sangjulian Bay (leaving some food) to fend for themselves. On August 24th, the fleet set sail to the south (Santiago sank in May). 1520, 10, 2 1, Magellan's fleet finally found the strait he was looking for (later called strait of magellan). 1 165438, "San Antonio" defected to China, 165438+28, and the fleet entered the South China Sea through the strait. In the face of this strange and endless sea, Magellan, who has always been silent and strong, could not help but burst into tears.

After the fleet entered the Pacific Ocean, it sailed for three months in the hot Wang Yang sea. Grain is decreasing day by day, moldy and fresh water stinks. At least 19 people died of scurvy. Finally, the fleet arrived in Guam on March 6, 152 1, and landed on Samar Island in the Philippine Islands in March 17. On March 28th, Magellan anchored in Masuohua Island, and the island king Kalambu made friendly contact with him. At Kalambu's suggestion, the fleet arrived in Cebu Island on April 7 and formed an alliance with Humabona, the local king on the island. Magellan traded with the islanders, baptized the Umabona family and other kings on the island, and joined Christianity. However, Sila Blab of Matan Island has long refused to accept the ruler of Cebu Island. In order to show his strength, Magellan personally took 60 sailors in an attempt to suppress Silabra. He is arrogant and doesn't want the support of the king of Cebu Island. 152 1 On the night of April 27th, Magellan fought 1500 islanders with spears, spears, stones and mud. As a result, Magellan was shot in the thigh by a poisonous arrow, and spears and stones were thrown at him. Cannons on the ship are of no help, and the ship can't get close. Islanders flocked to kill Magellan on the ground. After Magellan's death, the Spanish had tense relations with local chiefs (local kings) and residents, and many people were killed. Only 150 people remained, so Concepcion was sacrificed and destroyed. Two ships arrived in Malucun Islands. "Trinidad" could not continue sailing, and finally "Victoria" left Timor for home on February 1522+03 under the leadership of Ericano. More than five months after arriving in the Cape Verde Islands, it was found that "Grape" was going to seize "Victoria", so Ericano had to immediately anchor and set sail, with only 18 people on board, and finally 1522 sailed back to San rugal Port on September 6, completing the first great voyage around the world in history.

Magellan pushed the cause of navigation to the peak, and the completion of the global voyage proved that the first crossing of the Pacific Ocean made an important contribution to the future development of geography and oceanography, greatly promoted the exchange of world cultures and promoted the development of capitalism in Western Europe. As a navigator, his contribution was epoch-making, but as a colonialist, he kept the Philippines enslaved by Spain for a long time, and he died for it.