Fernando de Magallanes (Ferdinand Magellan) was a Portuguese explorer who attempted to reach the so-called “Spice Islands” by crossing the still largely-unknown Pacific Ocean.
Funded by King Charles I of Spain, Magallanes led a 5-vessel fleet across the Atlantic Ocean where after many hardships they discovered the strait that allowed passage to the Pacific Ocean. This natural passage is currently known as Estrecho de Magallanes (Strait of Magellan).
Although Magallanes did not survive the journey, the last remaining vessel, led by Sebastián Elcano, successfully completed the expedition, thus resulting in the first European circumnavigation of the Earth.
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